Warwickshire Golf
BROOKER FEELS AT HOME
(Left picture: Nick Brooker, Middle Picture: Nic Heath Capt OltonGC, Nick Brooker, Bob Harrison President WUGC, Right picture: Tom Ibbertson)
The Warwickshire Matchplay Championship was played on Friday 9th & 11th June at Olton Golf Club.
Although the course was still in great condition the greens had naturally slowed up a little due to rain earlier in the week. But even with this they were still running at a smooth 10.5 on the stimp.
The first round matches had some interesting pairings and none really had a ‘favourite’ you could spot outright which can sometimes happen in this event. This was true in theory and in practice for 3 out of the 4 matches going down the 18th – and further!
In match one freshly off his Amateur Championship win the week before and Runner-up in last years Matchplay Championship, Rob Copperthwaite managed to overcome home member Joe Macilwraith by maintaining his 1 hole lead after the final hole.
Match 2 saw Copt Heaths Alex Smith against a relatively new member to Olton, Nick Brooker, who recently moved to the Club from Harborne Golf Club. After a level battle with neither player holding a lead they went to the 19th hole. Nick Brookers tee shot finding the left side of the fairway and Alex pulling his ball left of the fairway making his approach a touch awkward. Nick managed to win the first extra hole and moved through to the next round.
Match 3 was a good battle between Coventry Hearsall member and 2016 Matchplay Champion, Tom Ibbertson and Luke Turbutt from Robin Hood. Luke was looking comfortable for most of the match and in control at one point by leading 3up. However, Luke hadn’t counted on the tenacity of Tom Ibbertson who kept fighting and found himself all square after 18 holes. Pars were shared down the 19th and 20th holes, and Tom making birdie on the short 3rd (21st) hole to take the match. Although Tom is only 25 years old he does have a wealth of experience and commented that the match against Luke was one of the best matches he had played – hopefully that was some consolation to Luke whose future is already looking bright.
On paper the result of the last match was alittle more one sided with County Captain Stuart Bloxham struggling with a few unlucky breaks which took the wind out of his sails. But his opponent, Louie Pett (The Warwickshire) is always a tough competitor, who showed complete control of his game by beating Stuart 6&5.
After a quick bite of lunch the Semi Final pairings also looked good, with Rob Copperthwaite taking on Nick Brooker and Tom Ibbertson against Louie Pett.
The afternoon matches were also relatively close with Nick Brooker winning against Rob Copperthwaite on the 17th hole after a rather level match. Louie Pett didn’t quite have as much control over his game in the afternoon session and lost to Tom Ibbertson 3&2.
The final was played on Sunday 11th over 36 holes again at Olton Golf Club. It proved to be a very level match over the first 18 holes but only 6 holes being halved over the round. Nick Brooker proving his metal early on by never being down all morning.
I think both players would agree that the quality of golf wasn’t quite what each player would have liked but nonetheless Nick took a 1up lead going into lunch.
The level of golf in the second round improved and had started well for Tom Ibbertson by reaching the 10th tee in 1 under par and had managed to turn the 1 hole deficit into a 3 up lead and looked in control of his game and the match.
But Nick hadn’t finished yet, with a birdie on the par 5 11th to Toms par and then a great drive on the short par 4 12th hole finding the fringe of the green and setting up an easy back to back birdie which Tom also managed from a difficult pitch form the side of the green.
Both players hit good tee shots on the downhill 13th hole, but it was Nick to sink a good length birdie putt to bring the match back to only 1 hole difference. On the next both hit good drives but Tom found some trouble down the left side and Nick had placed his ball nicely on the green in 2 and sunk his 4th birdie in a row to bring the match back to all square.
Both players made regulation pars on the 15th, and Nick finding the right side of the fairway on the 16th. Tom’s drive however caught the trees on the left and knocked it out of bounds, forcing a provisional ball to be played, which wouldn’t be good enough for Nicks solid par.
On the 17th Tee Nick was 1 up and hit a simple shot down the centre of the fairway again. Tom hitting a longer club had a relatively easy shot into the pin. Meanwhile nerves must have been jangling inside of Nick as he hit his approach shot 5 yards short of the putting surface whilst Toms found the back of the green.
But if Nick was nervous it didn’t last long as under pressure he hit a very good chip to gimme range which he gladly picked up. Tom wasn’t about to give up and went for the birdie with his first putt meaning he had a tough return to take the match down the 36 hole. The putt grazed the edge of the hole meaning Nick Brooker won the Warwickshire Matchplay 2&1.
A great match to watch and one played in the best spirit. Well done both.
Nick may have not been a member at Olton for long but I’m sure this win will make him feel very much at home at his new Club.
Our thanks go to all the supporters, staff and volunteers at Olton Golf Club for their service, assistance and providing a perfect venue for such an event to be run. Thanks also to Alastair Scott who refereed on both Friday and Sunday.
TO VIEW THE MATCHPLAY DRAW CLICK HERE
TO VIEW THE MATCHPLAY PHOTOS CLICK HERE
Matt Nixon
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
