THE Journal's chief photographer, Ian Cameron, faced one of the biggest tests of his golfing career when he squared up to European Tour star Jeremy Robinson.

Broadway was the venue and it proved a worthy stage as the pair fought out a thrilling tussle that ended all-square after 18 holes with Robinson coming back from three down with five to play to halve the match.

There was a sense of anxiety on the first tee but four shots later the focus was definitely on Cameron as a birdie four bettered his opponent's par without the need for the shot a hole concession.

"I was just glad to get the ball away down the middle," smiled the Journal man, who then smashed his second to the edge of the green.

"That's the closest I've been to the green in two, even off the yellows," Cameron added.

"I don't think you'll need a shot to win the hole," said Robinson as he weighed up the par five start.

The Tour ace revealed that he should be able to reach three out of four par 5s in two and, on the 500 yard fourth, he banged his tee shot 300 yards down the middle.

Cameron's birdie start proved a false dawn as an eight at the third squared the match and an out of bounds second at the next meant Robinson's birdie was all in vain.

The par 3 fifth posed few problems for either player.

"It doesn't look 170 yards," said Robinson, who floated in a little nine-iron. Cameron responded with a six-iron left of the pin and high up off the green but a neat chip levelled the match leaving Robinson to say: "That was one hell of a three!"

A "phenomenal drive" the words of the photographer, left Robinson always in control of the sixth where a par four left Cameron cursing after another nightmare hole.

"I'm all anxious and starting to rush my game," he said. "I'm looking where the ball's gone before I've hit it."

Lipped out

Robinson's birdie putt at the next lipped out giving Cameron a chance to level the match at the eighth.

"If I'm going to birdie a par three then it's going to be this one," said the Journal man as he surveyed his 117-yard tee shot.

However, Cameron's bogey and a three-foot par putt for Robinson left the professional ahead.

That was to change at the 399-yard par four ninth as Cameron's chipping suddenly came good and a third shot to within two feet of the pin provided the amateur with a timely par to Robinson's sole bogey of the afternoon.

All-square at halfway was just how it should have been but Cameron set off for home determined to put one over on his Vale master.

The tenth was halved as Cameron fluffed a four-footer but a "great three" - Robinson's comment - at 11 left the Journal man ahead.

A chip to within two feet at 12 was 13 feet inside Robinson's ball at 12, where a pair of par 4s left the professional two holes adrift.

It was a similar tale at the next with Cameron's chipping again to the fore and a half in four left Robinson three behind.

A tree got in the way of Cameron's second at the 351-yard 14th but he still managed to be within ten feet after three. Robinson, meanwhile, laid up short but then rolled in a 40-footer for a birdie.

"There's no pressure on this one then," said Cameron, who saw his half-saving putt lip out at the cup.

Despite still trailing by two holes - just four from home - Robinson was still handing out advice to his junior opponent ahead of the 269-yard par four 15th.

"Pick out a point on top of the horizon rather than just aiming anywhere. You've got to have confidence in your club," the 26-year-old declared.

A second successive birdie brought the combatants to within one hole at the 16th tee - a hole both players played superbly.

Cameron revealed he had only ever parred the daunting 456-yard par four once but was 25-yards from the pin in three.

Robinson's landed three feet from the pin and fine putting styles brought par and bogey and one hole still separating the duo with two to play.

Robinson showed his pedigree by chipping in from the edge of the green for his sixth birdie of the day, while Cameron's three putts proved costly and it was level at the last.

A hooked drive left Robinson in the ascendancy but a 15-footer for victory went begging and Cameron, glad of a generous concession, scraped a five to halve the hole and the match.

"That was really enjoyable," said Robinson. "The course is in great condition for the time of year - a bit like Ian's chipping!"