Latimer takes Suffolk assistants’ title

Peter Latimer of Felixstowe Ferry, a former Scottish amateur international, won the Dell Bower Suffolk PGA Assistants’ Championship at Hintlesham with rounds of 70 and 69 to leave him five-under-par for the tournament.

The runner-up was former England amateur international Lawrence Dodd with 78 in the morning when he found too much of the very deep rough followed by the day’s best round of 67 in the afternoon when his accuracy off the tee improved dramatically.

Third place went to Ian Scott of Bungay and Waveney Valley whose second round of 73 enabled him to overtake his other four rivals.

The field, as usual, was made up by invited amateurs playing for vouchers. This year Phil Westley of Hintlesham recorded the best morning round of 69, which included three birdies and an eagle at the final hole. He followed up with 72 in the afternoon to stay one shot ahead of Chris Soanes of Rookery Park who had 10 birdies and an eagle in his two rounds of 72 and 70. Both Westley and Soanes are planning to join the professional ranks later this year both having played regular county first team golf for Suffolk.