FOUR Suffolk players have qualified for the regional stage of the Faldo Series after the second round of the Midlands and East Anglia group over the Dukes course at Woburn.

By Tony Garnett

FOUR Suffolk players have qualified for the regional stage of the Faldo Series after the second round of the Midlands and East Anglia group over the Dukes course at Woburn.

The leading four players in each age group go forward to the Forest of Arden on August 29 after their rounds at Royal West Norfolk and Woburn.

Rhodri Harston of Felixstowe Ferry won the Under-16 section by three shots after a round of 71 at Royal West Norfolk and 79 in difficult overcast conditions at Woburn. In the same section Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) claimed fourth place after having to make up ground on his rivals. He had a first round of 78 and second round of 82. Patrick Spraggs of Stowmarket (77 and 88) missed out.

Michael Swan of Stoke by Nayland (72 and 80) finished runner-up in the Under-18 group one shot behind Joe Winfield of Woburn (70 and 81).

They were well clear of Sam Wall (West Essex) 76 and 81 and Stephen Chick (De Vere Dunston Hall) 75 84.

Owen Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) 81 and 88 and Miles Hooton (Colchester) with 78 and 91 had too much ground to make up.

Adam Woodhead of Newton Green took third place in the Under-15 section. Harry Whittle (Woburn) was a runaway winner but Woodhead was only one shot behind Luke Johnson of King's Lynn. Ben Herbert of Clacton was fifth.

It was disappointing for first round leaders James Reiss (Aldeburgh) and Ross Spurgeon (West Essex) in the Under-21 section.

Both missed out, as did Paul Dobson (Fynn Valley) and Phil Westley (Hintlesham). Ben Kerr of Newmarket Links, however, finished third.

There was a near-miss, too, for Sam Forgan of Stowmarket in the Under-17 section as he lost at the first hole in a play-off for fourth place with Lee Hitchcock of Kingsthorpe. Forgan was three off the tee and took a seven. Hitchcock was down in five.

Results round-up

Royal West Norfolk score first, Woburn second.

Under-21: 146: Ryan Evans (Wellingborough) 74 74; 152: Ben Paterson (Frilford Heath) 76 76; 154: Ben Kerr (Newmarket Links) 75 79 and Chase Davis (Costessey Park) 74 80. Other scores: 156: James Reiss (Aldeburgh) 73 83; 157: Ross Spurgeon (West Essex) 73 84; 158: Paul Dobson (Fynn Valley) 79 79; 166: Phil Westley (Hintlesham) 79 87.

Under-18: 151: Joe Winfield (Woburn) 70 81; 152: Michael Swan (Stoke by Nayland) 72 80; 157: Sam Wall (West Essex) 76 81; 159: Stephen Chick (De Vere Dunston Hall) 75 84. Other scores: 169: Owen Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) 81 88 and Miles Hooton (Colchester) 78 91.

Under-17: 154: Stuart Ballingall (De Vere Dunston Hall) 75 79, Gry King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 80; 164: Craig Thorburn (Gog Magog) 83 81. 165: Lee Hitchcock (Kingsthorpe) 77 88, Sam Forgan (Stowmarket) 77 88. Other score: 170: Calum Slowther (Royal Norwich) 82 88.

Under-16: 150: Rhodri Harston (Felixstowe Ferry) 71 79; 153: Charlie Bright (Royal Cromer) 73 80; 158: Alex Pinsent (Sandy Lane) 75 83. 160: Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) 78 82. Other scores: Patrick Spraggs (Stowmarket) 77 88.

Under-15: 148: Harry Whittle (Woburn) 74 74; 160: Luke Johnson (King's Lynn) 78 82; 161: Adam Woodhead (Newton Green) 79 82; 163: George Wilson (Woburn) 83 80. Other score: 168: Ben Herbert (Clacton) 82 86.