Cooden Beach hosts thrilling qualifier

The six-strong team led by Rye's England under-16 cap Ben Evans were in the lead after the first round of the English Golf Union's South East Boys Qualifier played at the tricky Bexhill course on Friday.

Evans hit a four-under par 68 the best of the morning while West Hove's Tom Coulson and Nic Griffin, from Haywards Heath, weighed in with a 70 and 71 respectively as Sussex reached the turn with a total of 353 and a one-shot advantage over Kent.

Sussex could not capitalise on their slender lead going into the final round and with the sun baking the course, the 66-strong field from 11 counties across southern England, found the conditions tougher.

Only one of the Sussex side produced a lower score after lunch Steve Stark from Brighton & Hove with a level par 72, as the teenagers wilted in the heat.

Kent could afford to play conservatively over the closing holes as the expected charge from Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Channel Islands failed to materialise with the stiffening breeze making scoring harder.

The champions' afternoon total of 362 with only one player breaking par was still good enough for a seven-shot victory and a place in the final at Copthorne, West Sussex, in September.