UK, June 21: History repeated itself for Welsh golfer Bradley Dredge on Thursday as he blew the lead in the Great North Open at Slaley Hall with a closing double bogey. But this time it cost him only £5 compared to nearly £100,000.
Twelve months ago Dredge shared top spot with Andrew Coltart standing on the final tee of the tournament, but his drive hit a spectator and was diverted into heavy rough.
A subsequent six not only cost him his first European Tour victory, but dropped him to joint fourth place.
On his return to the hole in the first round this year the 28-year-old from Tredegar was six under par and joint leader with Spaniard Diego Borrego.
He decided to have a £5 bet with his caddie that he would make par - but 10 minutes later was paying out.
Borrego, winner of the Madeira Island Open in March, finished the day two ahead of Dredge, Surrey's Andrew Raitt and Belgian Nicolas Vanhootegem.
The Malaga golfer began on the back nine with three successive birdies, turned in 31 and then sank a 25-foot putt on the 349-yard fifth for his 66.
Defending champion Coltart also double-bogeyed the last hole - in his case the 453-yard ninth - for a 73, while 2001 Rookie of the Year Paul Casey, joint runner-up last year, reached four under before double-bogeying the seventh.
Raitt expected to be playing in Luxembourg this week, but after catching a ferry to Calais he was telephoned and told he could play in Newcastle and headed straight back.
"I left home at 4.30am yesterday, stopped driving at 11pm, then got up again at 5.30am to complete the journey," he said.