Premier Performance sees ben into last 16

Ben Evans reached the latter stages in one of the premier events outside the professional golf arena last week.

The Sedlescombe Golf Club ace , 20, got to the last 16 out of a field of nearly 300 players from around the world in the English Amateur Championship.

English Golf Union A squad member Evans was eventually beaten 3&2 by James Robinson, of Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, on Thursday afternoon at Royal St Georges in Kent.

The Mick Maplesden-sponsored talent had edged out Jonathon Watt (Brockenhurst Manor) by one hole and Stephen Uzzell (Hornsea) by two holes in the two previous knockout rounds.

Staplecross-based Evans comfortably qualified for the 74-man matchplay section of the event by virtue of finishing fourth at the end of the 36-hole strokeplay phase.

Such an excellent performance was based largely upon what was briefly a course record equalling round of six under-par 66 at Royal Cinque Ports.

Evans, whose home club is Rye, is currently representing the English Golf Union in the 54-hole Finnish Open Amateur Championship at Helsinki Golf Club.

He has also come second in the South of England Stroke-play Championship, fifth in the Welsh Open Strokeplay and Berkshire Trophy , and sixth in the Berkhamsted Trophy this year.