Thirteen-year-old claims Suffolk club championship

Thirteen-year-old Harry Fricker made history on Sunday as he became the youngest-ever winner of Suffolk’s Ufford Park Club Championship.

Harry, who had to hole a 15-foot par putt to force a playoff, birdied the first extra hole to beat 17-year-old Joshua Robertson after two rounds of 79.

Victory for the five handicapper also ended Joshua’s hopes of a third successive Championship; a feat which would have equalled Rod Powney’s accomplishment between 1997 and 99.

Instead, Joshua was left to lament three dropped shots in four holes as several rounds began to unravel amid the blustery conditions.

Joint first-round leader and Vice-captain Paul Jordan also appeared to be well placed after 27 holes, but an erratic back nine halted his charge.

Instead, it was Harry who continued to lurk ominously atop the leaderboard and despite carding a triple-bogey seven on the fourth hole; he displayed composure beyond his years to finish par-birdie-par to tie Joshua’s score of 158 after 36 holes.

Harry, who was playing off a 28 handicap less than 18 months ago, will now set his sights on the Ufford Park Junior Open this month, where he will be hoping to add to his overflowing trophy cabinet.

Meanwhile in the nett event, 16-handicapper Jamie Horsfield shot a final round 64 to claim the Aldous Trophy, nine shots clear of James Keeble in second.

With just four players shooting under their handicap all day, victory was richly deserved for Horsfield who also posted a nett 70 in the morning.

Ufford Park is a popular stay and play venue near Woodbridge and offers 2-FORE!-1 Golf.