SANDY LODGE took a huge stride forward in their bid to succeed Moor Park as Herts Scratch League champions on Sunday, June 8, when they edged Harpenden Common 7-5.

The sides finished second and third behind Moor Park last season, but, with both at home against the defending champions, the outcome of this match could go a long way to deciding the championship. Certainly it puts Sandy Lodge, who already have an away win under their belt, in pole position.

They were made to work for their victory, though. With Paul Coburn and Joel Field unavailable, they took on a Common side which Sandy Lodge's Tom Kilbey described as "the strongest side they've ever put up against us".

The foursomes began well when Andrew Kay and Neil Brinkworth took the point against Rob Leonard and Ian Farrant, and Peter York and Jason Court, five up after ten, looked certain to add a second. However, a complete turnaround on the back nine saw York and Court pegged back and, eventually, they needed to win the 18th to secure victory.

The other two foursomes went against the home side, and when Kay and Court both lost their singles matches at the top of the draw, things looked ominous.

However, Brinkworth, playing his first scratch match for four years, held his nerve to beat Alex Turner on the 16th to complete a highly productive day for him personally, before York let a three-hole lead slip away against Steve Mulkerrin, only to birdie the last for victory.

David Scammell, Simon Pettifer and Kevin Hurley then added wins at the bottom of the draw to put S Sandy Loge in pole position.

They travel to Berkhamsted at the end of the month, before a title showdown against Moor Park in mid-August. Before then though, Moor Park have to negotiate an awkward trip to Harpenden Common next month.

Meanwhile, Hertfordshire Colts lost their second match of the season at Verulam on Satuday, going down 6.5-5.5 to Middlesex.

Sean Devein (Moor Park) and Rob Leonard (Harpenden Common) got Herts off to a solid start with a win in the foursomes, which eventually ended 2-2, but both players lost in the afternoon as three matches went against Herts on the final hole.

Devein went down 4&2 against South East Schools Champion James Tavener, while Berkhamsted's Ollie Ross also suffered a singles setback. Sandy Lodge's Kenny Hull did manage a half in his game, while Verulam's own Kenny Hull picked up a point from a 3&2 triumph.

"Once you get between scratch and three handicaps, it's all down to putting. Everyone hits the ball just as well as the other, it's just about someone making a putt and someone missing one," said Colts manager Peter Medcalfe, who takes his team to Essex on Saturday, June 28, for their next league match.

Elsewhere, Brookmans Park is hosting The Herts County Championships this weekend, when 72 of the best local amateurs in the county will be harrying defending champion Ben Connelly into dropping his title.

Moor Park's strength in depth is emphasised by their eight qualifiers, including likely challenger Sean Devein, while four players, headed by Joel Field and Paul Coburn, will tee up hoping to bring the title back to Sandy Lodge. James York (West Herts), Steven Mulkerrin (Redbourn), Robert Leonard (Harpenden Common), Andrew Bravant (South Herts) and Welsh Amateur Open winner Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) are also competiting, but a strong contingent of home players could surprise them all.

While in America, David Griffiths missed his third cut in four professional tournaments on the US Tour, when rounds of 72 and 74 last Thursday and Friday ended his involement in the La Salle Bank Open at The Glen Club, in Chicago.

The Watford player began well with a birdie at the fifth, but he gave the shot back on the next hole before a double bogey six at the eighth left him chasing a score on the back nine, when three birdies were offset by three more drops.

He made one shot back on the par five first hole on Friday, but bogeys at six, seven and 13 effectively ended his tournament. Two late birdies, at 14 and 17, was not enough to see him make the cut.