2024 Platinum
Only Duncan Muscroft stood between the Kedleston Park pro and the title he's coveted for the last 10 years, and that play-off went no farther than the first extra hole, the 453-yard 18th. Safely on to 18 feet in two, Wesselingh watched as the Leeds-born Muscroft, now teaching near Venice, chipped his third from 15 feet off the back of the green to around nine feet.
The champion-in-waiting watched in agony as his own putt stopped an inch to the right of the hole, but his tribulations were over a minute later when Duncan's putt stayed above ground.
So emotional was Wesselingh that his first two attempts to phone home within minutes of his victory failed - he couldn't remember his number.
"I'm just in bits!" he exclaimed. "This championship's caused me so much grief over the years. I know a lot of folk use this expression, but it is a dream come true."
All day the scoreboard operators around the course were working overtime, the lead changing every few minutes throughout an absorbing afternoon.
In turn Tony Nash from Cornwall, Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool), Mark Belsham (Stonelees), Paul Simpson ()West Berks), Muscroft and Wesselingh had their spell at the top, and Muscroft in particular might have hoped he'd done enough to win after a best-of-the-week 65, seven under par for 279.
Son of the great Leeds player, Hedley Muscroft, who enjoyed many a four-ball success with Ryder Cup player, Lionel Platts, Duncan scarcely competes at all, teaching 45 hours a week at the Montecchia club 40 minutes from Venice.
Wesselingh, though, was not to be thwarted. To keep himself calm during the round, he decided he'd think of something sad, and didn't mind admitting it was a picture in his head of his son Sean crying.
He had little to grieve over, though, in a round of 68, comprising five birdies and two bogeys. "I holed a massive putt at the 13th for a birdie. That was really important, because, although I didn't want to look at scoreboards I knew Duncan was one ahead."
After coming close to an eagle at the 512-yard 15th (he hit in a seven iron that gave him a sporting chance), he parred the last three holes, coming close with his birdie attempt at the 18th.
His playing partner, John Wells from Beverley & East Riding, was far from overshadowed, himself grinding out a 69 for third place on his own.
What proved to be a blow from which he never recovered was the disastrous eight Nash ran up at the long sixth. His second found the hay, his third ("I just tried to get too brave") a fairway bunker, he took two to extricate himself, a bad bounce afflicted the next, and two putts later his championship was over.
Some good final rounds did wonders for the finals places of a few. Ian Walley from Mickleover shot a 66 to tie fourth with Keenan and Mark Sheppard, who represents Vicars Cross. Albert MacKenzie's birdies at 12, 13, 15, 16 and 18 hoisted him to tied seventh with Keenan and PGA Cup man Fraser Mann who left the course rueing his opening 79. No one matched the three other rounds of 69, 67 and 68.