County Championship

Ellis Cook wins County Championship on his home course

Early leader in the club house was Mathew Houghton of Burnham & Berrow with a 76 followed by Sam Fernley of Weston-super-Mare and Kobe Adams of Taunton & Pickeridge with 78 and Matt Pearson of Burnham & Berrow with a 79. Things changed when ex county team stalwart Justin Lane of Burnham & Berrow carded a 74 but even this was to be 5 behind the leader at lunch.

Final placings at lunchtime were George Morgan of The Mendip with a very good two under 69, followed by last year's junior champion Will Poole of Mendip Spring on 71 and three players on 73; Matt Kippen of Enmore Park, Ellis Cook of Burnham & Berrow, and Tom Small, the defending champion, from Farrington. Phil White had a disappointing round of 76 leaving him 7 shots off the lead.

In the afternoon Sam Fernley set the standard at 151 and remained at the top of the leaderboard until George Morgan, unable to repeat his morning round, had a 79 to lead with 148. Justin Lane could only manage an 83 and Matt KIippen an 80 but things began to change when the last two games finished. Sam Sloman had a 75 for a 152 and Will Poole a 78 leaving him one shot behind Morgan but Ellis Cook, with an error free round of 69 following his 73 in the morning was now 6 shots in the lead. Clare was out of it with a 78 for a 154 and Small had a 76 for a 149, just one shot behind Morgan. County Captain White had a much better second round and with his level par 71 and morning round of 76 he went into second place, 5 shots behind the winner.

Ellis also successfully defended the Colts Championship title he won last year and now holds two of the major titles.

Photo shows Ellis Cook receiving both his trophies from Somerset President Brian Evans.