All central pictures © Phil Sheldon Golf Picture Library

I had a word with the rules guys today and they have given me some tips for when I am round the green. Dad help me and I was pleased with today , said Elson afterwards. His 71 and a total of +1 for XX place represents and excellent first appearance as a Tour pro in England.

David Park was the third sub 70 in, beating his very illustrious playing partner Bernard Langer by 8 shots with a 69. The fourth, and possibly last 60 s round was from Klas Eriksson who came home in 30 for a 67, including an eagle two at the 10th, something Justin Rose had also achieved in his (Rose s) only sub par round earlier on in the morning - Rose hit his three wood twice, once to the edge of the green and the next a bunt from 20ft straight into the whole.

The score of the day was from Richard S Johnson, back from the States where he qualified for his card last year, to play in this 5 week significant segment of the European Tour. It was a fifth 60 s something - a very low 64 to be precise.

Four under after seven, Johnson was holding everything that he looked at, bar a 3ft birdie miss having hit one of the best approaches all day to the 9th.

When his tee shot at the 10th landing 30ft from the pin, that putt was a formality as was the 17 footer he drained on 14 after hitting it stiff at the previous hole. That left the Swede a -8 with two par 5 s to play so something very special, apart from a new course record, was on - something equivalent to Bernard Langer s demolishing of El Saler in the 90 s on a similar day to this where scoring was very difficult.

But Johnson was unable to gain fours at either the 15th or the 17th and his 50ft approach putt on 18 went 12ft by. That return was duly slotted though to match the 64 from Padraig Harrington, a card which wasn t signed and therefore doesn t count, much to the Irishman s chagrin.

All this left the three leaders and Cabrera. Scahill dropped two early shots and never looked comfortable. Cabrera was find things just as tough, especially after he found the water at the 9th and took 7.

Harrington took the early lead when he made four at the par five 3rd and Casey could not chip close. Casey rejoined the lead then took it on his own with threes at 5 and 6 and went two shots clear when Harrington took 5 at the ninth, only to do the same just minutes later.

Neither could take advantage at the 10th but by this point both were seeing another challenger to their disputed lead.

Having mad a pair of threes early on, Paul Lawrie then jumped two shots closer with a hole in one to the terribly difficult 7th green and became a real contender after a two at the short twelfth. He managed pars for the next two then couldn t take advantage on either 15 or 17. The Scotsman would need the two leaders to drop shots for him to have a chance.

Harrington obliged with bogeys at 12, 14 and then at the 17th, a hole he knew he had to birdie to put pressure on Casey, even though the young English star had made his own hash of 14. To follow that five, Casey smashed two shots onto the 15th and two putted for a four but he was nervously short to the 16th and only just made par there.

Such is the length that Casey possesses, a three wood was enough to put 17 well within range and a 5ft birdie put meant tournament over . It was controlled power from the tee leaving Casey with one of the shorter approaches to 18.

Lawrie had put a poor swing on his 18th tee shot and couldn t make the carry, dropping back with a six (for a 69) into a share of third place with Rolph Muntz and Stephen Scahill.

Harrington made his four for a round of 75, keeping hold of second on his own. This left Casey to push a mid iron onto the second tier of the 18th green, chip up and lag his bogey putt to just a couple of inches.

This means a great deal to me. I have fond memories of here. It was my first start on the Tour. I tied 12th and that set me up.

This was better than the A&Z and up there with the Scottish PGA (Casey s first tour win). I thought about what winning would bring last night and to spread the load so to speak, I though about how this could get me into the US Open and probably the Open itself.

I will not go to the US Tour School - I can safely say that. I would like to play on the US Tour, basing my schedule around the Majors but I enjoy these events and I can never see not playing 11 events here (to keep my card).

The reception was great. Several times it was hairs on the back of the neck standing up. I did enjoy it today - I didn t in the past but today I knew what to expect.

So finishes the B&H International - a fine fine winner who was grateful for a start in pro Golf and will be remembered for a long time, just like the Tournament itself.