TWO rounds of 69 saw Rayleigh based professional Jack Clarke win the Jamesons Essex PGA Open Championship at Frinton Golf Club.

This PGA-run event, which was sponsored by Clacton chartered accountants Jamesons, is the most important event in the Essex professional golfers’ calendar and this is its 90th year.

It is open to low handicap amateurs and professionals in Essex and is strongly supported by the local professionals, with an original field of 100 players narrowed down to 66 following a pre-qualifying event in March.

Following the morning round, 10 players were within four shots of leader Matt King from Hartswood on 68.

However, Chelmsford's Clarke (20), who also plays at Lords, put together a second two-under par 69 in the afternoon, which was enough to win the championship.

He claimed top spot by two shots from Adam Burwood, of The Warren, followed by Thorpe Hall’s Johnnie Fryatt in third on 141. The winning amateur was Matthew Southgate of Thorpe Hall, whose 143 won on countback from Five Lakes’ Andrew Shakespear and Jason Nicholls of the host club.

Also firing a 143 total for a share of sixth place was Clacton professional Jason Levermore, while Colchester’s Mark Baker was in a tie for 16th with a four-over 146.

The previous day, the customary pro-am event took place, with the winning professional prize coming with a 67 by King.

In joint second place, were Fryatt and Levermore.

Team winners on 125 were Graham Burroughs, Rickie, Ritchie and Alex Hatton from Boyce Hill, while second place was taken by the Frinton quartet of Mark Stokes, Ian Dickenson, Mark Harry and Warren Bailey on 126.

Major thanks went to Jamesons (Chartered Accountants) in Clacton as the main sponsor of the event.

>RESULTS: Jamesons Essex PGA Open Championship: 1, Jack Clarke (Unattached) 69, 69=138; 2, Adam Burwood (The Warren) 70, 70=140; 3, Johnnie Fryatt (Thorpe Hall) 71, 70= 141; 4, Mark Stokes (Rayleigh Dr) 69, 73=142/Matt King (Hartswood) 68, 74= 142; 6, Jason Levermore (Clacton) 73, 70=143/Christian Foreman (Rochford) 71, 72=143/Roger Gray (Thorndon Park) 71, 72=143/David Wood (St Clere’s Hall) 71, 72=143/Matt Southgate, first amatuer (Thorpe Hall) 73, 70= 143/Jason Nicholls second amateur (Frinton) 73, 70= 143/Andrew Shakespear third amateur (Five Lakes) 72, 71= 143; 13, Wes Wray (Three Rivers) 74, 70=144/David Partridge (The Essex) 70, 74=144; 15, Nigel Burch (Royal Castlepoint) 70, 75=145; 16, Mark Davis (Thorndon Park) 74, 72=146/Mark Baker (Colchester) 74, 72=146/Daniel Vaughan fourth amateur (Bentley) 73, 73=146; 19, Craig Lockwood (Regiment Way) 72, 75=147; 20, Brett Taylor (Chelmsford) 72, 75=147.