Paul Whiting is the new Suffolk Senior champion. He won the Geoffrey Barnard Trophy with a level par round of 69 at Bungay and Waveney Valley, his home course.

Whiting will represent Suffolk in the English Senior men’s county champion of champions competition at Woodhall Spa on September 16 and 17.

He was three over at the turn but birdies at the par three 12th and 15th holes and another at the 16th enabled him to win by one shot.

His closest rival was playing partner Stephen Duffety of Bury St Edmunds who played solid golf apart from a costly eight at the sixth hole.

His second shot hit a tree and his third ended in a bunker. He thinned the ball out of the sand and it was never seen again.

Whiting’s appearance in this event may have come as a surprise to some of the established Suffolk senior players.

He was a member at Bungay 15 years ago but moved house and played both at Sheringham and Great Yarmouth and Caister. He returned to Bungay this year.

During his time away he won the Norfolk Senior Championship. Now he has added the Suffolk title to his career record.

He has spoken to Suffolk senior captain Kevin Brooks and may well be available for East Anglian League matches next year.

Graham Shillings of Rookery Park took third place with 71 off his handicap of five.

Former Logan Trophy winner Steve Crosby of Gorleston, now playing off three, would have been in the mix but for an eight shortly before the turn. He had to settle for a round of 72 together with Mark Jackson who, with Andy Whittaker and Steve Whymark, won the Michael Thomas Team Trophy.

One of the best rounds of the day came from Ken McCredie of Stowmarket whose 73 off a handicap of six saw him win the 62 to 69 age group category settled on handicap. A notable performance from the over 70 group was 78 (net 69) from John Doe of Diss. Giles Oates of Stowmarket 74 (net 68) in the 55 to 61 group

Stowmarket secretary Trevor Golton, last year’s winner, had a round of 76.

The course at Bungay was in excellent condition and club captain, Brien Traves, was in attendance all day.

Suffolk Golf Union

Suffolk Senior Championship at Bungay and Waveney Valley.

69: P Whiting (Bungay).

70: S Duffety (Bury St Edmunds).

71: G Shillings (Rookery Park).

72: S Crosby (Gorleston), M Jackson (Woodbridge).

73: K McCredie (Stowmarket), S Whymark (Woodbridge).

74: A Whittaker (Woodbridge), T Hellyer (Hintlesham), G Oates (Stowmarket).

75: P Platten (Woodbridge), A Middle (Seckford), K Brooks (Hintlesham), A Crisp (Rookery Park).

76: T Golton (Stowmarket), C Weller (Diss), R Taylor (Aldeburgh).

77: M Jones (Aldeburgh), G Irvine (Ipswich), K Smith (Ipswich), S Wright (Rushmere), D Matter (Bury St Edmunds).

78: J Doe (Diss), D Porter (Rookery Park), R Barton, S Reeves, C Ginn (all Woodbridge).

79: M Scott (Rookery Park), J Clark (Stowmarket).

80: S Jamieson (Bungay), G Robinson, K Saker (both Woodbridge), T Collett (Stowmarket), K Tarrant (Hintlesham), P Wood (Ipswich), N Fosker, M Pook (both Felixstowe Ferry), P Cooney (Thorpeness).

81: A Ball, M Parkinson (both Bury St Edmunds), S Fair (Woodbridge), R Ross (St Clements).

82: P Sherwood (Halesworth), I McCaw (Woodbridge), A Scovell (Woodbridge), N Owles (Bungay).

83: P Dawson (Hintlesham).

84: R Hinds (Diss), R Spore (Stowmarket).

85: J Gardiner, S Rowe (both Bungay), J Marks (Woodbridge), K Woods (Gorleston), A Garrett (Bury St Edmunds).

86: P Fairbrother (Stowmarket), R Newton (Thorpeness), D Cofield (Felixstowe Ferry), R Moore (Bungay), I Wheeldon (Woodbridge).

87: D Tuckwell (Ipswich), S Potter (Diss).

92: D Hughes (Aldeburgh).

No return: S Mann (Woodbridge).