Warwickshire Golf
Boys Team versus Derbyshire at Ladbrook Park
The venue for the first U18 County match was Ladbrook Park GC.
The team were greeted with a cold windy day and challenging conditions.
The foursomes started on time with Fin and Chan leading the way in a new pairing. They were followed by the home pair of Ollie and Louis Taylor who was making his first appearance.
The first match ebbed and flowed during the course of the round with the Warwickshire boys going behind but fighting back to be all square before losing the last two holes.
Ollie and Louis were also involved in a close match but managed to come out on top 2&1, a very good win.
Ryan and Josh took control of match 3 early on and despite a spirited fightback for the Derbyshire pair they won 4&3
In the last match Sam and Charlie went behind early but fought back to be in contention at the turn before the Derbyshire pair took control and won 3&2.
The fourth match was crucial, Tom and Lennon found themselves dormie 3 down in a tough match. However they produced a superb fightback to level their match and the morning foursomes. This definitely felt like a turning point in the day.
Fin Stokes led the way in the afternoon singles and played some great golf early on to take control.
Ryan played 2nd in the singles and was involved in a closely fought match with Gavin Ingram whilst Chan playing number 3 went behind early in his game.
Fin continued to play well and won his match early which Ryan and Gavin continued to battle it out with never more than 1 hole in the match which would finish all square.
Chan struggled with his game and lost in match three.
Ollie was fourth and Josh fifth and both boys went ahead during the front 9. Josh continued his good form and went on to win while Ollie was pegged back by a tough opponent who eventually took the lead before Ollie won the 18th to earn another crucial half.
Louis was in match 6 and was 3 down after 7 and struggling to find his form. However he did not quit and fought back before claiming a narrow win on the last hole. A great debut!
Charlie was played in the last match and was in fine form and despite a fightback from his opponent at the turn he finished his match early (7&6) to earn another point.
In the meantime Lennon, Tom and Sam were all involved in tight matches.
Lennon was unable to overcome his opponent despite his best efforts and lost in a close affair while Tom produced some fine golf around the turn after a close start and ran out a 3&1 winner securing the match for Warwickshire.
Despite this Sam and his opponent battled away in a great match that was the last on the course. Sam held on to win on the last, one of a number of matches to go the distance during the day.
This was a close match and although the score would suggest a good win the number of matches that went to the final holes was testament to how well the team from Derbyshire played.
A great start to our season and my thanks to Richard Clark and Graham Barton for their support during the day and to Ladbrook Park for being excellent hosts all day.
Simon Parsons
Boys Team Manager
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