Throughout the Summer Jamie has been accumulating Midland Order of Merit points, to such an extent that he he is very close to winning it.

So when Jamie opened with a 66 (-4) in the first round, the 'form' horse was in front, by two from Handsworth's own star young player, Ryan Wallace, last year's Boys Captain.

'I had it going, to be fair', said Jamie of his six birdies, and an opening approach which was his best shot of the day, 'I Had 170 into the 10th (my first hole). I nailed a 6 iron, to a foot.'

Ryan also started off the 10th and didn't find his opening birdie until the 18th. He immediately added to that at the 1st then finished off with two more birdies on 8 and 9 to shoot 68.

In T3rd was Andrew Cheese, last year's Top pro, Runner-Up in the Open Elliott Forbes, and pro Rob Challis.

'I was on the par train' for most of the round', said Cheese.

'My highlight was a 'slam-dunk' eagle at 15' said Elliott of his holing his second at the par four.

Rob Browning, one of our team who go to the County Finals in two weeks time, was the reverse of Cheese -

'I was on the bogey train in the morning (he shot a 73) - just a couple of poor shots here and there.'

'In the afternoon I was more aggressive - -2 through nine after eagling the 18th - but then I went double double.'

That would finish Rob's hopes of the Open title itself but his two round total set the mark for the TP Cooke trophy for the best 72 hole total by an Amateur in this and the Amateur.

Handsworth players, Ryan apart, were not having the best of days. Karl Smith only wanted to forget his two rounds whilst County Captain Dave Westwood carded a 73 and a 76. Their Professional though had other ideas after an opening 72 -

'I just got too aggressive', said Jak Hamblett, 'With nine holes to go I thought I needed -4 to win (at least) the Pro prize - how wrong was I.'

A drive into a bush on the par five 5th was just one of Jak's errors which saw him come home with a 73, to miss out by two on that prize.

Cheese would add a 73 to his opening 70 to post the winning total, only to be matched by one of Warwickshire's elder statesman Olton's Charlie Haynes with rounds of 71 and 72.

It was then left to the amateurs to battle it out for the trophy. It would not be a double for Tom Ibbertson, playing with the real bookies favourite on the day, and his 73 and 74 would not be good enough, by one shot, to take the TP Cooke Trophy.

That was Elliott Forbes' after he closed with a 73.

'I'm gutted', said Elliott, I go and birdie the 14th to get back to +1 then bogey 15 through 17.'

The TP Cooke Trophy was a happy surprise, won with a four round total of 286.

That left just two people to challenge Jamie, who was actually having 'a bit of a mare' as his stumbled through his third nine in +3.

Three putts on 8 and 9 didn't though help the young Handsworth star, and his chance was gone when he flew the 16th with his wedge approach. A birdie at the 18th sealed second place by a shot from Paul Walker, and 3rd place in the TP Cooke Trophy.

'Its not been the best year for me - bar in matches for the 2nds', said the Atherstone member who has been near invincible in that competition, ' I have struggled - and this is the turn-around - I just hit it well,'

Paul had three birdies in each of his rounds of 72 then 70 - and was the only played to cope with the slippery greens and tight pin placement of Handoswrth's par three 6th, carding two 2s.

'There were half a dozen pins that were really close to be too severe', said another Paul - Atherstonian Paul Broadhurst, swapping the pouring rain of the KLM Dutch Open for sunny Handsworth - and playing as Warwickshire Professional Champion.

'That's not an excuse - I just played garbage all day. I putted like Stevie Wonder', said Paul of his opening 76 then best of the afternoon 68.

'No you weren't that good', replied Paul's Caddie, 'If you had putted anything like, you would have won this easily.'

'For nine of the last ten years I have been in the Top 10 of the Putting stats. This year I am not in the Top 100.'

Paul has only played 16 European Tour events this year, five on the remainder of his medical exemption, eight on his low ranking category, and just three invites. He will be trying to regain his full card at Q School this November -

'I'm still as long as I was, the game is good (not bad) - but its just the idiot holding the putter'

'No I won't be going to the long stick, not to Hurrion - I just have do do what I used to do.'

'I talked with Andy (Sullivan) at the Czech Open and saw him play a bit. he's long enough and he's good - only time will tell if he's good enough to make it.'

'The pins were just too tight some times - they do it at all the events we play in but you have to try and get it up there, to give yourself a chance - then you miss it by just a couple of feet and you've left yourself something smelly - really smelly.'

Paul first won the Open, as an Amateur, at Olton in 1985 - he said he will be back next year to try and create a new record of winning from both codes.

But taking his first Open was no easy finishing nine for Jamie.

'I missed a few putts then had a three putt bogey on 15. I really need that birdie on 18.'

That came with a big drive and a near perfect mid-iron approach to 25 ft from where he two putted. He will go to the County Finals with good scores pouring out of his clubs and golf game - and a chance to show how good his 'senior' golf game is - but with a smile on his face - whatever happens.

For a full list of scores CLICK HERE

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