'I picked three players for this who have never played in it before - they know what it is all about now!', said Graham.

Russell soon knew what it was all about when a wedge to the 11th flew, and flew. It went 30 yards over the green and the resulting 7 left Russell as white as his golf ball. He recovered well to card a 77 which might have seemed disappointing (to Russell and the many supporters) as it was a very early score in for the morning round. It soon turned in to something OK, and it was built on.

Northants GC (Church Brampton to many) is a tough course and its going to get tougher with soon to be implemented improvements. Players of the class of Karl Bridgen (Staffs) showed how difficult it could be with an opening 82.

Andy Sullivan was next in for us and he had some troubles but shot 72. Matt Cryer then added a par 70 which was the worst score it could have been. Warwickshire then moved into a top gear with firstly a 68 from Paul Randle and then the same score from Centenary Champion Ben Stafford. It was all topped off with another 70 from the 'ice man' of Warwickshire Juniors (and Seniors) in Rory Kirwan.

Paul lipped out with putts or approaches for eagle on three holes in a row, from the 9th to the 11th. Ben Stafford was even more impressive with five birdies and an eagle. His only error was a 7 on the long par four 16th, a hole which cost many Warwickshire players in some way.

All this added up to a four shot lead over Leicestershire, oft recent winners of the qualifying tournament, and that lead despite a 65 from David Gibson (equaling the course record at Northants) and a 66 from Jason Palmer (who reached the later stages of this years British Amateur - for the 'Foxes'.

'They all go off then a big fog descends'. said Graham Hargreaves, 'then about 3pm it lifts when the scores from the morning round are in. What you need is quality information.'

Its about 180 miles from Warwickshire to Princes, the venue of the 2006 County Finals, and Graham probably covered about that distance in his Captain's buggy as he zoomed up and down the course, notably to check on actual scores that were being handed in.

Graham did not try to play the shots for his players, as it has been said of Seve Ballesteros in the 1997 Ryder Cup. He did need something to calm his nerves though and missing matches for stress relieving puffs from a cigarette meant mid afternoon Graham was becoming as tense as his players.

Russell added a second round 75 which Andy Sullivan matched after dropping four shots in the last four. It then started to get much better as we regained the lead from Leics (after a second round of 68 from David Gibson who would win the individual prize). Firstly Matt Cryer came in with a 67, again as high a score as it could have been and an excellent sign of the form Matt will take to Moscow for the Russian Amateur Championship.

There was more classy golf from Paul Randle with a 69, featuring nothing holed after perfection from tee to green. Ben Stafford birdied the last for a 72 which with the news that Palmer (from Leics) was over par, left Rory Kirwan to also make four at the 18th (for a 73) to secure a 7 stroke win for our County.

Full scores will be posted here tomorrow but this was a course where in three of the four occasions the qualifying round has been played here, Warwickshire have won through. It our Centenary - as it is for the host club Princes. More signs - we will report them but if you are thinking of a late September break, then choose Kent and be there for the team!