Framlingham College retained the Dick Watson Trophy at Aldeburgh. They won the final by five holes against Bradfield.
Fifteen schools were represented, each playing two rounds of Stableford foursomes on the first day. The top two teams then met in the match play final on the second day.
Framlingham’s team was Hugh Curle (10 handicap), John Wybar (plus one), Jonny Newton (seven) and Matt Low (10).
After the first round they were in third place four points behind lunch-time leaders Glasgow Academy. The Scottish team fell away in the afternoon leaving Framlingham and Bradfield as the top two with Stowe and Uppingham third and fourth.
In the first match in the final Framlingham, giving six shots, ended four up. In the second match, receiving one shot, they were one up.
Although schools did not necessarily field all their Halford Hewitt and Grafton Morrish players, they were competitive and supported a competition which has grown since its change in format.
Last year Framlingham beat Winchester by one hole in the final. The 2014 winners were Woodbridge School who did not enter this year.
It was probably relevant that the Framlingham players knew the Aldeburgh course well.
During the competition there were three second shots holed on par fours. Two were at the sixth (Sam Moon of Ampleforth on Saturday morning and Jonny Newton of Framlingham in the final) and one at the 13th (Stewart Bannerman, Glasgow Academy).
This was just a fortnight after Chris Robinson (a member who was playing for Oxford and Cambridge GS) holed two shots in succession for a two at the 14th and a one at the 15th.
Stableford Foursomes scores (morning round first):
141: Framlingham College 69 72.
139: Bradfield 66.5 72.5.
138: Stowe 72.5 65.5.
135: Uppingham 63.5 71.5.
128: Charterhouse 64 64, Glasgow Academy 73 55. 127: Gresham’s 57.5 63.5. 125.5: Sherborne.
118: Westminster 63 55, Winchester 64 54, 115: Merchiston 56 60.112: Radley 59.5 53. 104: Oundle 51 54. 102: Eton 40 62. 100: Ampleforth 50 50.
- Richard Beadles, head professional at Royal Worlington, has completed the Suffolk PGA double winning the Mallinson Trophy for stroke-play and the Ransome Cup for match play.
Beadles romped into a five-hole lead after 12 holes against Neil Mitchell (Ipswich Golf Centre) in the match play final at Diss.
He dropped his first shot at the 13th. Then Mitchell won the 14th and 16th with birdies to be two down on the 17th tee.
Beadles was in deep rough with his second shot on the par five 17th. It looked as though Mitchell’s recovery might continue. It was not to be.
Beadles found his ball which he put to within 20-feet of the pin from 150 yards.
Mitchell needed a birdie, but he could not better a five so went down 2 and 1. Beadles received the trophy from sponsor Mike Downer of Laxfield Royal Oak.
Beadles had a first round bye before beating Keith Preston (Aldeburgh) at the second extra hole in a clash between two professionals who have coached Cambridge University.
In the other semi-final Mitchell beat Simon Reeve (Aldeburgh) 2 and 1 in a match that produced 10 birdies.
There were surprises on the first day. Will Farley, the Rushmere trainee who has made such a good impression on the PGA East Region, went out to Andrew Collison (Bungay). The in-form Brad Wilkins (Bramford Golf Centre) lost to Preston.
Alastair Hall (Halesworth), a former regular Suffolk county first team player, was surprised by Tony Dobson (Stonham Barns) who had a hole in one at the 148-yard 15th hole to close out a 4 and 3 victory.
In the afternoon Collison, a three-times Challenge Tour winner, beat Dobson 2 and 1. Reeve beat former Scottish amateur international Peter Latimer (Felixstowe Ferry) one up. Rob Salter (Woodbridge), having beaten Tim Cooper (Newton Green) in the morning, then lost to Mitchell one down.
After many years staging this event at Thorpeness, there was a switch to Diss which provided a different type of test on their well-presented course.
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