PLAYERS who could feature in the 2010 Ryder Cup got in some early practice at the host venue when The Celtic Manor Resort staged the final of the PGA Junior Championship.

Over two sunny days, 39 boys and girls - the finalists from hundreds of entries throughout Wales - tackled the resort's Wentwood Hills course for the chance to become the first winner of the inaugural tournament.

The star of the event was Welsh girls' and schools' champion Sarah Jones from Pennard, Swansea, who was recently selected as a member of the Ladies' Golf Union Elite training squad.

She shot a three under par 70 in the second round of the competition to finish first in the girls' gross section with an aggregate score of 149 - the same as the first boy. Runner-up, six shots behind, was Stephanie Evans (Vale of Llangollen).

Rees Linquist of Carmarthen and Adam Nicholson (Old Padeswood GC, near Mold) both shot 76 and 73 in the boys' gross section with Linquist taking the title with the best back nine.

In the boys' net competition, Sion Jones (Pwllheli) finished with 148, two shots in front of David Phillips (Pyle and Kenfig) while Emily Thomas (Carmarthen) and Amy Rees (Coed-y-Mwstwr) both scored 164, Emily winning on the back 18.

The tournament was open to every boy and girl up to 18 who is a member of a Welsh golf club and has an official handicap.

Each club held its own qualifying rounds, with the players with the leading gross and net scores progressing to area finals in late August.

A total of 750 had competed to reach the grand final in what is set to become an annual fixture. Joint sponsors the Professional Golfers' Association and Celtic Manor are also hoping to expand it to include the rest of Britain and, ultimately, Europe and the rest of the world.

PGA captain elect John Yeo said: "It's been a very successful weekend. "The standard of golf was excellent on a very challenging course and perhaps one of these players may represent Europe in the 2010 Ryder Cup or in future Solheim Cup matches."