Triumph puts Yearn firmly on cloud nine

by Mark Taylor of the Cambridge Evening news
 
 

Lee Yearn made it three in a row to clinch his ninth Cambridgeshire Area Golf Union County Championship title - and then set his sights on hitting double figures.

The Ely City golfer went round Saffron Walden Golf Club in eight-under-par 280 to finish two clear of Gog Magog's Steve Jarvis.

The foundation for the success was a four-under-par 68 in the third round, but the key to the victory was his solid, steady golf, which saw him find nearly every fairway and green.

Jarvis was a terrier in the final round, snapping at the heels of Yearn, but, despite the championship only being put to bed on the penultimate hole, it was an opening round 74 that proved the Gog Magog's player's undoing.

Yearn's hold on his title seldom looked in doubt as he was consistently straight down the course, as although Jarvis' short game was superb - helping him to two rounds of 69 on the second day - he constantly struggled to find the fairway from the tee, going all over the course.

The closest the pair came together was at the 13th in the final round, when Yearn three putted, but at the 14th, Jarvis was among the trees with his tee shot, and ended up bogeying the hole.

So Yearn, the most successful player in the history of the County Championship, made it three wins in a row - after his victories at Ely in 2008 and Bourn in 2009.

"I had a plan and I just stuck to it," said Yearn. "All these lads were whacking it 300 yards, and I wasn't going to get drawn into it.

"My iron game normally sees me through. "It was shocking on Saturday morning, but I putted great and as it went on just improved.

"I felt really good out there. "I just stuck to my game plan and didn't stray at all, so I was really pleased. "I always thought I had the edge but when I thought I was going to be four or five shots away, Steve kept coming back. He played great in the end."

He added: "I want to get 10 then I've had enough. "I wanted to do three in a row, and I've done that now, and I want to do 10 so if I can get 10 then I will be really happy and they won't have to worry about me."

Elton Furze's Ed Conduit was third on countback from the Links' Toby Crisp, who won the January Cup for the lowest handicap score on the first day, after rounds of 73 and 70.

And the team trophy went to Elton Furze's Adam Pike, Conduit, Jody Greenall and Matthew Whitwell.

Photos

The winnning putt

The January Cup Winner - Toby Crisp

Steve Jarvis trying to force a play-off

The champion with the president and vice president