SUFFOLK OPEN 2024

Bury St Edmunds set a beautiful scene for the 2024 Suffolk Open where the county’s best amateurs, PGA professionals and now ‘non’ PGA Professionals came to compete for the Faraday Cup.

The shotgun start would make weather conditions fair for all players and mean in the case of a play off there would be daylight. The Bury St Edmunds Green-keepers had done a fine job of presenting the golf course and it was set up fairly for scoring which meant a few players got off to hot starts. Amongst the early pace setters were pre tournament favourites Sam Forgan (Felixstowe) and Habebul Islam (Clutch Tour Pro) both posting morning rounds of 69 (-3). Young amateur Callum Pearce also carded a 69 as did local man Ben Coleman meaning the top of the leader board was looking bunched. Ever impressive was Lawrence Dodd of Culford school, having barely picked up a club this summer he brushed off some dust and shot 68 (-4). The impressive scoring was about the get better though. Going about his business quietly on the other side of the golf course was Jack Nicholson, six under with three par 5s to play and the course record was under threat. A bogey for Jack on a tricky par 3 and a birdie putt on his final hole shaving the edge meant no course record but he’d shot -5 and he lead the Suffolk Open.

The shotgun start provided a fascinating afternoon too with the leaders totally unaware of how their rivals were fairing. As it happened, slow starts for Nicholson and Dodd meant they faded away and at this point Pearce and Coleman had started to fall behind the pace set by Islam and Forgan. The leading two with 6 holes each to play where both -7 for the tournament and the finish would be exciting. As Habebul and Sam walked down adjacent holes separated by Bury’s wonderful woodland neither knew what would be needed on their last holes but a bogey for Islam meant Sam was now in pole position. As Sam struck a monstrous drive down his final hole of the day splitting the fairway, Habebul pulled one slightly left and his lie meant a bogey was the best he could do. Forgan now has a two shot lead and a wedge in his hand, someone with his form and experience would make no mistake and minutes later he was the Suffolk Open Champion of 2024.

Whilst the two professionals battled it out for the top prize Jimmy Price of Felixstowe Ferry was finishing his day and a fine one it was. Two under par scores of 71 meant he picked up the Easterbrook Trophy for the leading amateur.

Congratulations to Sam Forgan and Jimmy Price.

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