For the vast majority of the field, it was as if they had walked into a US Open set up and forgotten how to play, A score of 75 seemed somewhere like par and few were getting close. Our best morning card came from Tom Ibbertson with a 75 followed by Rob Holland with a 76.

One player, who did complete all 18 holes, found it much easier and with a 69 comfortably led his Derbyshire team to near the morning lead. That player was Craig Young.

Unlike several teams, all our scores were in the 70s (just) but our best five total added up to 383 which was 9 back from the leaders Lincolnshire on 374. They had a two shot advantage over Derbys with Notts and Worcs four back on 378.

So, we needed lots of scores in the lower 70s. There were some good sign when Michael McCormack turn -1 for his opening afternoon nine holes and Tom Ibbertson stood on the 9th tee -2 for the day.

There were some problems though, as there were for nearly all the teams. Rob Holland made three errors and was +9 for his opening nine. Adam Ferraro was trying his damdest all day but couldn't buy a put ? he would chip in at his 36th for one of just three birdies all day. It would mean keeping an 80 in our second round of five scores.

Michael found a ditch and finished with a 75. Nathan Ray was level with nine to go and birdied the tough long par three 9th for a 72, a score matched by Boys Captain Jamie Carney who looks just a round or two away from a load of low scores.

Having started with a triple bogey in the morning 'Don't ask me how I managed it', said Jamie after he had finished. These scores were good and if Tom Ibbertson had found a 65 , we would have tied for the lead.

65s don't come as often as lunar eclipses at Maxstoke, especially not under these sort of Championships conditions, and Tom is shaping up to be one of our best, with all the shots at his disposal. Until a player is at the very very top of his abilities, that sort of scoring is impossible and at the end of a long day, a few errors turned -2 into +4 for his final round.

All the team will need to put away any thoughts about not being at their best on this one day, and concentrate on individual glory as well as pushing Worcestershire as hard as they can for the Midland League title.

Worcestershire are now in 'pole' position for the Midland League, and we will need help if we are to take that title back having lost to them in the opener for 2009. They will also be taking our place in the English Finals after they strung together impressive scoring of three 75s, a 74 and finally a 70 to overhaul Derbyshire by two shots, the 70 coming from Matt Twedell. Good luck in three months time to our long time rivals!

Leicestershire included a 68 from Greg Eason but that wasn't good enough for third, which went to Notts. We finished in 6th, ten shots more than Worcestershire.

A selection of pictures has been added to the Junior team Gallery in 'County Men