NEWPORT’S Phillip Price was among a host of Welsh and/or Ryder Cup players to exit the ISPS Handa Wales Open at the Celtic Manor yesterday, writes Michael Pearlman.

The 46-year old former Newport man of the year fell away yesterday and missed the cut after a promising opening round of 72.

The popular putter, originally from Pontypridd, is struggling to retain his European Tour card with this his ninth missed cut on the spin.

The 2002 Ryder Cup star, who beat Phil Mickelson in the singles, was far from alone in failing to last until the weekend.

2012 Open champion Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Niclas Fasth, Francesco Molinari, Ignacio Garrido and the great Jose Maria Olazabal also former Ryder Cup stars the wrong side of the cut line.

However, there was at least one Welsh success story aside from Bond, with Rhys Enoch making the cut on his first outing at the Wales Open as a professional.

His second round of 70 puts him at one over par and in sight of the leaders.

Behind Bond the chasing pack sees overnight leader Espen Kofstad on four under par, with Graeme Storm and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley at three under. Only 20 players are under par.

Rhys Davies’ travails continued with another costly round that left him some 20 shots adrift of Bond, while Parc pro Richard Dinsdale was battling away long into the night, one under par on the day (three over for the tournament) through 13, right around the projected cut.