There was no success for local golfers when the first major Essex amateur golf event of the season, the Keating Trophy, was staged at Orsett.

Sixteen players qualified to battle for the trophy in match-play competition after two rounds of strokeplay the previous weekend.

There were four "locals" to win through but only two of them, the host club's Steve McAnally and Boyce Hill's Mark Stones, survived the first round. McAnally beat Canons Brook's Darren Pegram at the 19th before losing 1 down to eventual beaten finalist Danny Heard (Wanstead).

Stones, having seen off Thorpe Hall's Jonathan Neal 2 and 1, then lost 2 down to eventual champion Craig Housden (Channels).

McAnally's Orsett team-mate Mark Whiten was a heavy first round casualty, losing 7 and 5 to Housden.

The senior Essex amateur team put up a great fight against the County Professionals in their annual match before losing 8 and 7 at Frinton.

McAnally was again a leading star by joining up with Heard for a 2 and 1 foursomes win over Mark Stokes and David March in the morning foursomes.

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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