Mitchell is Suffolk PGA match play champion

Neil Mitchell (above left) of Bury Golf Range, a former amateur champion of Cumbria, won the Suffolk PGA match play championship at Thorpeness in impressive style.

He beat Andrew Robinson (Stowmarket - above right) 4 and 3 in a final in which he took control in the early stages and never let his grip loosen.

The two-day tournament was played in glorious autumn weather, a contrast to the storm the previous day.

In the semi-final Mitchell scored a surprisingly easy 5 and 3 victory over an out-of-sorts Chris Smith (Fynn Valley) who had won the trophy in 2009 and 2011.

The other semi-final was a cliff hanger in which Robinson overcame Andrew Collison (Bungay and Waveney Valley), a former European Tour player with three Challenge Tour victories, at the first play-off hole.

Robinson was two up with three to play before Collison won his first hole of the round at the 16th and birdied the 17th to draw level. The 18th was halved. Collison’s drive found a fairway bunker at the first extra hole. His ball was right under the lip and he knew he had to go for the green. Two shots later he was still in the bunker and the match was lost.

The first day produced surprises when Lawrence Dodd (Bury Golf Range) and Peter Latimer (Felixstowe Ferry), two of the Suffolk team which won the inaugural PGA England and Wales County Championship at The Belfry, were both knocked out.

Dodd lost to Stuart Robertson (Ufford Park) who birdied the first extra hole. Latimer was five down to Collison midway through the round before losing 4 and 3.

Robertson then gave Mitchell his toughest match of the event losing 3 and 1. Mitchell, though, must have been relieved not to face a second round tie against Dodd.

The holder, Keith Preston (Aldeburgh), was also a first round victim in another match that was settled on the first extra hole after his tee shot found trouble on the right. James Peasey (Woodbridge), whose driving was impressive, met Robinson in the second round. He was one down on the final tee when his drive found rough on the right as it was growing dark. The ball was lost and Peasey conceded.