Third time lucky for Salisbury

David Salisbury (Three Rivers Golf and Country Club) finally got his hands on the Marstons Beer Company East Trainees Championship trophy.

Salisbury finished second and tied-second in his two previous attempts to land the title. But it was third time lucky after two fine rounds at Bishop's Stortford.

Salisbury shot scores of 70 and 68 to reach four-under-par – two shots clear of stable-mate James Webber (Three Rivers Golf and Country Club).

Salisbury's second-round surge was helped by an eagle at the third hole before trading bogies and birdies.

But a dropped shot at 11 seemed to sharpen his focus as he bounced back with a birdie four on 12 before picking up another stroke at the 14th.

The finishing stretch at Bishop's Stortford always demands good golf but Salisbury had the answers, closing out with four straight pars.

Webber, in the last group out, actually had a chance to force a play-off, having got to three-under with a birdie at his 16th – the seventh.

But he parred the short eighth and then closed out with a bogey to leave Salisbury as this year's champion.

Last year's winner Shaun Collins (Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club) put up a stout title defence. He fired rounds of 72 and 70 to claim third spot at level-par.