Hamon sets up meeting with Marley

TWO of Guernsey's inter-insular team from last summer go head-to-head in the intriguing second round battle of the Deutsche Bank Island Championship this afternoon. Mike Hamon came through an excellent tussle with Roland Mills to set up a meeting with the in-form Mick Marley as the big guns enter the action.

Mills, buoyed by his victory in the Charity Classic at La Grande Mare at the weekend, pushed Hamon hard and to the 17th hole, but the L'Ancresse man demonstrated his fighting qualities in securing his progression yesterday.

The 12th was a fine example of Hamon's determination.

Taking the honour, his tee shot at the uphill par three fell well short of the green while his opponent was one of very few players to find the putting surface in regulation with a superb shot to about 15ft.

The island player's pitch left him with a testing 12-footer for par but, after Mills saw his putt slip by the hole, Hamon calmly rolled his into the centre of the cup for a half. It was typically dramatic matchplay.

Conditions on the opening day of the championship were extremely difficult.

A strong northerly wind made the links a demanding test for the golfers and the earlier matches had rain with which to contend also.

Jason Savident, winner of the opening match out against Willie Gough, was absolutely drenched and his opponent had the misfortune not only to suffer defeat, but also lose the head off his driver on the 13th tee in a 'what happened next' moment.

The bemused Gough looked at the end of the club's shaft before turning to Savident and saying 'this was brand, spanking new as well'.

Dave Jeffrey, an impressive 4 and 3 winner over Chris Warr on his island championship debut, illustrated how tough things were when he revealed both he and his opponent took a five iron on the par three seventh only to fall well short of the green. They could have hit three irons, he said.

When it was later put to him on the 13th tee that it was a tough drive over the road in the conditions, he chuckled and replied 'they are all tough drives today'.

It was a bad day for the juniors as Craig Shorto, Tom Le Huray and Danny Carre all lost.

Shorto fell to former island champion Dave Rowlinson, who will now meet Steve Mahy, while Le Huray was involved in the longest match of the evening as Alistair Jardine won on the 20th. Carre was left to rue a three-putt on 17 in his one down defeat to Michael Hockey.

Among the other second round ties, Jamie Blondel will meet Laurence Graham senior, Bobby Eggo plays Geoff King and number one seed Danny Bisson opens his campaign against Mark Allez.

Results below