CRYER LOOKS TO GO ONE BETTER THIS TIME
 Over
the past two English Amateur Championships Matthew Cryer has
been beaten in the quarter finals and the semi-finals. He
aims to maintain the progression this time after reaching
the last eight (picture © Tom Ward).
As the sun was replaced by overcast conditions at Royal St
George’s yesterday, Cryer beat Andrew Cooley then Chris
Bartlett to earn a quarter final place against Dale Marmion.
Against Bartlett, Cryer had to pull out all the stops to
continue his quest before powering to a 4 and 2 victory over
the back nine. “It was a tough match,” said Cryer.
“I had to batten down the hatches and hold on over the
first eight holes to stay all square.
“Then Jack hit a couple of loose shots and I managed
a couple of birdies. I was happy not to drop a shot and to
be in the quarters. I’m on the dawn patrol again tomorrow
so I’ll put the flags out as I go round.”
John Parry has a poor record in the Championship. He has
rarely got beyond the early rounds but after also reaching
the quarter finals and with the demise of his international
team-mates he could go all the way.
The Yorkshireman faced a tricky encounter against Lancashire’s
Matthew Baldwin in a Roses tussle but three birdies in a row
from the tenth put Parry through. “With my record I’ll
take each match at a time,” he said. “I felt the
match with Matt would go the distance but the birdies were
crucial.”
Parry will now face Shane Winston from Bristol, who beat
Essex teenager Dale Whitnell 3 and 1. “I played John
in last year’s County Finals at Prince’s and we
halved so I’m looking forward to locking horns again,”
said Winstone.
There are many ways to celebrate your birthday and Ross Wilson
celebrated his 25th by booking a place in the quarter finals
at the expense of Tom Shadbolt.
Wilson, from Chelmsford, beat the Hertfordshire man 6 and
5 and modestly summed up his success by saying: “I’m
quite pleased.” It didn’t start well for Wilson
as Shadbolt chipped in for birdie at the first. But the Essex
man was soon ahead and a run of birdies saw him 5-up at the
turn before the end came on the 13th.
Wilson, who has twice finished runner-up in the Essex Championship,
has ambitions to turn professional but feels he needs to do
well in a ’big event’ before making the switch.
The title would be his best-ever present. Wilson now faces
James Robinson from Southport, who came back from an early
deficit to beat Ben Evans 3 and 2.
John Ambridge, the oldest player in the championship at 50,
gave 19 year old Daniel Willett a run for his money including
draining a 70-foot putt from off the 17th green to stay alive,
before bowing out on the final green. “I didn’t
play well this afternoon,” said Ambridge. “I hit
three poor tee shots and didn’t putt well and you cannot
afford to do that.”
Willett also felt he wasn’t in the best form. “I
scrambled a bit on the front nine but did a little better
coming home,” he admitted. “John didn’t
make many mistakes but a win is a win.” Willett, the
Yorkshire champion, now meets fellow US college student Chris
Paisley from Northumberland, who put out Durham’s Michael
Curry 4 and 3.
|
