CHEPSTOW’S Liam Bond admits he is in dreamland after his superb round of 67 put him right in contention at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, a tournament he was invited to play in only 18 hours before it started.

The St Pierre professional, currently 1528 in the world and competing on the South West Order of Merit in 2013, led the entire Wales Open for large periods yesterday after getting to five under par and is well in contention this weekend.

It’s a far cry from the events he currently competes in – Bond opted against playing on the Challenge Tour this year and plays regionally - and all the more remarkable as Bond didn’t even get an invite to play until 1.30pm on Wednesday. Just 24-hours later he shot 69 in round one.

Already a winner three times this term in the Microsoft Masters at Bowood, West Region Players’ Championship at Cumberwell Park and the Total Triumph at Oak Manor, Bond will be hoping its fourth time lucky too at the Celtic Manor.

“I will hope to keep it up, I’ve played nicely and it was nice to carry it on yesterday,” he told the Argus.

“I plodded along well, it’s still windy but I managed to dig deep and hit some good shots, it’s nice. It’s not going to be a low scoring venue, but you know there’s trouble and I don’t want to start playing negatively.

“I have been winning tournaments, so I’m in a good frame of mind and I can be relaxed about things, slippers on at home ten minutes down the road and loads of local support, it’s absolutely lovely for me.”

Bond could’ve left the game in the UK completely this year, seeing a prospective chance to move to Moscow for work falling through; perhaps a case of With Russia with Glove, Bond admitting he’s probably had a lucky escape.

He explained: “I was very close to going to going to Moscow and taking a job but it didn’t work out and I decided to keep on playing and practicing. If I win here, thank god I didn’t go to Moscow!”

The late notice didn’t faze Bond either.

“I didn’t get the call until Wednesday lunchtime, I was out on the (St Pierre) course with my daughter Daisy and she was looking for one of my balls, I was chuffed to bits to get the call,” he confirmed.

“I’ve been playing really well but I haven’t been around, my form has been far better than when I had my card (in 2011) and if I’d been playing in these events regularly, who knows, but this is my first for 18 months.

“I am just happy to give the local fans something to smile about and someone to support over the weekend. I just want to keep going.”