Pateman takes Royal Cromer title

Nick Pateman, the Middlesex PGA champion and first year assistant at Pinner Hill, won the Royal Cromer 125th Anniversary Championship - the opening PGA in England (East) Order of Merit event of the year sponsored by Marston’s Beer Company.

His four-under-par first round of 68 won him the title as the second day was abandoned because of dense fog which persisted until the decision was made at 2.15pm that play would not be possible.

Today’s planned pro-am has also been called off because the forecast predicts no change in the weather until the weekend.

Pateman, a former Hertfordshire amateur champion, will have gained in confidence before the second order of merit event, the Weston Homes plc/Bishop’s Stortford Classic, next Wednesday and Thursday.

Rayleigh Golf Club pair, Matthew King and Mark Hooper, were second and third with rounds of 69 and 70. Hooper is still troubled a back injury which has caused him problems since last autumn.

Fourth place went to Bruce Cuff of Duke’s Meadows Golf and Tennis at Chiswick with one-under-par 71. The leading Norfolk players, course record holder Ian Ellis of Costessey Park and former Royal Cromer assistant Ryan Pudney, now at Mundesley, with level par rounds of 72. It was frustrating that none of those so well placed had the chance to build on their platform.

Royal Cromer club captain Rick Taylor was presented with an engraved cut glass bowl by PGA of England (East) secretary John Smith to mark the 125th anniversary of the club.