Searles joy for Jack and Andy

Searles Spring Classic winners Jack Frances (l) and Andy Thornton (r) at the prize-giving presentation with Searles company secretary Vicky Searle.

Jack Frances (Old Fold Manor) rattled off six birdies on the bounce to fire himself and playing partner Andy Thornton to glory in the Searles PGA Spring Classic.

Frances, 24, and seven-handicapper Thornton collected a fine 42 points in the opening day’s greensomes at Kings Lynn. That left them a mere point ahead of their closest rivals going into the second-round better-ball format at Hunstanton.

It looked sure to be a close-fought contest with the leaders chased hard early on by playing partners Crue Elliott (Sandy Lodge) and Sean Herman – as well as Jason Groat (Denver) and wife Alison.

But Frances went into overdrive on the back nine with an exceptional performance. He made nine birdies in total as he and Thornton secured 47 points.

That lifted their overall tally to 89 – four clear of the runners-up Groat combination with Elliott and Herman a further two points back.

An ecstatic Frances, who tied for victory in last year’s Colchester pro-am, felt his latest two days’ work were his best ever in tournament golf. In particular, he reflected with great pride on his Hunstanton heroics.

He said: “I was eight-under for my ball – that’s the lowest score I’ve had in a pro competition. My partner Andy kept spurring me on which was really nice. We clicked and it all came together.

“I was hitting the driver great, pitching was good and putting was just excellent. I’ve really been working hard on that.

“The putter got really hot. A 12 footer on 11 kicked it all off. I holed another one of the same distance on 14 and then one from 30 foot on 16, which was a double-breaker.”

Thornton, who was playing with Frances for the fourth time in the Spring Classic, contributed plenty to the duo’s efforts over the two days. Plus, he had the best seat in the house, witnessing Frances’ fireworks at Hunstanton.

Thornton said: “It was a real exhibition out there today – it was very good to watch. The putter started to get hot – and he hit the ball very, very well.

“The two days have been fantastic – good competition, good company and both golf courses, though very different, were absolutely beautiful.”

Those sentiments will have been felt by all 54 pairs after glorious early spring sunshine lit up the 19th renewal of the Searles-sponsored seasonal curtain-raiser.