ROOKERY Park GC's Juniors have gained quick revenge against Diss, who produced the winners in the two main sections of the recent Rookery Junior Open.

ROOKERY Park GC's Juniors have gained quick revenge against Diss, who produced the winners in the two main sections of the recent Rookery Junior Open.

In the final of the Suffolk Junior Team Championship, Calvin Sherwood, Sam Jaggard, Jack Harper and Guy Mummery combined to beat Diss and carry off the trophy.

The three best scores combined from every team determined the final results and it was appropriate that Rookery junior captain, Calvin Sherwood, recorded the best score.

He and Sam Jaggard enjoyed further success when both finished in the top 16 in the recent Suffolk Junior Championship at Haverhill and qualified for the knockout stages, which are to be held at Waldringfield.

In the morning round Sherwood appeared to have blown his chances when he slipped to a round of 81.

Showing what has become a typical fighting spirit, he went round the course in the afternoon in 72, knocking nine shots off his morning round.

Guy Mummery has also won the Thorpeness Junior Open with a score of 74.

Rookery had further success when new youngster, George Milton, who has been playing golf for only two years, won the handicap section.

Luke Thompson, at 19 years of age, celebrated his graduation to the adult sector by winning an Optional Stableford on a countback, with 41 points.

His rivalry with friend and still junior, Tom Pettifer, remains and the pair played together in the competition and, matching each other shot for shot, ended level on points.

Pettifer failed to sink a 5ft putt on the last green, which would have given him the victory.

Asked how he felt when his friend was lining up the putt Thompson said: 'I was never worried, I knew he would miss it. He always misses from that length when he plays with me.'

Another Rookery junior who is on the verge of a major victory is 16-year-old Chris Healey, who first started hitting golf balls at the tender age of four.

Having played golf until he was eight he gave up in favour of football.

When he moved to Lowestoft three years ago he made friends with a group of boys who all played golf, which led him to join the Rookery junior section.

After being given an initial handicap of 28 he won a string of junior competitions and his handicap soon tumbled down to nine.

Eventually, he was picked to play for the county under 16 team.

In the recent Mid-Week Stableford he landed his first victory in an adult competition with a score of 44 points.

His round contained five birdies and, having started at the 10th hole he arrived on the eighth hole with a score of one-under-par.

A flirtation with the trees, which led to a double bogey, and a dropped shot on the last hole, spoilt what was still a very good round of golf.

His handicap is now down to seven and he aims to make a living at golf, either as a player or teacher and coach.

Second in the competition was Rookery's new 'big fish' Tony James, with Stenson star, Ben Wallis, third. Both scored 41 points.

David Batley