SIMON Dainty, last year's Suffolk Open champion, and his five-handicap amateur partner Nick Denny from Fynn Valley, were convincing winners of the design portfolio marketing services PGA Autumn Classic.

By Tony Garnett

SIMON Dainty, last year's Suffolk Open champion, and his five-handicap amateur partner Nick Denny from Fynn Valley, were convincing winners of the design portfolio marketing services PGA Autumn Classic.

They laid the foundation for their success when one under par in the first day foursomes in glorious sunny conditions at Aldeburgh on Thursday.

They maintained their good form in the better-ball competition at Thorpeness yesterday to end four under par for the tournament.

Dainty and Denny did not drop a shot at Aldeburgh until the long par-three 15th hole by which time they had three net birdies. They had another bogey at the last, the only other time they failed to reach the green in regulation. The greens were fast and some pin positions were testing while many a partnership found deep gorse off the tee.

Yesterday they were cruising at four under par after 11 but then dropped shots at the 13th and 16th before an eagle two at the 15th, which meant that they could afford the luxury of a bogey at the last.

Runners-up, three shots behind, were Andrew Hurley of Arkley and amateur James Smallwood whose net 62 at Thorpeness was the best of the day.

Kieran Canham of Bury St Edmunds and Dan Wilson were third at level par but most of the partnerships in this popular annual event were counting the cost of finding the gorse at Aldeburgh or being unable to sink putts on the fast greens in the foursomes.

PGA Autumn Classic scores

(Aldeburgh foursomes first, then Thorpeness better-ball)

133: S Dainty and N Denny (Fynn Valley) 67 66.

136: A Hurley (Arkley) and J Smallwood 74 62.

137: K Canham (Bury St Edmunds) and D Wilson 70 67.

138: R Brightman and M Yeomans (Millbrook) 69 69; R Cheney (American Golf) and M Humphrey 74 64, R Gray and B Leigh (Thorndon Park) 73 65.

Other scores included

140: L Eggleston and S McAnally (Orsett) 71 69, J Hudson (Rivenhall Oaks) and J English 73 67.

142: M Baker (Colchester) and P Cork 74 68.

143: F Hill and T Rowan Robinson (Thorpeness) 73 70, P Wilby (Fynn Valley) and M Duley (Colchester) 76 67, M Stokes (Rayleigh DR) and P Lee 74 69.

144: A Robinson (Felixstowe Ferry) and C Callaway 75 69.

145: S Harrison and P Cooney (Thorpeness) 75 69.

146: C Oldrey and R Newton (Thorpeness) 76 70, K Preston and E Hyde (Aldeburgh) 76 70.

147: A Cotton (Ufford Park) and R Kent (Bury St Edmunds) 84 63.

148: M Angel and D Roe (Colchester) 79 69.

150: T Johnson (Woodbridge) and M Grayling 84 66.

151: P Rains (Bury Golf Range) and J Alexander 81 70.

152: T Hide (Frinton) and C Marsh 72 80, L Patterson (Royal Cromer) and S Fuller 83 69.

153: S Reeve and D Cargill (Aldeburgh) 75 78.

158: R Pudney (Royal Cromer) and A Hill 81 77.