DOUBLE JOY AS KIRBY STAR LEAVES RIVALS IN HIS WAKE
Date : 03.07.08 STORY LEICESTER MERCURY JASON - TOM FINN
Kirby Muxloe's Jason Palmer is celebrating after a weekend to remember.
First, he won the Midland Open Amateur Championship over 72 holes at three Nottinghamshire courses.
And, on Sunday, he became County champion for the first time, storming to victory in style at Birstall.
Palmer, a former Italian Open Amateur champion, is in the middle of a purple patch because he was
a member of the County's Midland Counties' Championship-winning team which reached the English Final at Chesterfield. And the next day he won the Midland Order of Merit Finham Park Bowl Championship at Coventry in a play-off.
He clinched the Midland Open Amateur title in tough, windy conditions at Retford, Worksop, and Sherwood Forest with his three-under-par 69-71-70-71-281 aggregate to finish two strokes clear of the high-class field.
He won the County title by eight shots from three players after rounds of 63 and 68.
He was seven strokes clear after his seven-under-par opening round.
He was seven under for the opening nine holes when he needed just 28 shots and had five birdies and an eagle at the ninth. Coming back, he birdied 11, and had his only bogey at the 15th.
But then the course had been lashed by torrential rain for almost an hour and the flooded greens threatened to halt his progress. Palmer said: "I found the delay difficult, but I knew I had to retain my composure as there was a long way to go.
"In round two, I had one birdie and a bogey going out, holed a 20-foot birdie putt at 14, dropped a shot at 16, then birdied the last two holes, from 18 feet at 17 and from five at the last.
"I was delighted to win the Midland Amateur and the excitement and enjoyment continued unabated by taking the County Championship so quickly afterwards.
"I feel my practice on all aspects of my game is paying off. It was a great feeling to take only 28 at Birstall for the front nine-holes, my lowest-ever total, and then to maintain my position. My caddie Bob was a great support over such an intense spell.
"At one point in round one, I must admit a 59 came into my mind, and I had several chances after the turn. But 63 is my best-ever score.
"It means I am playing with high confidence, but I am always conscious anything can happen in golf.
I just hope to keep it going for as long as possible because I am really enjoying competing at the moment. It's fantastic!"
He started his second round with four successive threes, including birdies at the first three holes.
They came from 10 feet, a tap-in and 12 feet, respectively. Then he holed a six-foot birdie putt at the sixth,
another from close range at eight, and an eagle two at the 312-yard par-four ninth. His 63 is a course record following course lengthening at the 17th.
At halfway, Palmer was well clear of six players on level-par 70 - defending champion David Gibson (Cosby), Kieran Thomas (Hinckley), Jim Longstaff (Park Hill), Michael Reed (Birstall), Paul Dixon (Willesley Park) and Sam Mayfield (Kilworth Springs).
And he ran out the clear winner ahead of three on one-under 139 totals - Gibson, Dixon and Mayfield.
Scott Wormleighton, playing over his home course, had a rare bird - an albatross ace at the ninth, where there were also three eagles during the day.
There was just one disappointment for Palmer - his club team tied for first place on 434 for the Corah Shield for the County Champion Club, but lost out on countback to hosts Birstall, who go through to the English Champion Club tournament later in the season.
Birstall's line-up was Michael Reed (144), with both Adam Dalby and Chris Webb on 145,
County president Tom Finn (Melton Mowbray) congratulated Palmer on his achievement and presented the awards.
Prizes for the best morning round of 70 went to Reed, Longstaff and Kieran Thomas. County captain Phil Thomason won the afternoon award for his 69. Wormleighton received a special award for his ace. Leading scorers:
131 J Palmer (Kirby Muxloe) 63-68
139 P Dixon (Willesley Park) 70-69, S Mayfield (Kilworth Springs) 70-69, D Gibson (Cosby) 70-69
144 M Reed (Birstall) 70-74
145 P Thomason (The Leicestershire) 76-69, A Dalby (Birstall) 75-70, C Webb (Birstall) 71-74
146 R Wells (Beedles Lake) 75-71 M Bolton (Cosby) 73-73 M.Stephens (Kirby Muxloe) 72-74
147 J Longstaff (Park Hill) 70-77
148 K Thomas (Hinckley) 70-78
150 S Thomas (Hinckley) 71-79, K Foster (Melton Mowbray) 76-74.
