Sunday 9 July, Harborne Golf Club and another seriously hot and humid day, which began well as all 10 players arrived without major mishaps, though Matt Paden caused some anxiety, having had to return home with a flat tyre to get another car, but, though a little tight for time, made it before tee-off!
So, no changes required to planned foursome pairings and we set off strongly against the very strong Staffordshire team, recent Midland-qualifiers for the National finals. Through 9 holes, we were 3 up in the top match and not behind in any of the others. Unfortunately, these Staffordshire lads are made of stern stuff and 3 up became 1 down on the 18th tee and the required win at 18 was not forthcoming. We were struggling too in match 2 and went down 4&3 but match 3 held their nerve to close out their opponents on 17, so 2 -1, with both the other matches very tight, though match 4 looked in a strong position at all square just off the back of 16, but quite close, while Staffs looked in a spot of bother, but a great up and down by Staffs was followed by 3 putts and, perhaps inevitably, 17 was also lost – 2&1. Still we had match 5 , but a small mistake followed by a very unlucky bounce saw them 1 down on the 18th tee. Once again , we could not secure that vital hole. What could have been so good had become a 4 – 1 deficit at lunch.
The afternoon singles were altogether different, except that Tom Cleaton, playing George Clarke, probably the current No 1 Midland junior, took firm control and found himself 4 up well into the back 9 only for George to show his class to get back to 1 down with his 2nd shot 15 feet from the hole at the difficult par 4 17th and Tom about 90 yards short of the green. The next shot was spectacular and bounced twice before hitting the pin and dropping, to great cheers, for a 3! Poor George was left his 15 footer to take the match down 18, but his brave attempt hit the hole but stayed out! A great match and a great result for Tom!
Meanwhile, a bad day for James Bowen at 2 had resulted in heavy defeat but Dan Pearce at 3 was holding on and arrived on 18 still 1 up. Both players hit the long and difficult par 3, but Dan had slipped just over the back and failed to make par, so point shared. Find of the season, Cameron Bridger, having worked his way from the bottom of the order to No 4, continued his progress and comfortably took care of his opponent, but the next 2 matches were in trouble, with Harry Fearn, in particular, for Staffs, playing some excellent golf to take down Josh Kearns 2&1 while Matt Paden, possibly reacting to his excellt foursome win, had begun to feel his lack of golf following his exams, losing 5&3.
The next 3 matches, however, having all been behind at the turn, suddenly started to look better, with both Lewis Watson and Mitch Hopwood hanging in to win by 1 hole, whilst 14 year old Alex Spencer had somehow managed to go from 3 down with 5 to play to take the last 5 holes and win 2 up, without any particularly bad play from his opponent – what a great effort from a very promising young player!
Unbeknown to them, however, Staffs, as always, had a sting in the tail and the final point needed for a halved match, was rudely snatched from our grasp! But still, we won the singles by a point, leaving us to rue our foursomes collapse – 6 1/2 – 8 1/2. A pretty good effort against a very strong side, especially with our team who had 7 players still available next year and 3 of those the year after that! Plenty to be encouraged about, even in defeat!
Many thanks go to Harborne Golf Club for making us so welcome and providing a course in such excellent order - sentiments emphatically presented to me by all Staffordshire players and officials as well as our own. Really appreciated. Thanks also to Dean Guy for his great help and support and to Graham and Glenda Hayes for theirs. I am sure they, as well as I felt rewarded by the excellent day and the fine and compelling golf.
By John Jewsbury
Team Manager