County Championship

On a sunny but blustery day at Minehead & West Somerset, the course provided a real test for the County Championship contenders. With the recent lack of rain the links were hard and fast but the greenkeeeping staff led by Rob Barrett had presented the course in excellent condition.

The pace was set very early by local player Warren Knight who was out in the first group and scored an impressive 73. This was eventually matched by Clevedon junior Myles Angell but it was not until Sam Day from Mendip Spring returned a 71 that Knight was overtaken. With Clevedon's Ashley Mansell being at level par with 72 and several others on 74, the afternoon round would prove decisive.

With no let up in the force of the wind, conditions were not easing but Knight again showed he knew how to play the course with an impressive 74. A total of 147 was now the target. Reports from the course indicated Matt Kippen and Craig Adams were both in sparkling form with birdies and eagles on the opening few holes. However, the morning leader Day continued his steady progress and returned to the clubhouse with another 71 and an overall score of 142.

The climax came on 18 where the traditionally difficult long par 3 was into the wind and saw Kippen requiring a par and Adams a birdie to force a play-off. After their tee shots, both faced tricky chips and Kippen narrowly missed his put to finish with a bogey and finish alongside Adams and Mansell on 143.

Countback on the better afternoon round saw Adams in 2nd, Kippen 3rd and Mansell 4th. Shane Winstone from Saltford with an afternoon 70 was 5th. Knight had the consolation of winning the prize for the best net with 139 and Burnham & Berrow's Frank Ellis taking 2nd net with 145.

Kippen also won the J.M.M. Richardson Trophy for the best Colt with Angell winning the Arthur Evans Cup for the best Junior.

With the course having recently been extended, a new course record was set by Adams with 68 in the afternoon

President Stephen Butterfield with County Champion Sam Day, Craig Adams right and Matt Kippen