This is just an example of some of what went on a day when players simply didn't want to grasp hold and keep the lead of the most prestigious golf championship in the county, on a course which has always rewarded the right shot and punished the errant and was universally praised by all the players.

The first player to drop out of contention was Fed Jewsbury with an opening 75. He followed that with a 70 which was the worst it could have been , and three shots shy of what was required for individual success.

Chris Dougill had a morning 72 and was there, right in the 'mix' with nine to go. His up-and-down morning golf was maybe a sign of what was to come when Chris topped a chip and in his own words 'had a disaster' - it produced a 74 and a total of 146, one worse than Jewsbury.

Atherstone's Gary Greenway plays Nuneaton more than most as the clubs are in the same scratch league. His level par 71 was a great start and with a bride at the 6th in the afternoon, the chance was there. Five bogies came on the back nine.

Nick Jenkins and Steve Brown were there or there about but Brown?s 71 left him on the 146 of Dougill, a score which was matched by the second sub par round of the afternoon from Stephen Creed to go with an opening 76.

Jewsbury was eventually tied by Tom Ibbertson, although the Hearsall No 1 was troubled by hitting it left all day. On the 16th in the afternoon he found a bunker from the tee, laid up before dumping his wedge approach into the left hand greenside bunker. It was plugged and from there Tom played cross green hockey - for one of those eights.

Jack Sant was last year?s runner-up and he can be a serene a golfer as any. He hits the ball monstrous distances and like Ibbertson was also in the 16th greenside bunker (his 34th hole) in two shots. A seven followed when Jack thinned it over the green but the damaged had been done before with bogies on the 11th and 13th and when a wedge shot was just slightly errant on the 14th, it bounced into a hedge to leave Jack with another double bogey -

'I hit the ball great all day which is really frustrating - I can't believe level par has won it ..'

That left three people who could win. Dave Westwood didn't think he had a chance when after a morning 71, playing with Andy Sullivan, he hit a superb approach to Nuneaton's 9th, his 36th. Sullivan was closer but putting across the ridge, rather than up it. He two putted then watched as Sullivan three putted - to lose by one!

Rob Browning can do anything on a golf course. He had a 72 in the morning then added four more bogies to his total to start his afternoon round. There followed five birdies so that when he stood on the 16th, he had a real chance of winning at level par. He then missed the golf course by around 100 yards and made a six with his second tee shot - for the second 8 to wreck a possible winner?s chances. Birdies at the 35th and the 36th (holing across the green) and he was runner-up, but what might have been.

Andy Sullivan averaged 65 round Nuneaton in 2009. His eagle and a handful of birdies should have produced an opening round of similar status but playing a wrong ball and more bogies meant a 70, and a one shot morning lead. For the whole of his second eighteen, nothing really happened. He never was better than one under par and the three putt at the last made it a nervous wait until his friend Browning told him if his score -

'I am relieved more than happy', said Andy, 'I really didn't hit a good shot when I was four under after four and I didn't have a lot to play with. I was just trying to get it round in a number.'

The number was 142 and level par. The history books will always say A Sullivan.

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For the results of the team competition CLICK HERE

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