GWENT stars Phil Price and Bradley Dredge did themselves proud in the Middle East this weekend although neither could get onto the podium at the Dubai Desert Classic.

Bassleg-based Price shot all four rounds of the competition under the 72 par for the course, finishing just five shots off surprise winner, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen on 276 for the tournament. And Blackwood's Dredge was not that far behind either.

He started with a 73 on Thursday but chipped in rounds of 69 twice and 70 to end on a seven-under par total of 281.

In fact, it was a good tournament for the Welsh as Ian Woosnam secured joint third place and a prize of £62,000 with a 14-under par score of 274.

Derksen's victory, however, was all the more amazing because he should not have been in the tournament in the first place.

The Dutchman was only playing because Tiger Woods pulled out but he managed to hold off the mighty Ernie Els to secure the £200,000 cheque and the massive trophy which went with it.

It was one of the biggest shocks in European Tour history because Derksen has been without a top 10 finish to his name on the tour and has not even mentioned on a world ranking list which features 3,081 names.

And the first prize sum is more than he had earned in his entire tour career so no wonder the 29-year-old was in tears even before he knew whether he had won or not.

Derksen's closing five-foot birdie putt for a seven under par 65 gave him a 17 under par total of 271.

At that moment, world number two Els was one behind with two to play, knowing he had driven the green at the downwind 359-yard 17th in the third round and that he could easily reach the par five last in two.

The defending champion was still favourite to win. But instead he parred the 17th and then, at the 18th, a hole he had bogeyed in rounds two and three, he went over the green, left his chip 25 feet short and two-putted for par.

"It's the biggest shock of my life. Just unbelievable," said Derksen.

Four months ago he finished 25th on his sixth visit to the tour qualifying school. His biggest previous cheque was £10,384 for 16th place in the English Open last year.

If Woods had not withdrawn last Sunday because of fears about flying to the Middle East Derksen would have been first reserve - as he was twice before.

"This week I think it all came together and today I didn't make any mistakes," he added.