Double delight for Dodd

GOLF

LAWRENCE Dodd of Bury St Edmunds has completed the Suffolk amateur strokeplay and matchplay double for the second year in succession.

He was given a close battle by Andrew Tokley of Stoke-by-Nayland in yesterday's matchplay final at Aldeburgh which produced some quality golf.

Dodd retained the President's Mashie with victory on the final green in a contest that looked like swinging the other way on the previous hole.

Tokley put his tee shot within 10 feet on the short par three 17th hole which may be called Canham's Calamity in Suffolk Golf Union circles after the 11 he took in the strokeplay.

The match was level and Dodd's tee shot left him with a putt of almost 35 feet from the right side of the green.

It looked like Tokley's chance to grab the lead at a crucial stage, but Dodd holed his putt when the pressure was really on. Tokley, whose earlier putting had been so impressive, missed when he most needed to see the ball drop.

There was still a chance for Tokley up the last when Dodd was in the rough with his second shot. Tokley's second ended in a bunker short and to the left of the green. Dodd came out quite well so Tokley needed a sand save to win the hole. It was not to be and he conceded.

Tokley led at the turn, lost the momentum, but drew level on the 204-yard 15th when he sunk a good putt for a birdie to keep the match right in the melting pot. It was interesting tactically with Dodd happy to concede distance on the drives by using irons off the tee to avoid the fearsome Aldeburgh rough.

Unlike the football World Cup the Suffolk matchplay saw four of the county's best players reach the semi-finals. In the first semi-final Danny Barton, having problems with his contact lenses, called it a day when six down to Dodd at the turn. It was a pity because a battle between Dodd and Barton at his best would have been well worth watching.

The other semi-final between Tokley and James Wright of Rushmere was a classic. Wright looked sure of his par four on the 18th hole which he expected would be good enough to take the match down the 19th.

It was not to be. Tokley won with a 25-foot birdie putt which left Wright stunned. It was ironic that a putt of a similar length by Dodd later in the day would leave Tokley knowing just what it feels like to be beaten by a really long putt at a crucial stage.

Dodd only managed to beat Aldeburgh's Tim Hedin 2 and 1 in the first round on Saturday. Andrew Robinson, the Rushmere teenager, beat club colleague Will Wright 2 and 1 on Saturday morning and then went down narrowly to James Wright in the afternoon after a good fight.

The Aldeburgh course was in excellent condition although, as always, no liberties could be taken with rough or gorse.

Details

First round: L Dodd (Bury St Edmunds) bt T Hedin (Aldeburgh) 2 and 1, J Maddock (Gorleston) beat A Middle (Woodbridge) 5 and 4, G Amos (Gorleston) beat R Pudney (Diss) 5 and 4, D Barton (Rushmere) beat A Holmes (Gorleston) 5 and 3, A Tokley (Stoke-by-Nayland) beat S Vandervord 7 and 6, N Redding (Hintlesham Hall) beat T Dawson (Rookery Park) 5 and 4, J Wright (Rushmere) beat J Philpot (Aldeburgh Artisans) 2 and 1, A Robinson (Rushmere) beat W Wright (Rushmere) 2 and 1.

Quarter-finals: Dodd beat Maddock 4 and 3, Barton beat Amos one up, Tokley beat Redding 4 and 3, J Wright beat Robinson two up.

Semi-finals: Dodd beat Barton conceded after nine; Tokley beat J Wright one up.

Final: Dodd beat Tokley two up.

THREE club champions from Suffolk, Will Wright (Rushmere), Jason Finch (Woodbridge) and Jeremy Procter (Hintlesham Hall) face a field of 120 next Tuesday at the East Sussex National Golf Club near Uckfield.

They are competing in the Golf World-Jameson champion of champions tournament South East final. The top five will qualify for the final of the event at Woodhall Spa on August 27 and 28.