The first round of any Championship is always one of establishing a good enough round to keep in contention. As early finishers came into the clubhouse, many scores were in the 80 s but slowly 77 s were handed in by Peter Clarke, Nick Clifford and from the first team, Bill Nicolson, with 78 s from Andy Kearns, Dave Westwood, Andy Jones and Andy Colley.

These were very good rounds in the conditions but were 2 shots adrift of the first leader in the Clubhouse, Ben Groutage from home club Walmley. Ben left to go to University at Loughborough last Autumn with a very respectable handicap but has found more consistency through the Winter and into the Spring. His 75 was of no surprise to the Club professional who predicted that Ben would not falter in the afternoon - as was the case. It was Gareth Jenkins from Kenilworth who was the only player to manage to beat Ben s score with a 74, on a day when John Stubbings, Secretary of the Warwickshire Union, could not find an SSS for the morning round.

If you click on Gareth s name on the main score board, you ll see how consistent Gareth s play was. Three other players were of mention for the morning round. Possibly the favourite, Peter Chalkley (although he now freely admits for the next few years he will be a more recreational golfer than he has been as his family grows up), finished with 79, Peter Gordon (also now a family man) was another 77 and James Hemphill, with barely a game every three weeks was also on 77.

In the afternoon, Ben Groutage remained calm and kept his approach shots well under the strong wind. With a 76, he finished as some of the leading contenders were turning after their 27th holes. Gareth Jenkins had dropped out of contention with a handful of bogies in his opening nine, Peter Gordon found trouble as he started for home on his final 18 having played excellent golf going out, and Peter Chalkley could not add his best putting to fine iron play.

It was James Hemphill who was now in front of everyone, having turned in level par 35 hitting approach irons he would have very rarely ever had in his previous years as a Walmley Member. What would normally have been wedges or short irons were now medium to long irons . It was a 3 iron into the win at the short 11th (to take 3), then two birdies at the next two par 5 s to leave Hemphill at 3 over for the Championship with 5 left to play.

A bogey at the dangerous 15th and at the 17th, with its tricky pin position left James needing to par the last for a level par 72. Downwind to a three tiered green with the pin just a few feet from the back fringe, James was assured and holed the final putt that gave him the title calmly, having called on all his winning experience to play the last 5. With a plane to catch for his Summer holiday, Ian Stranks also stayed in control of his game to add a 75 to his first round 77 for one of his very best performances in a Warwickshire event.

He was the leading score in the winning Kenilworth Team of himself, Gareth Jenkins and Rob Steele who also managed a top 5 placing.

The Nett trophy went to ... James Hemphill who was congratulated by his Club Captain and the many Walmley Members who came the presentation for this most prestigious of Warwickshire Championships. "I could be a plus golfer if I practiced a bit more", said the very talented Hemphill afterwards, "But I am busy at work" James works for leading Accountancy firm Price Waterhouse and had taken a day of work for this Championship - "I won t be taking champagne into work tomorrow - they are a boring bunch" added the now holder of just about every major Midland golfing title. He did toast his success that night though.