SOUTHWOLD, trailing by one hole to Hintlesham at lunch, staged a tremendous afternoon performance in a strong breeze to win by 16 holes and reach the semi-final of the Hambro Cup, the Suffolk Golf Union inter-club foursomes knockout for players with single figure handicaps.

By Tony Garnett

SOUTHWOLD, trailing by one hole to Hintlesham at lunch, staged a tremendous afternoon performance in a strong breeze to win by 16 holes and reach the semi-final of the Hambro Cup, the Suffolk Golf Union inter-club foursomes knockout for players with single figure handicaps.

The Southwold players dropped very few shots in the afternoon to score some resounding successes. David Burrows and Jack Fountain, who lost by three holes to Phil Westley and Adrian Meredith in the morning, turned the tables with a five-hole win in the afternoon.

Sam Debenham and Paul Sherwood were impressive all day for Southwold. In the morning they beat David Leach and Clive Lawley by three holes. In the afternoon they ended five up against Joe Cardy and Nigel Redding.

Southwold face Fynn Valley, the favourites, in the semi-final on July 29 on a neutral venue yet to be decided. Fynn Valley used home advantage to good effect to beat Brett Vale by 28 holes.

Brett Vale's fourth pair of Owen Norman and James Rea beat Suffolk county players Chris Smith and Bradley Wilkins in the morning, a result they will remember for a long time. Jamie Abbott teamed up with Andy Munro to be 11 up on the day against different opponents.

Bungay must have thought they were sitting pretty after going 11 up against Aldeburgh at lunch. It was a nail-biting finish as Aldeburgh fought back in the afternoon after team captain Logan Mair had made some tactical changes.

Aldeburgh won three of their afternoon games and at one stage looked quite likely to secure a victory that would have avenged their Stenson Shield defeat on the same course.

Holders Ipswich, a solid unit, did enough in the morning against Haverhill to relieve any pressure in the afternoon. Paul Barnard and Jack Jowers were 11 up on the day against David Spittle and Robert Scott. Graham Wardley and Ben Farthing were nine up on the day against different opponents.

The Tolly Cobbold Cup semi-final ties are Bury St Edmunds versus Felixstowe Ferry and Stoke by Nayland versus Seckford. Both ties will be on neutral venues.

Felixstowe Ferry were relieved that their father and son partnership of Graham and Chris Cook rallied at the end of their afternoon round against Dave Whiting and Andrew Craig. The Cooks were three down with six to play but ended with a crucial one up victory. As Felixstowe's victory margin was only four this was a vital contribution.

Bury St Edmunds also had a close call. They were five down against Gorleston after the first round but, encouraged by a band of supporters, they won all four afternoon games and ended with a four-hole victory.

Seckford were trailing to Flempton at the half way stage but also gave a strong afternoon performance to go through to the last four by six holes. Adrian Gipson and Malcolm Peat turned a four-hole deficit into a two-hole win on the day. James Draycott and Graham Eastwell transformed a one-hole lunch time deficit into a one hole win on the day.

Stoke by Nayland assumed control early on at Hintlesham. After they had gone 23 holes up at lunch it was virtually all over. Simon Larking and Roger Toone were 16 up on the day with Gerry Day and Mike Verhelst 12 up.

Full scores appear in today's EADT