Last updated at 11:34, Wednesday, 01 August 2012

Cumbrian teenager Seb Crookall-Nixon has taken a key step to adding the English Amateur Championship to his array of silverware after comfortably qualifying for the matchplay stage at Silloth on Solway.

Seb Crookall-Nixon

The 18-year-old England international carded 71 at Silloth yesterday, to add to his 71 at Seascale on Monday, for a one-under-par 142, for equal fourth place. He is three strokes behind the leading qualifier, Jordan Smith from Wiltshire.

Crookall-Nixon, from Papcastle, near Cockermouth, led the way for the Cumbrian competitors as he bids to become the first county player since Gary Lockerbie in 2003 to win golf’s oldest amateur competition.

Fellow teenager, Adam Chapman from Windermere, was the nest best Cumbrian with a four-over-par 147 left him ties 38th.

Carlisle’s Stephen Jopson is lying 74th with his seven-over-par 150, tied alongside Silloth veteran John Longcake.

The best round of the day came from Kent’s Michael Saunders with 67 at Seascale.

He went out in 32 with three birdies and added three more in a homeward 35. It was in stark contrast to his opening 79 but enabled him to qualify on three over par 146.

Two Players to return 68 were Max Williams from Surrey, who had seven birdies in his round at Silloth, while Lincolnshire’s James Burnett didn’t drop a shot at Seascale as he collected three birdies.

A total of 73 players on 149, six over par or better will tee off in tomorrow’s match play stage.

One the highlights of the day was a hole-in-one by Scott Douglas from Yorkshire, who ‘aced’ the 201 yard sixth hole at Silloth.

“I hit a five iron which pitched on the front edge of the green and rolled into the cup,” said the 20 year old from Wakefield.

It helped him to a round of 74 and to qualify for the matchplay stages on six over par. It was also his second ‘ace’, his first, achieved at his club, was with the same iron.

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk