SUFFOLK found some of the opposition too hot to handle in the English Boys' South East Group golf qualifier at Sheringham where Gary King of Surrey set a new amateur course record of 64.

By Tony Garnett

SUFFOLK found some of the opposition too hot to handle in the English Boys' South East Group qualifier at Sheringham where Gary King of Surrey set a new amateur course record of 64.

The leading player over 36 holes was Tom Speyer of Hertfordshire on 137.

Top Suffolk players were Rhodri Harston (Felixstowe Ferry) and Owen Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) who finished tied in 13th place with rounds of 70 and 72.

Liam Brace (Stoke-by-Nayland) was 25th with 71 and 75. The other Suffolk players were disappointing. Michael Swan (Stoke by Nayland) was 46th with 75 and 76. Tom Stephenson (Bury St Edmunds) and Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) were 53rd equal.

Stephenson had rounds of 79 and 75 while Dobson had two rounds of 77.

The field of 66 included 15 players with plus handicaps and 15 more who were scratch. Surrey were the runaway winners who go forward to the national finals at Royal Cromer between September 3 and 5. Every score from every player counts.

Finishing order: Surrey 856, Kent 869, Herts 876, Middlesex 878, Essex 879, Sussex 883, BB&O 885, Suffolk 889, Norfolk 895, Bedfordshire 920, Hampshire 923.

Essex: Jack Hiluta 73 67, Jack Clarke 69 73, Dan Capps 69 74, Joe Galbraith 77 72, Dave Thomas 70 80, Robert Tredgett 80 75.

Norfolk: Stuart Ballingall 70 69, Steven Chick 69 73, Daniel Russell 74 75, Tom Covell 77 73, James McBride 80 77, Luke Johnson 79 79.