Warwickshire Golf
REVIEW OF COUNTY MATCH WEEK 2018
The shortened version of Midlands South County Match (2 1/2 days) commenced today, Monday 18th June. Hosts for the event were Buckinghamshire Ladies Golf Association and the venue was Denham Golf Club. Cloudy to start but then turning very sunny and warm from lunchtime but with strong winds was the order of the day weather wise. The course looked in fantastic condition and good drives were going on and on due to the very dry fairways. However a poor tee shot or bad bounce could land a player in alot of trouble in the long whispy grass or in the trees! Greens looked great but wow were there some borrows on them. Fascinating to see how they were played.
This new format which Midlands South are trialling this year had all 6 Counties playing a match each morning, followed by a further match in the afternoons and our morning opponents were Oxfordshire.
CLICK HERE for details of the matches:
Day 3
Wednesday 20th June and today was just one last match, this time against Berkshire. Weather was dry and a little windy and by now the fairways were getting even dryer and the greens even more speedy. Some slight changes were made to the Foursomes pairings today but the Singles girls played again for the 5th time.
Lisa BARTON had a new partner today in Emma GRIFFIN and they quickly went 2 up after 3 holes having Birdied the 3rd. They then lost the 5th and 6th holes to go to All Square and again losing holes 7 and 8 were 2 down at the turn, even though both sides had Birdies on the 9th hole. The second nine did not go too well as holes 10 and 11 were lost, but then one was pulled back on the 465yd Par 5, 14th with a Birdie. 3 down and four to play was just too much to come back from and losing the 15th meant that the match was lost 4 and 3.
A further new pairing of Lauren BEAMAN and Charlotte PRIDDLE, both from Moor Hall GC then went out and they faired better. Nip and tuck all through the front 9 they still were All Square at the turn then went 1 down on the 10th which was retained for most of the back 9. All the way to the 18th hole where they stood All Square, but managing to win the final hole gave them the spoils, 1 up.
Emily SPIES who had played in all 5 singles matches, led out the 3 Singles this morning. She however did not fair very well as her opponent played some excellent golf and managed to be 6 up after 9 holes, then going to 7 up after 10. Emily did manage to pull one back on 11, but then losing the 12th, that was the end of her match, losing 7 and 5.
Liz HAYCOCK, who had also played in all 5 sessions during the week and been successful on 4 occasions, was second out. On the front 9 she started with a Par and a Bogey and was quickly 2 down but Liz doesn't like being down and by winning holes 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 which included 2 Birdies, she was 3 up at the turn! Her excellent play continued on the back 9 and keeping up the pressure on her opponent, she won her match 4 and 3.
At this stage, the match stood at 2 games to both Berkshire and Warwickshire so Gemma, also out once again had it all to do if Warwickshire were going to be the victors today. She did not disappoint with the match going all the way to 18. Never up on the front 9, she went from 1 to 2 down eventually pulling back to 1 down on the 9th. 4 halves followed, but she battled on to the 18th eventually gaining a half in her match. Result for the morning series was 2 1/2 to 2 1/2, a good result.
Once again the Team from Buckinghamshire were the victors overall with 4 wins out of 5 matches played and Warwickshire were 4th with 2 1/2 wins out of 5.
County Captain Julia BURTON commented at the end of the 3 days play "I would like to thank all my team for battling hard and supporting me in my first year. The final match turned on a fortunate bounce off the top of a green side bumper shooting the ball across the green to 3 feet from the hole. Gemma had played the hole to perfection and only required a par to secure a win for the team which would have put us in 2nd place in the table - but this surprise Birdie from Berks stole the show. So we slipped into third place . So near and yet so far. But the future looks good with some fabulous results that I was proud to witness."
Morning Play Day 2
On day 2 of the series of matches, Warwickshire were to play the strong Buckinghamshire side, who are current Champions in the morning, followed by the afternoon match against Northamptonshire.
Captain Julia had once again gone with the team who yesterday recorded two wins and who she considered would put up a good fight against Buckinghamshire and this morning these matches commenced on the first hole. In the Foursomes once again it was Lisa BARTON and Charlotte PRIDDLE who led the matches off. 2 down after 2 holes was not what was planned but a further 2 halves followed by a win on the 172 yd Par 3, brought them to a more respectable position. With a loss of hole on 7 and a win with an excellent Birdie on 9, at the turn they were 1 down. On the back 9 by 13th hole they had lost a further 2 holes, which followed by 3 further halves, meant that they lost their match 3 and 2. This match, although lost was a real battle with the difference mainly being putts that did not quite come off for them.
Match two with Julia BURTON and Emma GRIFFIN again paired up was a different story. After their comeback yesterday evening, they set out in fine style Birdieing the 2nd hole to go 1 up and then with wins on Holes 5 and 9, they were 3 up at the turn. This excellent form continued on the back 9, with wins on 11th,and 13th followed by a loss on the Par 5, 14th, they eventually won their match with a very convincing 5 and 3 score. Well done to them.
The first of the singles saw Gemma out first and although she won the 2nd hole, she then lost a run of holes to be 4 down after 9. Keeping to that score for the next 2 holes and the giving lost the Par 3, 132yd to a Birdie, she was 5 down. 2 Halves followed but she was not able to pull back any more and lost her match 5 and 4.
Emily SPIES, our youngest and newest player was next out and she had a ding dong battle going all the way to the 18th and ending the match with a half. A very good result against a team player with lots of confidence.
Once again, everything rested on the result of Liz HAYCOCK's match. Her match had many halved holes on the front 9 and she was 1 down at the turn having lost 2 holes and winning 1 back on 9th with a Birdie. 10th went to Buckinghamshire as did the 13th, but then Liz pulled 1 back with a magnificent Eagle on the 14th, a Par 5 465 yard hole. Losing one more hole though meant that on this occasion, Liz was unable to pull her match back to gain a half for the morning, but my how she tried.
So Bucks again win a session, which means three in a row - who is going to beat them, everyone is thinking?
Afternoon Play Day 2
Northampton were the opponents for the 4th session, this afternoon, this time with all of our matches starting on the 10th Tee. Captain Julia had made a few changes so let us see what transpires.
Following their success in the morning Julia and Emma headed the afternoon's play. 1 down after 4 holes they had lost a further hole at the turn (9th), and then winning the 1st hole (10th), they remained at 1 down until the 7th, with many holes halved. They did however, lose the 8th hole and thus the match. After such a good run it was a disappointment for them to have lost in this fourth session.
This afternoon, Charlotte was joined by Kelly TOMLINSON in the second of the Foursomes encounters. They started by losing the first but quickly pulling back on the 2nd and then going ahead on hole 13 (their 4th). However they lost the 5th and 7th holes and then won the 8th to end the first 9 holes 1 down and anyones game at this stage. 2 Pars and then as Birdie pulled them back to 1 up, but they then lost holes 5, 6 and 7 and thus the match 3 and 2.
Liz, having played so well over the previous three sessions led the singles matches out and with 3 Birdies on the first 9 holes with one win and one loss and halves in all other holes, it was All Square at the turn. On the second 9 (front 9 on card) Liz went 2 up after the 3rd. She made a magnificent par 4 to halve the 4th hole with 2 bunker shots, one of which she holed! Back to 1up after hole 5, but then winning hole 7, she finally won her match, 2 and 1, an excellent start to the singles matches this afternoon.
Emily again in her 4th outing in two days had a very difficult afternoon and try as she might, she could just not win a hole on her first 9 holes and was 6 down at the turn. Pulling back at holes 1 and 3 but then losing hole 5, she stood at 4 down which was her final score, losing 4 and 3. Some very good golf had been played but overall her opponent just played that bit better.
Having lost in her morning match, Gemma was determined to do better this afternoon and wow did she do just that. With 2 Birdies on 10th and 14th (her 1st and 4th) she did not lose a hole on her first 9 holes, finishing 3 up. Very steady play with Pars on holes 1 to 5, she won her match emphatically 6 and 5.
After the euphoria of Day 1, when 2 wins were recorded, today proved to be more difficult and we failed to win either session. This was not for the want of trying however, as the girls played their hearts out, just not quite making it over the finishing line.
Tomorrow morning is the final session this week when Warwickshire are pitched against Berkshire. We wish them well.
Morning Play Day 1
Commencing on the 10th Tee at 08.50, firstly there were 2 Foursomes matches followed by 3 Singles and leading the way for Warwickshire was the pairing of Lisa Barton (Coventry) and Charlotte Priddle (Moor Hall). By the 18th hole (their 9th) they were 2 down eventually finishing on the 16 resulting in a loss of 4 and 2. After the match, Lisa said that they started slowly allowing their opponents to forge ahead and then they were unable to pull back sufficiently as the Oxfordshire pairing sank so many long putts!
Second out was the pairing of the County Captain, Julia Burton (Moor Hall) and Emma Griffin (The Warwickshire). Two up after 3 holes, they then lost their 4th and 6th holes (13th & 15th), pulling back a hole on 16th to go All Square. Losing the 17th they then won the 18th with a Birdie to end the first 9 holes All Square. They kept their opponents in sight on the back 9 but were gradually worn down, losing their battle 3 and 2. Not the start the team had hoped for at the start of the day, but then came the Singles matches and these all had to be won if Warwickshire team were to be the victors against Oxfordshire.
In the singles matches, again starting of 10th Tee, Gemma Bradbury was first up. Gemma now plays at Denham but is affiliated to Warwickshire so she she should have home advantage. This wasn't so as she was soon 4 down through 5 holes! After 9 holes she had pulled this back to 3 down, however, good golfer as she is is, the 2nd 9 holes told a different story. She had pulled back 2 holes to be 1 down after the 4th hole (13th) which she stayed at until after the 6th hole (15th). Hitting her Tee shot to the right on this Par 4, Hole 7, she then won the hole and again the 8th to now be at 1 up on the last Tee. Finishing 2 up after 18, on her final hole Gemma sank a 12ft putt for a Birdie - what a comeback.
Newcomer, Emily Spies (The Warwickshire) was out next and she had a ding dong battle with her opponent on the front nine finishing after 9 holes 1 up, which she remained at until she lost the 3rd hole (12th) to go All Square. A great comeback was to follow as Emily won holes 6, 7 and 9 to end her match 2 up. Great start for her in this her first encounter.
Last out in the morning matches was Liz Haycock (Ladbrook Park) with all Warwickshire hopes resting on her shoulders this morning. After her first 9 holes and even having an Eagle on the Par 5, 13th hole (4th played) quickly followed by a Birdie on the next hole, she finished 1 down! She had pulled back two holes by 4th Tee (13th) to go 1 up, increasing this lead to 3 up after 6 holes on the back 9. This was short lived as her opponent won holes 7 with a Birdie and then 8 to leave her 1 up on 9th tee (18th). Happily for her and Warwickshire, Liz halved this hole to remain at 1 up.
Excellent start for Warwickshire in the morning games, which they finished winning 3 and 2. Now for the afternoon which saw us pitched against Worcester & Herefordshire, you could say a local derby. Captain Julia decided that her team for the afternoon matches would stay the same as the morning also going out in the same order, but this time starting on the conventional 1st Tee.
Afternoon Play Day 1
Again this afternoon Lisa and Charlotte did not have the best of good fortune even with 3 Birdies in their round! They felt they had played much better this time but with the game going firstly one way and then another, they eventually lost their battle on the 17th hole, 2 and 1.
Julia and Emma started their second match well winning the 1st hole which they held until after 4th hole when they lost the 5th and were still 1 down after 8 holes. Winning the 9th hole, they were All Square by the end of the front nine, quickly going 1 down after the 10th. They pulled back to All Square after the 15th and then went 1 up after 17th and with a half on 18, they won their match by 1 hole. Such grit and determination to get this win.
Now to the singles. Gemma, out first was 4 up after 5 holes, eventually going 5 up after 9. What a start in this match. She then quickly lost the 11th and 12th holes but won the 13th with a Birdie, closely followed by a further win on 14th, finishing her match 5 and 4 - a great result.
The opposite happened this afternoon for Emily and although she was 1 up after 5 holes, she was 2 down at the turn. Losing the 12th, 13th and then the 14th, she lost her match 5 and 4. With 1 win and 1 loss on Day 1, this was a good introduction for Emily into this format of matchplay but most of all she enjoyed the experience.
Liz finished off the afternoon's matches with an excellent win of 6 and 5. 4 up at the turn, she then went 5 up on the Par 4, 11th with an amazing Par (her words). After a very poor short drive, she hit an excellent fairway wood to edge of green, chipped close and then sank the putt to the amazement of her opponent! 2 Birdies followed on the 12th and 13th giving her her win of 6 and 5.
The end of an excellent first day where our Warwickshire team had played their hearts out and had produced 2 overall match wins over the day - what a great start.
On Tuesday morning, we are first out at 08.30 on the first tee with the opponents being Buckinghamshire, Champions for the past 3 years - a match Warwickshire would dearly love to win.
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