Nick Scott set up a new course record of 65 to win the Cowdray Park pro-am, but it was done in the saddest possible circumstances.

The West Sussex assistant was four under par on the tenth green when Norman "Soleplate" Jones, one of his amateur partners, collapsed and died a short time later.

A popular member of Cowdray, and a past captain of the Sussex PGU vice-presidents, Jones was given emergency first aid by two heart specialists playing in the match ahead. Paramedics were summoned but it was too late to save Jones from the effects of a massive heart attack. He was 71.

Cliff Pluck, secretary of the SPGU, said: "Norman was one of our most loyal sponsors."

Scott finished five-under par and pick-up a £800 cheque at a muted presentation ceremony.

The pro-am raised £8,000 for the King Edward V11 hospital, Midhurst. Norman Jones had been a regular competitor over the years and was one of Cowdray Park's stalwart members.

Team winners Richard Adams, Dave and Steve Lucking and Nick Anstey were 17 under par.

The Ralph family, all with Cowdray connections, were ninth on nine under and comprised Glenn, the Camberley pro and former Sussex champion who started his golf as a Cowdray junior, his brother Graham, neice Hannah and Glenn's son Sam.

Tim Spence, formerly at East Sussex National, represented Battle and was ninth, seven shots behind the winner on two-over par.

Leading pro scores (Cowdray Park): 65: Nick Scott (West Sussex).

68: Glenn Ralph (Camberley). 70: Richard Adams (South Winchester).

71: Charlie Giddins (Hastings), Chris Connell (Mid Sussex), Jason Partridge (Piltdown), Ian Benson (Blacknest); Keith Macdonald (Goodwood).

Team: 1 Richard Adams (South Winchester), Dave Lucking, Steve Lucking, Nick Anstey (Cowdray Park) 123.

2 Phil Stevens, Paul Fairminer, Ed Howkins, Chris Cummings (Cowdray Park) 126.

3 Mark Jarvis (Wellshurst), Sean White, Brian Bulpit, John Allnutt (Cowdray Park) 129.

Meanwhile, Richard Arnold, The Dyke pro, and Dave Travis, his amateur partner, won the Sussex Inter-Club am-pro foursomes at Willingdon by one stroke.

They had rounds of 69 and 73 for a 142 aggregate, just pipping Dennis Newnham, the Crowborough Beacon pro, and Graham Smith whose scores were 72 and 71.

Hollingbury Park, represented by pro Graeme Crompton and amateur Stewart Hope were third on 144 (72, 72). This was good enough to squeeze into the top three on countback from the Hastings pairing of pro Charlie Giddins and John Cramp (70, 74).

Level on 145 were Pyecombe assistant Michael Ovett and amateur Trevor Greenfield (70, 75) and Ifield pro. Jon Earl with Paul Fisher (71, 74).

Report by John Vinicombe
vinisport.features@btinternet.com