Marshall off to a flier

Lee Marshall, assistant at Gog Magog Golf Club, held on the win the Links (Newmarket) Golf Club Pro-Am with a four-under-par round of 68.

Marshall said: “I was off to a flier being seven-under-par after eight holes with an eagle at the first followed by five birdies. I was beginning to think of setting a new course record but then I had a couple of bad holes and came back down to earth.”

A dropped shot at the ninth and a double at the 10th checked Marshall’s charge. He was level par in from there with one more birdie and one bogey.

“I was a junior member at The Links and won their club championship in 2010.  I also hold their amateur course record of 67,” said Marshall.

Joint runners-up, one shot behind, were Jonathan Sharkey of the host club and Ian Ellis from Costessey Park in Norfolk.  Sharkey, son of Links Head Professional John, would have been level with Marshall had he not dropped a shot at the last. Ellis had five birdies and a couple of dropped shots.

The only other player under par in blustery conditions in a field of 33 was Stuart Brown of Orton Meadows whose only blemish came with a double at the 17th.

Andrew George (Ely City), Jason Levermore (Channels) and Barrie Trainor (Old Joe’s Golf Range) were all on level par.

Trainor, the former Irish PGA champion, brought in the winning team of Martin Isaacson, Barry Hall and Andrew Taylor with a score of 128 which was 16-under-par.

Team runners-up were Kevin Harrison (A1 Driving Range) with Roger Tilley, Peter Phillips and Stuart Graves at 15-under-par. Ellis, Ian Thomson, Dave Porter and Clive Hill were third on count back with 12-under-par beating the team with Tom Stephenson (Brickendon Grange) into fourth place.