WHEN David Duffell was playing county golf between 1973-80 there was not even a junior section."The youngest player in the team was mid to late 20s, but that's all changed now," he said.

WHEN David Duffell was playing county golf between 1973-80 there was not even a junior section.

"The youngest player in the team was mid to late 20s, but that's all changed now," he said.

David has been Under-14 manager for the past 18 months and added: "The standard is going up all the time. It's looking particularly bright for the Under-14s and Under-18s at the moment."

With Kelvin Vince, the Fynn Valley professional and Simon Harrison undertaking the coaching, there is a wealth of talent at this level.

When David first took over the under-14 age group, the range of handicaps was between 15 and 22. Of the current squad, five players are off single figures and the rest are around the 10-12 mark.

The lowest is Paul Dobson, son of professional Tony who runs Bourne Hill and Stonham Barns centres. Ross Cracknell and Jamie Abbott are off six with captain Ryan Wingate and Warren Goddard off seven.

"I have had an exceptionally talented squad this year and Terry Broome, who runs the Under-16s, will reap the benefit next year," said David.

"I work well with Alan Reeve who is in charge of the Under-12s and we travel all over the county looking at youngsters."

The Suffolk Under-14s have played two matches against other counties, drawing 7.5-7.5 against Bedfordshire at Haverhill and then hammering Norfolk 12-3 at Rushmere.

David said: "We should have beaten Bedfordshire, but I messed up the foursomes pairings for which I took full responsibility.

"The boys were very impressive against Norfolk, winning the foursomes 4-1 and then taking eight of the ten singles."

The Suffolk squad is: Paul Dobson and Ben McIntyre (Woodbridge), Ross Cracknell, Jamie Abbott and Warren Goddard (all Fynn Valley), Ryan Wingate (Haverhill), captain, Josh Nicols (Bury St Edmunds), Will Crisell, Scott Brace and Lloyd Sherman (all Stoke-by-Nayland), Andrew Newman (Rushmere) and Chris Harvey (Gorleston).

Newman and Harvey only recently joined the squad and both made their debuts against Norfolk, winning both their foursomes and singles.

Suffolk face their final match of the season against Essex at Channels on October 24 and that should provide them with their hardest test.