San Hufton has had back problems since his times as a Junior. Those are now gone though after some advice from a specialist. Sam's scorecard was not looking pretty after the first six, having just double bogied the latter short par four with its sloping green. He managed a three at the 8th then with over 125ft of putts and a chip in, birdied the 10th through to the 13th. Another birdie came at the 17th for good measure to the delight of the members.

The next best score was 70, posted by a hatful of players -

Antony Gascoigne came back in -3 for his 70, the first of the day.

Daniel Bardsley was 'Faldoesque' in hitting 16 greens and missing only two fairways. 33 putts though meant Daniel would not shoot in the 60s.

Andy Sullivan was paired with Rory Kirwan, Rory having taken over Andy's position as the best of the Warwickshire Juniors as Andy moves to Senior golf. Their 70s came in very different ways, Andy going out in three under and at that stage being five ahead of Rory.

Coming home Rory then birdied the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 18th whilst Sullivan found a horrible plugged lie in the greenside bunker from an almost perfect second to the par five 15th, then missed the 16th in the wrong place to rack up bogies at each of those holes. The 15th also cost Neil Taylor. Neil lost two balls yet still managed to walk off with only an 8.

In contention was Ben Senior plus the Defending Champion Paul Randle had not practised for a few days because of the weather and managed a 72, a score matched by Jack Hamblett who made a good run for the Championship two years ago at Ladbrook Park.

Neither Jon Wetton or Ryan Burton, returning from Us Colleges where they both have golf scholarships, were impressive or themselves impressed with how they played. Ryan is unfortunately for him at College where the golf team is of the very highest quality (they have just won the Inter Collegiate title again) and he just cannot quite make the team. Jon has just not played well all winter

As the afternoon play started, the two leaders made backwards moves. Ben Stafford treble bogied the 10th, his first of the afternoon, then bogied the next. He would make a three at the tough par four 12th and add two more birdies before he turned for his final nine holes.

Sam Hufton was back off scratch after his morning 67. He stayed in touch before making bogies at four holes in succession around the turn. It was Stafford's playing partner who was making the first move, the Defending Champion Paul Randle, by making birdies at the 11th and then the 15th as they moved into the last nine, Randle was just one shot back.

Anthony Gascoigne boarded the 13th tee of his round at -2 -

'I thought the day was made for Ben (Stafford). I thought then I needed a couple more and took driver on the 4th.'

The result was a block onto the road an OOB and a 7 that dropped Gascoigne out of the equation.

Dale Marson hit 16 greens in the afternoon but could hole nothing. The same was true for Jak Hamblett and when 'star' Junior Rory Kirwan reached the 7th (his 16th) in two, a par five which was to play a crucial part in both his chances and those of others, the challenge for the lead was there.

Russell Heritage had managed a 72 for his first 18 but he bogied the 6th and the par five 7th to turn in +1. Russell's final nine was simply spectacular with four birdies and an eagle for a 67 to post -3 for the day. He would though rue a horrible tee shot straight into the trees on the 12th for a bogey.

Andy Sullivan turned for home just one shot back and closed that gap with a birdie at the 1st, one of the toughest holes on the day. Chance after chance were then missed and he would post 143 (-1).

Ben Senior reached his 12th hole of the afternoon was at -2 for the day.

'I just hit my two worst tee shots of the day', said Ben, closing with two bogeys as a result and finishing at level par.

That just left Randle, Stafford and Kirwan in contention. Kirwan three putted the 7th, hit his approach to 8ft on the next but missed and could only par in to add a level par 71 to his morning 70.

Randle made a three at the par four 4th but that was as close as it got -

'I missed five greens in 36 holes', said Paul, 'I just couldn't buy a putt. It feels really disappointing because I played better tee to green than I did last year when I won. Ben just got up and down from everywhere.'

Having been described by Antony Gascoigne as the perfect player for the day - hitting the fairways and ahe greens - Ben Stafford simply showed that he is an all round excellent golfer with superb recovery golf.

Birdies at the 5th and the 7th saw Ben recover all his dropped shots from his first two holes in the afternoon and when he did miss greens, he got up and down just as Randle had described. Twenty-seven putts saw him home to another Warwickshire title - this time the 'big' one!

A full picture gallery, plus all the results, will be available very shortly