CHRIS Wright of Bury St Edmunds beat Michael Buck of Rushmere at the first play-off hole to win a tense Stenson Shield tie and set up a home quarter-final tie against Ipswich on June 2.

By Tony Garnett

CHRIS Wright of Bury St Edmunds beat Michael Buck of Rushmere at the first play-off hole to win a tense Stenson Shield tie and set up a home quarter-final tie against Ipswich on June 2.

Rushmere led 3-1 after the foursomes with Shaun Masterson and Joe Simpson scoring a notable 6 & 5 win over Andy Collett and Tom Stephenson.

Bury relied on strength at the top and bottom of their singles order to end the match level at 6-6 before two former Suffolk players battled it out in a sudden-death encounter. While Wright managed a par, Buck's drive was blocked out by a tree and he had to settle for a bogey.

Ipswich must have been concerned when they lost the top two foursomes matches at Haverhill. Ipswich then won the top five singles to tip the scales in their favour.

The Stoke by Nayland juggernaut overwhelmed Southwold and can now look forward to entertaining Fynn Valley. David Burrows, one of Southwold's leading players, missed the singles because of football commitments in the afternoon.

Fynn Valley beat Woodbridge 8-4 after the foursomes ended level. Chris Springle was holding his own in his singles against Warren Goddard until the Fynn Valley player reeled off four birdies in succession. Chris Bye and Ian Kitson had a good foursomes victory over Chris Smith and Goddard.

Bungay are developing into a competitive unit. They made home advantage tell against Aldeburgh with Phil Vincent perhaps impressing county captain Martin Youngs with his 5 & 3 victory over James Reiss.

Now Bungay have a home tie against Hintlesham who proved too strong for Waldringfield although the foursomes were closely fought. Jack Cardy won both his matches for Hintlesham after being introduced into the team.

Stowmarket, who beat Halesworth comprehensively, are now at home to The Suffolk who were given a walk over by Flempton who were unable to raise a team.

The quarter-final draw: (to be played on June 2): Bungay v Hintlesham, Bury St Edmunds v Ipswich, Stoke by Nayland v Fynn Valley, Stowmarket v The Suffolk.

Full scores appear in today's EADT.