Pateman emerges from the fog

Thick fog delayed the first round of the Royal Cromer Golf Club 125th anniversary championship, the first PGA in England (East) Order of Merit event of the year sponsored by Marstons Brewery.

The draw was rearranged for the players to go in fours with a two-tee start at 2.15. There was a further delay for fog but the round was completed in near darkness with the fog coming down again.

The first round leader was Nick Pateman, the Middlesex PGA champion from Pinner Hill, with a round of four-under-par 68. Two Rayleigh Golf Range players, Matt King and Mark Hooper, were placed second and third with rounds of 69 and 70.

It is tight at the top of the leaderboard with Bruce Cuff (Dukes Meadows) handily place after a round of 71 and eight players locked together on level par 72.

They include the leading Norfolk challengers Ian Ellis (Costessey Park) and Ryan Pudney (Mundesley). Ellis holds the Royal Cromer course record of 66. Others are Michael Coneybeare (unattached), Rob Leonard (Harpenden Common), Ben Cooper (Bishop’s Stortford),  Samuel Jones (East Herts), James Gurry (Gurry Golf) and former PGA European Tour star Mark Davis (Thorndon Park).

Two players involved in the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey in December are well off the pace. Barrie Trainor, third in the Irish Order of Merit last year but now working at Old Joe’s Golf Range in Suffolk, had a round of 77. Phil Abbott of John O’Gaunt had 80. Jason Levermore, who won the East Order of Merit last year, is not competing this year as he is fully occupied settling into his new job as head professional at Channels Golf Club.

Six players had eagles. They were Pateman, Cuff, Oliver Barnes (De Vere Dunston Hall), George Hewitt (Nazeing), Charlie Luther (Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club) and Laurence Nolan (Stockwood Park Golf Centre).