Latimer outright winner at Essendon

Former Scottish amateur international Peter Latimer was the outright winner of The PGA in England (East) 36-hole qualifying school held at Essendon Country Club.

Felixstowe Ferry assistant Latimer, who helped Suffolk to win the inaugural SkyCaddie PGA in England and Wales Inter-County Championship at The Belfry in October, was five-under-par for the tournament and four-under for his second round.

Richard Smith of Oxhey Park Golf Centre had the best second round score of six-under-par 66. He ended joint runner-up with the consistent senior, Andrew George of Ely City. They were only shot behind Latimer, who did not enter last year’s Order of Merit events but could be a power in 2014.

Darren Charlton of Dunstable Downs was five-under for his second round which lifted him to fourth place, a shot clear of Chris Cutchie of Colchester and Nicholas Cunningham of Bedford and County. Both were one-under-par.

James Ruebotham of Welwyn Garden City and Darren Bragg of North London Golf Academy both qualified with plenty to spare at level-par 144.

Fifty players from a field of 108 qualified for the six Order of Merit events in the East this year. The 50^th place was settled on count back with one qualifier from the eight who finished on 10-over-par. Fredrick Harrington of Rayleigh Golf Range won the last place with a second round of 73 which was equalled by Carl Parker of Crews Hill.

Harrington was only one over for his back nine with a dropped shot at the 10^th followed by eight pars. Parker produced an eagle at the 518-yard 16^th hole but it was all in vain as he had a double at the 11^th and dropped a shot at both the 14^th and 17^th holes.

Other second round eagles came from Phil Abbott (John O’Gaunt), Darren Bragg, Matthew Cousens (Bushey Golf and Country Club) and Mark Alexander (MA Golf) who all qualified and Ian Scott (Bungay and Waveney Valley) who did not. They were all on the 498-yard ninth hole.