‘I opened with a 7, I was clueless with the putting, and anytime I missed a green I could not get up and down. I am playing good in parts, poor in others – my 66 last week (in the Brabazon) – that was OK though I took 30 putts.

‘My next event is the British Amateur – I need to stop chucking shots at the course.’

Rob had a 68 in his second round, to make it into the Matchplay in June, but not good enough to challenge for the lead although he played the last 8 (his first holes in the afternoon) in 2 under, better than anyone else.

It would not be a good day for the Evans brothers, or Maxstoke, their home club. Andy Evans never challenged whilst Chris Evans, preparing for the British Amateur as well, started with a 69.

‘I didn’t get it going on the par 5s in the afternoon’, said Chris, disappointed with a second round of 74 which made him the last qualifier for the Matchplay, ‘I should have made my score on the front nine and protected it on the back nine – and did neither.’

Rob Browning was not at his best (three 7s over the day) and Trials winner Ben Stafford improved in the afternoon but not enough. Both were playing for a place in the top 25 (and ties) to make it through to the Warwickshire Open, at Olton, on 1st September.

Other pre championship favourites included Paul Randle (Nuneaton) but Paul struggled on the greens and with 33 and 32 putts in his two 71s, good enough for 4th place, but a putting stat that Paul was not happy with.

Ladbrook provided the Champion last time the Amateur was held on its beautiful course. Was there any pressure on the home players, notably the two Andys, Messrs Colley and Jones?

‘No, there was no pressure at all from the members!’ said Colley after his second round 68 for 141. With a live scoring leaderboard being broadcast over the Internet, and available to players and spectators alike, everyone knew how tight things had become when Matt Cryer had gone out in 3 over for his first 8 of the afternoon.

Colley’s 68 was in his own words ‘about as good as it could have been’ and he added that he had been ‘hit and miss’ all day, having saved his morning round with three birdies in his last four holes before lunch. That 141 total was the second such score to go on the leaderboard, to join Andy Jones as possible winners of the Amateur.

Jones would rue his bogies at the 2nd and 3rd in what could have been a stunning round of golf. He drove in the water on the 7th and still made par and there were other chances that went astray. In the final countback, Colley would take the silver medal for second, on his score for the last six.

From the Junior ranks, Andy Sullivan was just not quite on form and his 71 with a 77 was disappointing but he his hitting the ball so well, more wins will not be far away. Sullivan will play in the Midland Schools next week, and in the County 10 for Juniors. Dale Marson has just missed out on selection for the latter but he will be a very important part of the Warwickshire Schools team and his 72 and a 71 was excellent golf, good enough to make the Matchplay and just reward for his work on his golf this year, which includes a number of very low rounds and Rugby, his home club.

There was one Junior whose play for 29 holes kept him in the lead, a player that was not expected to be fit for the Amateur, let alone play so well (although he was unhappy with his swing).

‘I wasn’t happy all day’, said Jak Hamblett, Warwickshire Boys Captain, playing only his second round since last September.

Jak has been injured for the last six months and it was just last Wednesday that he went out to practice, ready for playing in a medal at his home club Handsworth – Jak shot 77.

His opening 68 was a round which could have been much lower, a number of chances that stayed in the ‘jaws’ of the hole. In the afternoon, Jak could not take advantage over the opening 10, staying at level for that round and –3 overall. With the final 8 playing so difficult, any mistake would lead to another, although Jak bucked that trend when after taking six at the 16th (the toughest par four on the course), Jak immediately replied with a birdie at the next.

The 17th was the most difficult pin position, one that would claim a number of ‘victims’ over the day, notably Graham Hargreaves, who took an 8 in his second round 71. Graham was looking for top 8 and just missed out but he will play in the Open in September.

Hamblett was probably not quite ready for 36 holes but he will be next week when he will now lead the Warwickshire Boys team at the County 10s, having taken the palce of Andy Evans, who cannot now play, on the basis of his opening round. Jak is a formidable competitor as shown by his previous successes.

For Matt Cryer, this was one title that has eluded the Coventry No 1 (and Warwickshire) as he has progressed for good junior to International player and possibly a move to the professional ranks.

‘The morning round was about right – I was quite happy with that score and I played pretty solid.

‘The afternoon – that was a roller coaster. I started with two pars then bogied the next three. When I got to the front nine, I made four (a birdie) at the 1st then hit it very close at the 2nd and 3rd.’

It was now that Cryer had to make sure he did not give anything away and misses from close range were such possibilities. A tricky downhiller at the 5th was the birdie Matt was looking for and he hit a 3 wood to 3ft at the 7th for eagle, though it was not all over.

Cryer had to up and down the ball on both the 8th and the 9th to be sure of posting sub 140 which he did, to his relief –

‘It’s a long time waiting for this, and now its arrived.

‘The greens were very good and the course was a good test as well. They set it up to a fair test without being ridiculously difficult – the 17th was the only really tough pin position. In the afternoon, when the greens got really hard, it was another kind of test altogether.’

Matt will go on to play in the Champion of Champions tournament, and it will be the home Club Ladbrook who will be in the English Clubs Championship, after they beat Coventry by three shots for the team trophy.

To cap it all, Tom Edmond, from Ladbrook, won the Silver trophy for the Best Nett – a great day for a club who looked after everyone very well and thanks go to their Captain Jeff Hemming for presenting the prizes.

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