Fletcher top qualifier

Scott Fletcher of Brentwood Park Golf Range led the 24 qualifiers for the Royal Cromer 125^th Anniversary Championship on May 29 and 30.

It is the first of six Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit event in the East this year.

Fletcher, in the South Region last year, produced a two-over-par round of 72 at The Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club in chilly conditions. He was level par with two birdies and two dropped shots after the 14^th. He had bogeys at the 15^th and 16^th.

Joint runners-up with rounds of 73 were Samuel Jones of East Herts and James Noakes of Dyrham Park Country Club. Both had three birdies.

There were eagles from Robert Daw (Marriott Hanbury Manor), Lee Martindale (Redbourn) and Andrew McMahon (The Grove). Ollie Rush (Haverhill), Alex Bowell (Stanmore) and Russell Potter (The Hertfordshire) all had four birdies.

All qualified apart from McMahon who had to settle for a place amongst the alternates. Missing out by one shot with a round of 80 was Paul Geen of Ely City.