STOKE by Nayland will defend the Stenson Shield against Ipswich in the final on a neutral venue on September 1. By that time two Stoke by Nayland players, Scott Brace and Rob Murray, will have started their college course in the United States.

By Tony Garnett

STOKE by Nayland will defend the Stenson Shield against Ipswich in the final on a neutral venue on September 1.

By that time two Stoke by Nayland players, Scott Brace and Rob Murray, will have started their college course in the United States.

Stoke could also be without Aaron Parkes who will be playing in the regional final of the Faldo Series at Celtic Manor the previous day and may be unable to get back to Suffolk in time.

On Saturday both Stoke by Nayland and Ipswich had convincing wins in the semi-finals. Both matches produced plenty of quality golf.

Ipswich enjoyed a clean sweep in the foursomes. Ian Brown partnered Kristian Day who knew the course well being a former Hintlesham member. They beat Martin Darling and Chris Underwood 4 and 2.

Paul Buckle and Nathan Overton were two up with five to play against Paul Barnard and Jack Jowers but the match slipped away from Stowmarket with the Ipswich pair winning with a birdie at the par five final hole.

There was a tremendous match between Day and Darling in the top singles. Day, Suffolk strokeplay and match play champion in 2003, was five under par when he won the match one up with an eagle at the 18th.

Overton scored a point for Stowmarket with a 4 and 2 win over Ian Brown in another match that produced some spectacular scoring. Overton had a run of six successive birdies from the fifth onwards to take control. Brown commented: “I was two under par and three down at one stage.”

The experienced Paul Buckle collected the second Stowmarket point with a 2 and 1 victory over 16-year-old Chris Gooding who will have learned from playing against such a seasoned campaigner who was Suffolk champion in 1981 and 1992.

Jack Jowers will have been pleased with his 4 and 3 victory over Sam Forgan who will be one of his main rivals in the Suffolk Junior Championships at Halesworth on August 1.

Daniel Bryett was taken to the last green before beating Patrick Spraggs while Graham Wardley and Kenton Jameson agreed on a half at the 16th after they knew the outcome of the tie had been decided.

Neil Meadows, who joined Ipswich from Felixstowe Ferry before the start of the season, proved too much of a handful for Ben Forgan.

Stoke by Nayland also won all their foursomes against Hintlesham at Purdis Heath. The closest match was the one in which Aaron Parkes and Scott Brace beat Adrian Meredith and Phil Westley 2 and 1.

The singles match between Liam Brace and Meredith was a classic with 12 birdies between them. Meredith was two up four to play but Brace responded with three birdies and a par to win one up.

Clive Lawley secured a battling half with Scott Brace while Westley led Michael Swan by one hole at the turn before the Suffolk county player started to forge ahead on the second nine.

Owen Pearl lost a ball on the last in his halved match with Nigel Redding. Paul Pengelly underlined his claim for a place in the final with a 6 and 5 win over Chris Townrow. Stoke club captain Ian McKay beat Matt Ransome 4 and 3 in a match that looked hard to predict.

The Stenson Shield, Suffolk Golf Union's scratch inter-club knockout, is now regarded by many as the premier event even though the Hambro Cup, decided on handicap, has the greater tradition. Ipswich are in line to complete the double.

They face Bungay in the Hambro semi-final at Halesworth on Sunday. The other Hambro semi-final, at the same venue, will be between Fynn Valley and Southwold.

Semi-final scores

IPSWICH 9.5

STOWMARKET 2.5

At Hintlesham.

Foursomes (Ipswich names first):

Ian Brown and Kristian Day beat Martin Darling and Chris Underwood 4 and 2.

Paul Barnard and Jack Jowers beat Paul Buckle and Nathan Overton one up.

Daniel Bryett and Gavin Richards beat Sam Forgan and Patrick Spraggs 3 and 1.

Neil Meadows and Graham Wardley beat Peter Green and Kenton Jameson 3 and 1.

Singles:

Day beat Darling one up, Brown lost to Overton 4 and 2, Barnard beat Underwood 3 and 2, Chris Gooding lost to Buckle 2 and 1, Jowers beat Sam Forgan 4 and 3, Bryett beat Spraggs one up, Wardley halved with Jameson, Meadows beat Ben Forgan 8 and 7.

STOKE BY NAYLAND 11 HINTLESHAM 1

At Ipswich:

Foursomes: (Stoke by Nayland names first):

Michael Swan and Liam Brace beat Nigel Redding and Chris Townrow 5 and 3.

Aaron Parkes and Scott Brace beat Adrian Meredith and Phil Westley 2 and 1.

Rob Murray and Owen Pearl beat Trevor Hellyer and Matt Ransome 3 and 2.

Ian McKay and Greg Hills beat Clive Lawley and David Leach 3 and 2.

Singles:

L Brace beat Meredith one up, Swan beat Westley 4 and 3, S Brace halved with Lawley, Parkes beat Hellyer 6 and 4, Pearl halved with Redding, Paul Pengelly beat Townrow 6 and 5, Murray beat Leach two up, McKay beat Ransome 4 and 3.