Matt Cryer was first to make a move with an opening eagle (to Steele's birdie). Rob then took a huge step backwards with a double bogey at the 3rd and parred the next three. He then hit a 7 iron stiff at the par three 7th to start a run of four birdies in a row, perhaps in part due to Rob changing his putting grip from reverse overlap to conventional. Two holes later, Matt joined Rob chasing birdies, a run which ended with a miss from 1ft at the 13th.

Neither player could get up at the par five 16th and Steele had to chip and putt for his par at the 17th. On the 18th Steele played first to the green, hitting a 9 iron to 15ft. Cryer responded by putting his own approach to 10ft. For his eight birdie of the day, Rob calmly slotted home his putt and stood back to Matt miss. It was Rob's first Midland Order of Merit win from his first MoM event of 2004.

All the best players in the Midlands will be back at Coventry Finham and Kenilworth this Friday and Saturday for the Midland Amateur 2004. On the Thursday, the field of 106 will play a round over each course, with the cut taking the best players on to another 36 and Coventry on the Saturday. Warwickshire may well have over 20 players in the field and the link below will take you to the Midland Golf Union web site for starting times

After the disappointments of the County 6s at both Senior and Junior level, it would be great for the County to have the Midland Amateur Champion. One player who could well contend is David Harris, from Kenilworth, who is at College in the US. There is a profile on David and his College life in the Features section of County men, and it is repeated in 'Juniors' via the LH navigation.

Starting times - CLICK

HERE

In two weeks time, the 1st and 2nds will play their second Midland League matches of 2004 - your support would be very welcome at Edgbaston for the 1sts but the results and editorial about both matches will appear here on the Sunday night.