Danny Western wins Seaton Robson Trophy at Aldeburgh – report and scores

Ipswich's Habebul Islam (orange shirt) receives his prize at the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters with Harrison Arnold and Cedric Gugler at Nizels Golf Club. Photograph: CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)

Danny Western of Gorleston, who has been playing in Mid-Amateur events in Europe, won the Seaton Robson Trophy at Aldeburgh with gross rounds of 70 and 74.

He plays off plus one but still won the trophy which is settled on handicap.

Western finished five shots ahead of Calvin Sherwood of Rookery Park with Jed Seeley of Newton Green a further four shots back.

Colchester’s John Blackmore was runner-up on handicap. The leading Aldeburgh player was Will Wright with 155.

Mike Jones, winner last year, was down the field.

Two former Aldeburgh greenkeepers, Antony Kirwan and Danny Perring, are now doing well as course managers at Romford and Gorleston. They were unable to conquer a course they both know well.

It was a stern test with a strong breeze all day and very firm, fast-running conditions. On the advice of the STRI agronomist Paul Woodham, who inspected the course the previous day, the greens were not double-cut or rolled to avoid them being too fast.

They ran at about 10.6 on the Stimp in the morning, quickening during the day with the combination of the sun and a drying wind. The competitors found it a tough test but seemed to relish the challenge.

The agronomist advised that the R&A will be really impressed if Aldeburgh can present the course at this level for next year’s Jacques Leglise Trophy which they are hosting.

This event is the annual nine-a-side match between the under 18 boys of Great Britain and Ireland and the Continent of Europe.

Seaton Robson Trophy

At Aldeburgh.

Gross scores (Aldeburgh members unless stated).

144: Danny Western (Gorleston) 70 74.

149: Calvin Sherwood (Rookery Park) 76 73.

153: Jed Seeley (Newton Green) 75 78.

154: J Blackmore (Colchester) 80 74, S Byford (Ipswich) 79 75, C Duffy (Gorleston) 75 79. 155: W Wright 79 76, A Sharrocks (Colchester) 78 77, C Vince (Haverhill) 77 78.

158: J Keeley (Bawburgh) 81 77.

Other scores

163: M Duszynski (Diss) 80 83, C Taylor (Diss) 84 80.

164: W Jacques (Halesworth) 82 82, P Ogden (Halesworth) 80 84.

165: A Patten 80 85.

166: J Levermore 87 79. M Jones 80 86, T Hedin 77 89.

167: A Kirwan (Romford) 86 81.

168: R Harston (Felixstowe Ferry) 85 83, N Robson 82. 86, R Dzierozynski (Woodbridge) 82 86.

169: J Harrison 84 85.

170: J Ollington 85 85.

171: A Sheldrake (Felixstowe Ferry) 82 89, M Closs (Diss) 83 88.

173: A Whittaker (Woodbridge) 83 90.

176: G Robinson (Woodbridge) 87 89.

177: D Rosser (Woodbridge) 90 87.

178: K Woods (Gorleston) 87 91, J Davey (Fynn Valley) 87 91.

Among those who did not complete both rounds were D Perring, T Hunt, B Sayers, L Thompson and D Crosby.

- Suffolk men, confidence boosted by their Anglian League victory over Cambridgeshire, meet Norfolk at Hintlesham on Sunday.

Paul Waring returns after missing the last match because of his commitment in the Brabazon Trophy. He takes over from Chris Fleming who is unavailable.

James Biggs, winner of the Lagonda Trophy, was well placed in the Berkshire Trophy last week until a final round of 79 saw him slide down the leader board.

Norfolk have appointed Bawburgh professional Michael Few as manager and coach. Last year’s captain Kevin Webb stood down and has not been replaced.

Few, who played on the European Tour between 1986 and 1988, spent many years as head professional at Weston Park.

Although Norfolk have already lost Anglian League matches against Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, they have strengthened their team to face Suffolk.

Toby Briggs of Dunston Hall, who plays off plus four, is back from the University of San Francisco. He missed the match-play in this month’s British Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen, but is a formidable Anglian League opponent.

Carl Green will be new to the present crop of Suffolk players. The 47-year-old has regained his amateur status. He played in the 1994 Open Championship at Turnberry when, although missing the cut, he finished ahead of Phil Mickelson and Phil Woosnam.

Jack Yule has turned professional since last year but Simon Clark and Iain Yule have been tough opponents in recent years.

Suffolk: Jack Cardy, Sam Debenham (both Hintlesham), James Biggs (Diss), Josh Cottrell (Rushmere), Paul Waring, Adam Sheldrake (both Felixstowe Ferry), Gregor Tait (Aldeburgh), Calvin Sherwood (Rookery Park).

Norfolk: Iain Yule (King’s Lynn), Simon Clark and Carl Green (both Great Yarmouth and Caister), Warren Bates (Heacham Manor), Giles Evans (Sprowston Manor), Toby Briggs (Dunston Hall), Tom Nudd (Royal Norwich), Jack Cullington (Bawburgh).

The Suffolk second team, who top the table with two victories, meet Norfolk at Caldecott Hall.

Suffolk: Chris Bartrum, Charlie Taylor (both Diss), Jed Seeley (Newton Green), James Tyler, Jasper Johnson, Sam Byford (all Ipswich), Josh Robertson (Aldeburgh) and Ben Sayers (Felixstowe Ferry).

- Germany’s Laurenz Schiergen was runaway winner of the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters at Nizels Golf Club. He was 14 under par after four rounds, 10 shots ahead of his nearest rival.

It was a tremendous experience for 17-year-old Habebul Islam of Ipswich to deal with the pressure of playing in the final match in the third and fourth rounds. His first two rounds of 71 and 70 put him in contention.

The final two rounds of 74 and 73 saw him end fourth equal with Harrison Arnold, who is in the England team with him in Ireland, and Swiss player Cedric Gugler.

Suffolk’s other three players missed the cut. George Fricker, Alfie Halil and Tom Auchterlonie went home after two rounds.

While Habebul was in Kent he was receiving an award in his absence at the seventh annual Suffolk Pita Festival organised by the Bangladeshi Support Centre at the Suffolk New College.

It is good that his sporting achievements are recognised.