Dee continues to be surprise package at Little Aston

Ross Dee continued his amazing run through the English Amateur Championship this morning by beating boy international James Burnett 2 and 1 to reach this afternoon’s semi-finals.

Despite trailing early on, the Essex 31 year old, who put out Brabazon Trophy winner Darren Wright yesterday, benefited from Burnett bogeys at the seventh and eighth to go 1up and he went further in front when the Lincolnshire youngster dropped another shot at the tenth.  Dee then three-putted the 11th but a birdie-three at 15 restored Dee’s 2 hole lead and he maintained that to finish the contest on the 17th green.

“Everything is a bonus from now,” said Dee. “I felt more comfortable this morning, more relaxed probably because I didn’t know my opponent.  “But I’m still struggling a bit with my putting,” he added before heading off to buy a new shirt as his prolonged stay means he has run out of clean clothing.

Burnett also felt his putting was the reason for his defeat. “My putting let me down,” he said. “I didn’t get the rub of the green but Ross played well.”

Now Burnett can put in some work on the practice green before heading off to next week’s Boys Home Internationals in Scotland.

Dee will now meet Warren Harmston who beat Lancashire’s Jonathan Hurst on the final green by two holes.

Harmston built a 3up lead through seven holes thanks to some superb approach play, but lost it over the next three with Hurst holing from sand at the tenth to get back to all square.  However, a birdie at 16 restored Harmston’s lead and he was conceded a short putt on the last for a two hole victory.

“It was a tough grind,” said the Surrey 26 year old. “I started well but had a few shaky holes in the middle. Getting to the semi-finals is my best in the English by miles.”

The Tom Lewis v Andy Sullivan, as expected, proved a classic and was packed with birdies. Sullivan reached the turn in two under but found himself 3 down as Lewis covered the same territory in 30.  Sullivan won 11 where Lewis bogeyed but a four at the short 13th enabled Lewis to go 3up again and he eventually ran out a 3 and 2 winner.

“Other than the 11th I played solidly,” said Lewis, who was six under when the contest concluded on the 16th. “But that’s my closest match so far.”

The British Boys Champion will now meet Tommy Fleetwood who had to go to the 18th green to get past Sam Edwards by one hole.

Fleetwood looked to be heading for a comfortable victory after going 2up through three holes. But Edwards birdies the short fifth then got level with another two at the ninth.  It was cut and thrust to the 13th where Fleetwood edged ahead again with a birdie-three only to lose the next to an Edwards birdie.

The 17 year old from Devon wasn’t overawed by Fleetwood’s reputation and levelled again when the Lancastrian bogeyed 16. They both birdied the 17th in three but at the last Edwards found rough then sand and his par putt missed after he had conceded Fleetwood his par.

“Sam played really well,“ said Fleetwood. “It was a tough match but I didn’t do much wrong. Every time one of us went ahead the other one took the next. But I’m sure Sam will play for England in the future.”

Edwards, a Devon county player, did well to reach the last eight after having a three-week layoff through injury.

“I was excited to play Tommy,” he said. “I didn’t feel under any pressure. I just went out there to have fun.” 

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