Parker denies Waring second successive title
 Paul
Waring’s reign as English champion is over. His dream
of becoming only the seventh player to successfully defend
the title were dashed when he was beaten 5 and 3 by boy international
Ben Parker in round five at Burnham and Berrow.
Such an outcome looked unlikely when Waring (pictured - photo
courtesy of Tom Ward) won the first two holes. But Parker
bounced back to take the next four and was three-up at the
halfway mark. As the wind grew in intensity, Parker took a
firm grip by winning the tenth with a par four and although
he lost the 12th to a par, a birdie-four at the 13th left
him on the brink, the end coming with a concession at the
15th.
For the first time in many years, tomorrow’s quarter
finals will be dominated by seeds, only one unseeded player,
Kevin Kean, progressing to the last eight following his victory
over Paul Thomas.
But while Jamie Moul, Matthew Cryer and Oliver Fisher were
clearcut winners Ross McGowan had to battle to overcome boy
cap Daniel Willett on the final green.
McGowan, still seeking a victory after five runners-up spots
this year, trailed in the early stages but edged in front
temporarily at the 11th. However, he lost the 12th and it
was anyone’s guess who would go through as they halved
the next five holes. Then at the 445 yard 18th, Willett hit
a poor drive left into rough and his recovery finished short
of the green. He then chipped to five feet but missed his
par putt which hit the hole and stayed above ground.
McGowan, who was through the back, left his chip two feet
away but holed out for victory.“I wasn’t thinking
I would lose as I was hitting a lot of good shots in the wind,”
he said. “I’ve not had an easy match yet. I seem
to be playing an England player ever round and I’ve
got Gary Boyd in the quarter finals. It not getting any easier.”
Boyd was another to come from behind to beat Essex youngster
Rhys Piper 2 and 1. There was nothing between the players
for seven holes but Boyd then won the next three holes to
take a grip he never relinquished.
Moul claimed his quarter final spot with a 6 and 5 demolition
of John Ambridge, the 49 year old who found two rounds in
the day a little too taxing.
Cryer was another to string a winning run together in his
5 and 4 victory over Alex Rule, who took the lead on the fourth.
But Cryer won four successive holes from the sixth and gradually
extend his lead to win 5 and 4.
After winning the opening hole Fisher was never behind and
ran out a comfortable 4 and 3 winner.
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