ROBERT LEONARD continues to push back the golfing boundaries this summer; he has been in action in the South Eastern Group Junior Foursomes this week, after an extended run in the Boys British Amateur Championships last week preceded victory in the Porters Park Junior Open on Friday, August 16.

Playing on the rolling Carnoustie fairways, Leonard won five matchplays before he was eventually eliminated from the Amateur Championships by eventual winner Mark Pilling in the quarter-finals.

Three down after three, Leonard quickly found his form as he played the remaining 17 holes of the match two under.

Birdies on four and six cut the deficit before he won the 17th to draw level.

After halving the 18th, Leonard's chance to win the match came in the shape of a 10ft birdie effort on the first extra hole. It slid by though, and Pilling was successful from twice the distance on the following green to scrape through.

The defeat could not mask a successful tournament for Leonard, who raced into a four-hole lead in his first match, recovered from three down with six to play in the second, before a memorable duel with good friend Lloyd Campbell.

One up at the time, Leonard lost the 16th and 17th, before a par on the last took the game into extra-time when Campbell found the canal that Jean Van Der Velde made famous three years ago.

Not dispirited, Leonard fired rounds of 70 and 71 to win the Porters Park Junior Open by a handful of shots on Friday.

This week Leonard has been representing Hertfordshire with Andrew Bravant of South Herts in the South Eastern Junior Foursomes.

Meanwhile, Sunday sees Harpenden try to rewrite the form books when they conclude their Scratch League campaign with a home match against leaders West Herts.

Only a dramatic result would give Harp, currently lying in second place, a chance of pipping their guests to the Division Three title on the final day.

August 23, 2002 10:30