Where does Suffolk golf stand midway through season 2017?

The ladies have done the county proud by reaching the England county finals. Fiona Edmond is the England Senior champion and waits to find out if she has been selected for the Senior Home internationals.

Suffolk men, on the other hand, have produced some good individual performances without managing to make an impact in the Anglian League for the second year in succession.

On Sunday the first team went down to Northamptonshire by eight to four at Rookery Park. After collecting just half a point from the foursomes Suffolk left themselves with an uphill fight.

Wins for Paul Waring, James Biggs and Chris Duffy in the singles were well earned. Suffolk captain Jack Cardy was comfortable in his match against Lee Hitchcock until the Northampton player birdied four of the final five holes to come away with a half.

Calvin Sherwood lost on the final green while Sam Byford was ahead against Tom Forster until the closing stages.

James Tyler met 15-year-old Robin Williams who held a handicap of plus four in the United States and has played in most of this year’s national events in Britain. Williams was three up after three and never looked back.

It was a tough day for Gregor Tait.

He found himself up again Ben Jones in both foursomes and singles. Last week Jones won the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters by 10 shots and is in impressive form.

Suffolk 4 Northamptonshire 8

At Rookery Park

Foursomes (Suffolk names first): Gregor Tait and James Biggs lost to Callum Farr and Ben Jones 8 and 7, Jack Cardy and Paul Waring lost to Mikey Chambers and Fraser Carnihan 3 and 2, Sam Byford and James Tyler lost to Lee Hitchcock and Miles Mudge 3 and 2, Calvin Sherwood and Chris Duffy halved with Robin Williams and Tom Forster.

Singles: Tait lost to Jones 6 and 5, Sherwood lost to Farr one down, Waring beat Chambers 6 and 5, Cardy halved with Hitchcock, Biggs beat Carnihan one up, Duffy beat Mudge 2 and 1, Tyler lost to Williams 5 and 4, Byford lost to Forster 2 and 1.

The Suffolk second team went down to a strong Northamptonshire team at Kingsthorpe,

Nathan Overton won both his matches but otherwise Suffolk found the going tough.

Josh Robertson was Suffolk’s other singles winner while Ben Sayers halved his match after being two up with two to play.

Northamptonshire 2nd 8.5 Suffolk 2nd 3.5

At Kingsthorpe.

Foursomes (Northants names first): Michael Farr and Ryan Connolly lost to Josh Driver and Nathan Overton 2 and 1, Tom Burgh and Chris White beat Chris Bartrum and Jack Forgan 3 and 2, Mark Bazeley and Jason McGuinness beat George Fricker and Josh Robertson 6 and 5, Ryan Genner and Jack Brown beat Jasper Johnson and Ben Sayers one up.

Singles: Connolly beat Driver 3 and 2, Bazeley lost to Overton two down, McGuinness beat Bartrum two up, White lost to Robertson 2 and 1, Burgh beat Forgan 3 and 1, Genner beat Fricker 2 and 1, Farr halved with Sayers, Brown beat Johnson 2 and 1.

Meanwhile, Suffolk senior men are treading water with a win, a loss and a draw in their three East Anglian League matches so far. They shared the points with Lincolnshire at Haverhill.

Suffolk 5.5 Lincolnshire 5.5

Foursomes (Suffolk names first): Stephen Whymark and Roger Taylor lost to Steve Killington and Tim Seaton 5 and 4, Trevor Hellyer and Steve Mann beat Paul Chaplin-Barton and Wayne Wallace 2 and 1, Mark Jackson and Dick Barton beat Ray Pauley and Robin Horseman 3 and 2, Nigel Fosker and Kevin Brooks lost to Dave Keen and Robert Davies 2 and 1, Stephen Duffety and Trevor Golton lost to Andy Huskinson and Alan Howe one down.

Singles: Whymark beat Seaton 3 and 2, Taylor halved with culling ton, Helier beat Chaplin-Barton 2 and 1, Mann beat Wallace 2 and 1, Foskey beat Davies 3 and 2, Jackson halved with Horseman, Barton lost to Keen one down, Brooks halved with Pauley, Duffy lost to Hodkinson 4 and 3, Golton lost to Howe 4 and 3.