ALASTAIR Hall of Bungay and Waveney Valley became Suffolk Junior champion at Halesworth, where he first started to play golf, with a three under par 36-hole return of 141.

By Tony Garnett

ALASTAIR Hall of Bungay and Waveney Valley became Suffolk Junior champion at Halesworth, where he first started to play golf, with a three under par 36-hole return of 141.

Hall, with five players ahead of him after his opening level-par round, coped with the light breeze better than his rivals in the afternoon. He made a flying start with birdies at the first three holes but dropped a shot at the fourth and sixth to be one under at the turn. He dropped another shot at the 10th to be level par but birdies at the 12th, 14th and 15th saw him home.

Hall, whose handicap had gone back up to two after disappointing rounds at Waldringfield in the George Skevington Salver event, is clearly heading in the right direction with his golf. His recent trip to Holland to play in the Netherlands under 21 Open at Toxandria Golf Club near Breda was good experience.

He made the cut in a strong field, half of whom held plus handicaps, but slipped down the leader board on his fourth round. His scores of 76 74 72 and 82 were useful but will be better in the future.

Hall, who exudes an air of confidence, was one shot better than Owen Pearl, the left-hander from Stoke by Nayland who was leader in the club house for a short while with two under par 142.

Pearl, who did well in the Carris Trophy, played solid golf all day being one under par in both his rounds. Pearl managed to avoid the disasters that ruined the chances of so many rivals.

Liam Brace of Stoke by Nayland, seemingly weary after playing in one tournament after another in the past few weeks, left himself with a massive task after an opening round of 74. An eight at the eighth hole of his second round, after he found long grass in the rough, finally ended his chances.

Jack Jowers (Ipswich) continued his impressive recent form although his afternoon round of two under par 70 was not enough to make up for his 74 in the morning that included a sorry seven at the final par five hole.

Rhodri Harston of Felixstowe Ferry, has been selected in the Welsh team of 11 for the boys' home internationals at Machynys Peninsula on August 9 to 11. Harston led the field at lunch with a round of 70 helped by chipping in at the last for an eagle. Driving out of bounds at the 14th in his second round left him on his way to a frustrating round of 78.

Five players ended level on 147, three over par for the tournament. Hugo Dobson's five off the tee at the 14th in the morning spoilt an otherwise solid round. He won 15 to 16 age group prize on count back from a steady Chris Gooding (Ipswich) thanks to a level par second round.

Sam Forgan of Stowmarket, up with the pace in his first round, dropped four shots on the second. Both Callum Monk (Rookery Park) and Adam Woodhead (Newton Green) will be pleased with their day.

Monk beat Woodhead on count back for the 14 to 15 age group prize and would have been one better but for missing a very short putt midway through his second round.

Tom Stephenson (Bury St Edmunds) was one under par in the morning and looking set to put in a strong challenge.

He dropped five shots between the 12th and 14th holes in the afternoon which left him well off the pace.

The under 14 players, apart from those with a single-figure handicap, played only 18 holes. Winner on count back was James Hatton of Stoke by Nayland from James Markham of Rushmere. They beat Josh Cottrell of Rushmere by one shot.

141: Alastair Hall (Bungay) 72 69.

142: Owen Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) 71 71.

144: Jack Jowers (Ipswich) 74 70.

147: Hugo Dobson (Fynn Valley) 75 72, Sam Forgan (Stowmarket) 71 76, Chris Gooding (Ipswich) 74 73, Callum Monk (Rookery Park) 73 74, Adam Woodhead (Newton Green) 71 76.

148: Rhodri Harston (Felixstowe Ferry) 70 78.

149: Liam Brace (Stoke by Nayland) 74 75.

150: Tom Stephenson (Bury St Edmunds) 71 79, Patrick Spraggs (Stowmarket) 79 71.

153: Jack Cardy (Hintlesham) 77 76.

158: Chris Soanes (Rookery Park) 79 79, Stuart Green (Felixstowe Ferry) 77 81, Sam Renville (Fynn Valley) 76 82.

159: Alasdair Gillan (Ipswich) 82 77, Jordan Dymond (Fynn Valley) 83 76.

163: Ian Scott (Bungay) 81 82, Toby Ayles (Felixstowe Ferry) 81 82, Ian Ledieu (Newton Green) 81 82.

164: Alex Taylor (Southwold) 83 81.

165: Jake Mowatt (Rookery Park) 85 82.

167: Curtis Mann (Rushmere) 82 85.

169: Josh Cottrell (Rushmere) 83 86.

171: Harry Hogg (Fynn Valley) 88 83.

173: James Connor (Rushmere) 90 83.

178: Lewis Freeman (Stoke by Nayland) 94 84.

Retired: Craig Hancocks (Woodbridge) 92 retired.

Under 14

82: James Hatton (Stoke by Nayland) beat James Markham (Rushmere) on count back.

83: Josh Cottrell (Rushmere).

85 Harry Turner (Bury St Edmunds).

86: Mark Fosker (Felixstowe Ferry).

87: Douglas Telfer (Woodbridge).

89: Lewis Woodhead (Newton Green).

94 Thomas Pettifer (Rookery Park), Anthony Sharpe (Cretingham), Christopher Lee (Diss).

96: Joshua Murton (Felixstowe Ferry).

98: Josh Cantwell (Ipswich).

100: Kyle Proctor (Fynn Valley).

Some leading players are unavailable for the Suffolk Junior match play to be played at Rushmere on Tuesday and Thursday of next week. Pearl and Liam Brace are on opposite sides of the draw.

First round: 9.30: Pearl v Renville, 9.38: Stephenson v Cardy, 9.46: Monk v Gillan, 9.54: Forgan v Dymond, 10.02: Jowers v Scott, 10.10: L Brace v Soanes, 10.18: Gooding v Ayles, 10.20: Woodhead v Green.