Marley pulls title out of the hat

MICK MARLEY ended Bobby Eggo's run of wins in the Royal Guernsey Golf Club strokeplay championship with a quality three-under performance over 36 holes. 'I don't know where that came from,' joked the island star, who has not been in the best of form of late.

'I've been struggling for the last few weeks, but it was good to get back into it.'

Marley's victory by two shots from Eggo marked his fourth club championship over a 19-year period, his first arriving in 1986.

Eggo, who won the title six years in succession after switching to the Royal in the early 90s, has won it for the last three years.

Marley, who should be confirmed in the inter-insular team later this week, was wary of the Eggo threat despite holding a two-shot advantage on him at halfway.

'Bobby was already out on the course when I went out, so I didn't know what he was going to do, but with Bobby you always think he's going to score something like a 68.'

As it happened, Eggo could do no better than match Marley's level-par 70.

Marley had begun the day superbly with a birdie at the second which he handed back at the fourth.

Further birdies at the seventh and eighth saw him out in 33. Thereafter he was a model of consistency, shooting eight pars either side of a fourth birdie at the 14th.

In the afternoon, a lost shot at the second, where he had to take a drop from behind a rock, gave him early concern, but his confidence was boosted by a birdie three at the fourth, the toughest hole on the course.

He also birdied the par-five sixth and horse-shoed the seventh before dropping a shot at the ninth.

There was still scope to throw it all away, but Marley held his nerve.

'The back nine was a bit of a struggle, but I managed to par everything.'

Marley's performance also brought him the handicap honours and the Garenne Trophy that goes with it.

In that competition, he finished three clear of David Nicolle.

Juniors dominated the leaderboard with four finishing in the top seven and Tom Le Huray, 15 last week, leading the way on 140 for fourth place.

In the women's equivalent championship, Jan Chamb-erlain was denied a scratch and handicap double by Laura Jeffrey.

The latter's matching 70s gave her the handicap honours by three shots from Chamberlain who sailed away with the scratch trophy with a two-round total of 153, eight clear of Kay Mapley, her nearest rival.

Chamberlain's two rounds of 75 and 78 were also the best two of the tournament, Mapley's 79 being the only other sub-80 score.