Sweet finish after duo win it hard way

Costessey Park's Kevin Pratt and Stuart Tough are the toast of Norfolk after they won the final of the Daily Mail Foursomes at Marriott Forest of Arden in Warwickshire.

The three-handicappers came through to claim the title from an initial entry of pairs from about 3,000 clubs.

“It's superb, brilliant,” said Pratt, who is Norfolk county captain. “But it was hard work!”

In the two-day session, which brought together the remaining 16 teams in the nationwide knock-out competition, Pratt and Tough were twice taken into extra time and sealed their victory in the final only on the 18th green.

They started with an easy win. Their first round opponents from Neath, who were receiving 10 shots, were six down after 10 holes and conceded the match.

The quarter-final was against a plus-thee handicapper from Cosby, Leicestershire and his son who played off nine. Pratt and Tough were two down with four to play but fought back to all square and won on the second extra hole.

In the semi-final they met the City of Belfast, gave four shots, and were again two down with four to play. Birdies at the par three 15th and 18th brought them back to all square and they won through with a par on the first extra hole.

In the final they conceded two shots to a pair from Addington Palace in Surrey. The Norfolk pair were up or all square for the outward half but their opponents birdied the 11th to go one up and then won the 13th with a shot to take a two-hole advantage.

“Then we had a solid finish, we parred in, won the last four holes - and managed to do it,” said Pratt.

It's a particularly sweet result for Tough, a former Norfolk handicap champion, who has been suffering from knee trouble and considering hanging up his clubs. “Thirty-six holes a day is a bit of an effort and I've been popping pills for the last couple of days - but apparently now I can't give up.”

He added: “I'm standing here with a class of Champagne and life is pretty sweet at the moment!”