TONY GARNETT takes a look at the latest golfing news from the region in his Garnett on Golf column.

An under-strength Flempton gave a good account of themselves despite a narrow defeat at Aldeburgh in the first round of the Stenson Shield, Suffolk Golf Union’s scratch inter-club competition.

The valiant efforts of Alfie Halil, a member of Suffolk under-16 boys’ squad, came close to steering Flempton to a play-off which looked on the cards late in the afternoon.

Halil teamed up with former Bury St Edmunds player Graham Sykes to score his team’s only foursomes success against Roger Taylor and James Ollington.

Young Halil, whose father Dez was also in the Flempton team, was one of four players to score wins in the singles. He beat former leading PGA East Region professional James Keely. Other Flempton wins came from Andrew Mangeot, Dan Wilson and James Hurst.

Aldeburgh held on for a 7-5 win and now face a tricky second round visit to Stowmarket.

Rushmere were given a good test by Halesworth whose captain Paul Sherwood has master-minded Stenson and Hambro shocks both with Southwold and now Halesworth.

Rushmere brought in former Suffolk players Kevin Eagle and Michael Buck for the singles and their experience saved the day for the host club by the narrowest of margins. Rushmere’s next test is at home to Hintlesham.

Southwold found Bury St Edmunds, the Hambro Cup holders, too strong. The home side are without their leading player Alex Taylor who is now with Bungay. Paul Booth and Chris Groom scored a notable foursomes win over Ben Coleman and Craig Nurse. There was a good tussle between Southwold’s Guy Maynard and Michael Gee who attends the Lee Westwood Academy at Stoke by Nayland. Maynard won one up. Booth beat Dan Smailes and Groom halved with Roger Nicholson. Otherwise it was plain sailing for Bury who must now visit Thorpeness.

Max Adams, who attends the Culford Academy and currently plays off two, will be a key player for Bury this year.

Stenson Shield first round

Southwold 3.5 Bury St Edmunds 8.5

Foursomes (Southwold names first): Jeremy Turner and Mark Langley lost to Stephen Duffety and Stephen Lankester 8 and 7, Chris Groom and Paul Booth beat Ben Coleman and Craig Nurse 4 and 2, Keith Hurr and Peter Hurr lost to Trevor Titcombe and Dan Smailes 5 and 4, Guy Maynard and David Bullard lost to Roger Nicholson and Max Adams 3 and 2.

Singles: Turner lost to Nurse 7 and 5, P Hurr lost to Duffety two down, Groom halved with Nicholson, Booth beat Smailes 4 and 2, Maynard beat Gee one up, Bullard lost to James Scott 4 and 3, K Hurr lost to Coleman 4 and 2, Langley lost to Adams 6 and 4.

Rushmere 6.5 Halesworth 5.5

Foursomes (Rushmere names first): James Wright and Ian Pope beat Andre Brown and Andrew Higgins one up, Ross Howard and James Caley lost to Paul Coby and Mark Coby one down, Curtis Mann and Ricky Ling beat Paul Sherwood and Josh King one up, Peter Robinson and Ricky Hall lost to Gary Taylor and Will McIntosh one down.

Singles: Kevin Eagle beat Brown one up, Robinson beat Higgins 6 and 5, Michael Buck beat Taylor 3 and 1, Wright beat P Coby 4 and 3, Pope lost to McIntosh 3 and 1, Mann halved with Sherwood, Ling lost to M Coby 3 and 1, Caley lost to King 5 and 4.

Aldeburgh 7 Flempton 5

Foursomes (Aldeburgh names first): Will Wright and Josh Robertson beat Dez Halil and Andrew Mangeot 4 and 3, Ian Kitson and James Keely beat Dan Wilson and Colin Campbell 4 and 2, Roger Taylor and James Ollington lost to Alfie Halil and Graham Sykes 3 and 2, James Reiss and Robert Palmer beat James Hurst and Jeremy Nunn 4 and 3.

Singles: Wright beat Campbell one up, Kitson beat Nunn 7 and 5, Robertson lost to Mangeot one down, Palmer lost to Wilson 3 and 1, Ollington beat Sykes 3 and 2, Keely lost to A Halil 4 and 2, Arthur Patten beat D Halil 5 and 4, Reiss lost to Hurst 3 and 2.

Second round (to be played on June 24): Felixstowe Ferry v Bungay, Gorleston v Haverhill, Ipswich v Diss, Rushmere v Hintlesham, Stowmarket v Aldeburgh, Thorpeness v Bury St Edmunds, Woodbridge v Newton Green.

Fiona Edmond, the new English Senior Ladies’ champion, has put her loyalty to Suffolk ahead of seeking further glory in the English Senior Ladies’ Open Strokeplay at Harpenden.

This national event clashes with East Ladies’ County Week at Hunstanton which starts on June 19.

Fiona hopes that Suffolk, runners-up to Norfolk at Bishop’s Stortford last year, can go one better now that the stranglehold on the event by Essex and Hertfordshire has been broken.

Hopefully Fiona’s success last week in Staffordshire will earn her a wildcard selection for the England Senior international team. It was Sam, her second son, who persuaded her to take up golf again after a lengthy absence. It has turned out to be a great decision.

Suffolk captain Vanessa Bell named her County Week squad over the weekend. She said: “I am thrilled that Fiona will be with us at Hunstanton. It will be a terrific boost to the team. Selection was based not on the county championship alone, but also on commitment to training and matches. All players are available for the full County Week.

Vicki Inglis missed the county championship because of a prior commitment to take part in a charity cycle event but has otherwise played a full part in the build-up.

Fiona Stokes, a Haverhill junior, will join the squad for a couple of days to introduce her to the environment.

Suffolk squad for Hunstanton: Alice Barlow, Vanessa Bell, Fiona Edmond, Lils James, Vicki Inglis, Sharon Luckman, Abbie Symonds, Lottie Whyman. Reserve: Fiona Stokes.

County week fixtures: Monday: Norfolk v Herts, Beds v Cambs, Suffolk v Essex. Tuesday: Beds v Suffolk, Herts v Cambs, Essex v Norfolk. Wednesday: Cambs v Essex, Norfolk v Suffolk, Beds v Herts. Thursday: Norfolk v Beds, Herts v Essex, Suffolk v Cambs. Friday: Suffolk v Herts, Essex v Beds, Norfolk v Cambs.