He found a fairway bunker on the long 7th, hacked out sideways then hi a 3 wood as hard as he could. Still 80 yards short, his fourth shot was just a couple of feet from the hole for a par save.

Lytham was playing with the wind into on the front nine, not the usual direction, so Andy's outward nine of 34 was very good and he could afford a few mistakes coming home and still be sure of going through. Despite another lay-up iron on the short 13th which found a fairwat bunker and resulted in a bogey, Andy wasn't interested in just qualifying -

'I thought I could get the low score.' said Andy.

He reeled off three birdies in a row from the 14th, tough holes even downwind. A 9 iron to 3ft at the 14th was followed by a 20ft putt at the awesome 15th then after a superb drive, Andy hit a low cut sand iron to 4ft at the 16th.

A long drive down the 17th left Andy with a wedge into the green where Open Championships have been won, and lost. Unfortunately he was just in the rough and blocked that approach so that he was short-sided and could not save par.

Matt Cryer needed a 70 to make it through and missed out by two. It was two early bogeys which cost Matt, dropped shots which Matt tried to get back to no avail. There was really no way for Russell Heritage to recover from his opening 78.

Back in our County, our Seniors played another match last week and this time it was an honorable draw.

The match was held at Sutton Golf Club and although rain was forecast the teams managed to get through the morning matches without incident. Warwickshire won through with a score of 4? to 1?.

The afternoon matches were interrupted around the middle of the back 9 when the course became flooded.

Once again Warwickshire 'blooded' a new recruit in the name of Barry Webster from Moor Hall and as with Mike Payne from the last match he performed admirably and will add strength to an already feared team amongst the Midland contingent. Once the respective Team Captains managed to dry themselves off it was decided that a half was the best result to promote the spirit in which these matches continue to be played.