Baker sees hopes fade

Shropshire golfer Peter Baker has spurned his chance of claiming back-to-back titles on the Challenge Tour.

Rounds of 65 and 66 had left the former Lilleshall Hall man leading the Estoril Challenge de Portugal at the halfway stage.

He maintained his position at the top despite a two-over-par 73 on Saturday, which included two double bogeys.

But his hopes of following up last week's success in the Credit Suisse Challenge ended with a 74 yesterday, with four dropped shots in the final two holes seeing him slip down to fifth place as fellow Englishman Ross McGowan took the title with a 12-under-par total of 272.

Baker will be looking to bounce back today as he lines up in the international final qualifying at Sunningdale, which was being played over 36 holes.

Also in the line up bidding for a dozen spots were Oswestry-born former Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam and Simon Wakefield, who lives at Eccleshall on the Shropshire border.

* Shropshire & Herefordshire's golfers have notched their first Midlands League victory after storming to a 10.5-4.5 win over Derbyshire at Ludlow yesterday.

The home side did the bulk of the damage in the morning foursomes which they claimed 4.5-0.5, before stretching their advantage with a 6-4 success in the afternoon singles.