Golf duo secure top 10 finishes

Staplecross-based Ben Evans and Luke Cornford, from St Leonards, came came tied eighth in the Buildbase Open at Frilford Heath Golf Club with an eight-under-par 54-hole total of 208.

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It could have been even better for Evans, who has achieved four successive top 10 finishes on the Alps Tour, because he was tied for the lead after 15 holes of his final round before dropping three shots on the last three.

Evans made a blistering start on Friday with four birdies in five holes from the fourth, but he eventually had to settle for a one-under-par 71 after making four bogeys and just one birdie on the back nine.

Starting from the 10th in round two, Evans made two bogeys in his first five before birdieing seven of the remaining 13 holes, including three in a row from the 17th, for a very good 67.

Evans, who didn’t drop a shot on the front nine all week, moved into contention with four birdies in the first 10 holes of his final round on Sunday. A bogey followed at the 12th, but birdies on the 14th and 15th moved him into a share of the lead on 11 under.

A double bogey on the par three 16th, however, and a bogey at the last dropped him back to eight under, four behind winner Harry Bateman, who claimed the £10,000 first prize.

Cornford, from Cooden Beach Golf, enjoyed a consistent three days. He opened with a 70 containing four birdies and two bogeys and followed that with a 69 featuring five gains and two dropped shots.

He closed with a bogey-free 69 which included three birdies in four holes from the fifth to emphatically end a run of three consecutive missed cuts on the EuroPro Tour this season. A two-hour highlights package from the Buildbase Open will be broadcast on Sky Sports HD four times on Wednesday July 10.