Stokes and Adams win again in Norfolk

Mark Stokes (Rayleigh Golf Range) and playing partner Dom Adams proved their love of golf in North Norfolk with victory in the Marston’s Beer Co. Summer Classic.

The Essex duo were victorious last spring in the Searles PGA Spring Classic (pictured above), staged at Hunstanton and King’s Lynn.

This time the pair lit up the stunning cliff-top courses of Royal Cromer and Sheringham, notching a two-day tally of 83 points to win by five. Norfolk’s Mike Few (Weston Park) and son Blyth finished second.  

Stokes and Adams held a slender lead after the first round, played in a greensomes stableford format at Royal Cromer.

Eight-handicapper Adams more than did his bit, delivering a series of top drives to set up Stokes who excelled with his wedge play. They accrued 40 points – one more than the Few combination.

Stokes and Adams fared even better in the second-day better ball at Sheringham.

Again the amateur came to the fore with a couple of huge-gain birdies that counted as net eagles. Stokes, the PGA in England (East) captain for 2016, kept piling up the points thanks to a putter that blew hot at times.  

He said: “We’re such good mates and just gel so well. Dom played great at Cromer – he drove it so well and made it easy for me to just keep hitting wedges on the greens.

“It was a good team effort. I’m not playing great but I’ve been around a long time and know what to do. I just got the blade working when necessary.

“Both courses are fantastic. You couldn’t fault them. It’s been great fun.”  

Sam Teer (Clacton) and Wayne Ayton came close to matching the winning pair’s second-day score. Teer and Ayton racked up 42 points at Sheringham to lift themselves into third place.

There was a cluster of teams tied for ninth spot, including Sheringham’s own head PGA professional Mike Jubb, alongside amateur Iain Taylor.