SIMON Harrison, runner-up in the PGA East Region order of merit, was three up at turn against Tim Cooper at Newton Green. He needed to win by four to reach the quarter-final of the Paul Wright and Co Suffolk PGA Winter match play.

SIMON Harrison, runner-up in the PGA East Region order of merit, was three up at turn against Tim Cooper at Newton Green.

He needed to win by four to reach the quarter-final of the Paul Wright and Co Suffolk PGA Winter match play.

Harrison looked odds on to reach the last eight at the expense of Andrew Robinson of Felixstowe Ferry who had beaten Cooper 3 and 1 on his home course in the first match to be played.

The Cooper versus Harrison match started on the 10th tee. Once they moved into the newer part of the Newton Green course Harrison found it hard to read the greens while Cooper's chips and putts were generally far more accurate.

In the end Harrison was the winner, but was only one up which was not enough to see him through.

Cooper was beaten finalist last year when the final stages were played out at Ufford Park. He battled all the way even though he could no longer qualify.

Harrison said: “I really enjoyed the game and wish Andrew Robinson the best of

The holder, Neil Mitchell of the Bury Golf Range, is also out. His 5 and 4 defeat luck. I was impressed with the way he played when we halved our match at Thorpeness.”at Rushmere left Kelvin Vince with a 100% record after victories over Andrew Tokley at Stoke by Nayland and Tim Huffer at Waldringfield.

Now Vince faces Robinson at Rushmere. Both players know the course well, Robinson having been a junior at the club. It was also the venue where he beat Tim Dainty in the final of the Suffolk Junior match play. To add extra spice Robinson used to work for Vince in the pro shop at Rushmere before moving to Felixstowe to undergo his training under Ian MacPherson after he turned professional.

Alex Lucas, who started his new job at Waldringfield on Thursday, had an easy passage through to the last eight but Robin Mann, after beating Simon Reeve in a match full of errors at Aldeburgh, then had a real battle against James Peasey at Woodbridge.

Mann won 2 and 1 hung it was in the balance for a long time despite Mann having four birdies.

A triangular match on Sunday between Jon Markham (Stowmarket) Kevin Earp (Bury Golf Range) and Tony Dobson (Stonham Barns) was switched to Purdis.

Earp was one down to both players with two to play. He birdied both the final holes to win one up against both opponents. He meets Mann in the quarter-final. Dobson beat Markham 2 and 1.