IT was a sad ending to Suffolk men's county golf season when they lost to Lincolnshire in their final Anglian League match of the season at Hintlesham.

By Tony Garnett

IT was a sad ending to Suffolk men's county golf season when they lost to Lincolnshire in their final Anglian League match of the season at Hintlesham. For the second successive year Lincolnshire are champions and Suffolk are runners-up.

Suffolk hopes were high after the foursomes. Alex Holmes and Chris Smith, one up against David Coupland and Richard Latham on the last tee, closed the game out with an eagle down the last. Kevin Eagle and Will Wright, the Rushmere pair, scored a 4 and 3 success against Adam Keogh and Matt Veal.

Adrian Meredith and Jamie Abbott were two down with two to play against Adam Wainwright and Dan Rowland. The Suffolk pair produced a birdie-birdie finish to secure a precious half. The only Lincolnshire foursomes success came from James Crampton and Steve Dixon who were too strong on the day for Michael Swan and Brad Wilkins.

But then Suffolk managed only two wins in the singles. One of them came from Swan, who was seven under par by the time he had beaten Coupland, who played in the Open at Carnoustie this year, 5 and 4. Swan has won all his singles matches this season.

Holmes from Gorleston, restored to the team after a run of lean form, was two down with three to play against Keogh. He then conjured up two birdies and an eagle to win one up.

Details:

SUFFOLK 4.5 LINCOLNSHIRE 7.5

Foursomes (Suffolk names first):

Michael Swan & Brad Wilkins lost to James Crampton & Steve Dixon 6 & 5.

Alex Holmes & Chris Smith beat David Coupland & Richard Latham two up.

Adrian Meredith & Jamie Abbott halved with Adam Wainwright & Dan Rowland.

Kevin Eagle & Will Wright beat Adam Keogh & Matt Veal 4 & 3.

Singles: Wilkins lost to Dixon 4 & 3, Smith lost to Crampton 5 & 4, Swan beat Coupland 5 & 4, Holmes beat Keogh one up, Eagle lost to Wainwright 2 & 1, Meredith lost to Latham 2 & 1, W Wright lost to Veal 3 & 2, Abbott lost to Rowland 2 & 1.

n The Suffolk second team also went down to Lincolnshire seconds at Greetham Valley by seven-and-a-half matches to four-and-a-half.

Details:

LINCOLNSHIRE 2nds 7.5

SUFFOLK 2nds 4.5

Foursomes (Lincolnshire names first):

Steve Bracknell & Liam Bell lost to Alex Stanley & Alastair Hall 3 & 2.

Darryl Lloyd & Simon Rickardson beat Andy Collett & Paul Dobson two up.

Dan Keddie & Sam Sharp beat Owen Pearl & Alan Middle 3 & 2.

Gavin Merrison & Richard Over beat Tom Wright & Phil Vincent 4 & 3.

Singles: Bracknell lost to Stanley 3 & 2, Lloyd beat Pearl 4 & 3, Rickardson beat Hall 3 & 2, Bell lost to Vincent 2 & 1, Keddie beat T Wright 6 & 4, Sharp halved with Middle, Merrison lost to Dobson 4 & 3, Over beat Collett 2 & 1.