Warwickshire Golf
MENS 1st TEAM v NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
The second and final friendly of the year is always a tough match against Northamptonshire. A bright but cold morning greeted both teams at Coventry Hearsall golf club. It was Masters Sunday so both teams were anxious to get on the course and commence battle. The Warwickshire team featured some new talent and established players both keen to stake their claim for places in the upcoming League matches that start in May.
The course conditions at Hearsall were surprisingly dry which created fast, firm greens providing a stern test of iron play into the greens and all areas of the short game.
Leading Warwickshire out was +4 handicapper Rhys Lawrence together with County 1st team regular Steve Creed. They would win three of the first six holes to gain a healthy lead but got pegged back to all square after 13. Halved holes on 14 & 15 followed a loss on 16 and we were chasing the Northamptonshire pairing for the first time. Halved pars on 17 & 18 gave the visitors the first point of day.
Balance was quickly restored by Gary Greenway and Steve Keay who lead by 1 hole after 9, won 11 and then added wins on 13, 14 & 15 to close out a comfortable 5&4 victory. Great playing Gary and Steve.
Two excellent young talents made up the third pairing. Cameron Bridger and Rhys Wallace raced to a 3up halfway score but their opponents were battling hard and reduced the deficit to one after 16. The Houdini act for Northamptonshire was completed when they won 17 and 18 to provide a great come back win. Tough one to swallow for Cam and Rhys, but a good first outing for both these youngsters,
Coventry Finham pairing of Ben Goodison and Jack Steele started slowly being 3 down after 5 but after some great golf they won quite a few holes and the match was level after the par 3 10th. Holes changed hands for both sides over the back 9 but another 1 down defeat for Warwickshire meant a 3-1 lead to the visitors.
Final morning pairing of Captain Karl Smith and Lewis Phillips played solid golf for the first 9 holes to gain a 1up advantage and increased that to two after 11. A birdie on 12 from Northamptonshire and two errors on 13 & 14 from Warwickshire meant 1 down with 4 to play. Halved pars on 15, 16 & 17 meant a win was required on 18 to gain an important half. The visitors played the tough 18th well and secured the required half to take a commanding 4-1 lead into lunch.
Following a quick turnaround for lunch the first singles match began with Rhys Lawrence starting strongly around what was previously his home track taking a 2up lead after 7. With recent good form it was no surprise that Rhys maintained that early lead and kept this to 2up deep into the back nine, the game finished on 16 with a 3&2 Warwickshire win. Well played Rhys !
Second out was Steve Creed, a tight affair being all square after 7 and again after 12. A couple of Northamptonshire wins and Steve was 2 down with 3 to play. Unfortunately no Creedy heroics this time and a 3&2 loss. Nice effort Steve.
Steve Keay, Harborne member and reigning Bainbridge Shield champion (with partner Max Martin!) was at number three. Early losses against a very strong opponent meant three down after 7 and still three at the twelfth. A win on 15 reduced the deficit but a loss on 16 gave another win to Northamptonshire.
Match score at this time was Warwickshire 2 Northamptonshire 6............. We needed a mid-order surge and turn this around. Warwickshire have that belief and determination and the recovery began !!
New man Cameron Bridger was pushed up the order to test him and he did not buckle. Although 2 down after 7 he quickly rallied and squared the match after 11. A lead of one after the 15th and then further wins on 16 & 17 meant a fantastic 3&1 victory for Cameron on his 1st team debut. Well Done !!
Next man helping the Warwickshire fightback was Lewis Phillips. 2 down after 3 doesn't worry Lewis as he slowly but surely lets his golf do the talking and levels the match after 7. Ahead after the 12th and never let that lead go winning 2&1. Solid performance again from Lewis.
The experienced Gary Greenway knows Hearsall well and put that to use going 2up after 7. Continued par golf kept that advantage into the back 9 and eventually Gary would triumph on the 17th green a 3&1 winner. Warwickshire were on a roll winning three matches in a row !!
Ben Goodison from Finham raced to a 4up lead after 6, then suffered a couple of set backs but kept a two up advantage until 16 when he won that hole to seal a 3&2 victory. Another assured win from Ben. Match level 6 – 6, game on !!
Handsworth's Rhys Wallace has shown excellent Winter form and it was interesting to see how he would perform in a Men's 1st team game. He was not phased and never behind going 2up after 3 and 4up after 6. A further win on 12 meant 5 up with 6 to play. Rhys closed his match on the 14th with a 5&4 victory. Great playing Rhys !!
The fightback was happening and we had 7-6 advantage with a couple of matches on the course. At number nine was Finham's Jack Steele. He had been called up last minute due to an injury to George Gill's shoulder. Jack knows Hearsall well but his Northamptonshire man was having none of it and went one up after 3 and 3up after 7. Jack battled well to reduce the deficit to 2 down after 15, but after a half on 16 he finally lost on 17. Unlucky Jack, a good performance considering the late call up.
With the match all square, last man out was Captain Karl. Due to injury, holidays and elite golf tournaments our pool of first team players for this match had been heavily reduced, leaving me desperately not wanting to let the team down. 2 down after 3 and 3 down after 10 was not looking good. The No.10 man for Northamptonshire is a usual solid anchor man and his error free golf on the back 9 proved too much and a comfortable 4&3 win for Northamptonshire. Sorry lads !!!!
So, a victory for Northamptonshire by the narrowest of margins 8-7. Warwickshire won the singles 6-4 at least making the match go right to the very end. A credit to the players for keeping positive after a heavy morning loss of 4-1. Some encouraging debuts/appearances and all looks good for the 2019 league season ahead. We have a title to defend and that begins in mid-May with a visit to Kington Golf Club in Shropshire & Herefordshire.
Many thanks on the day for the unwavering support of our President, Graham Barton and Match Secretary, Pete Clarke, for assisting greatly throughout the day with everything at his home course. My appreciation to Hearsall Golf Club and its members for accommodating this fixture, we were all looked after very well. Good to see Past President Graham Hayes and President Elect Mark Reynolds also supporting on the day – thanks !!
With Master's Sunday bought forward, most players from both teams stayed and watched an epic Tiger performance winning his 15th Major. Tiger's back and had the attention of all players as you can see from the photo.
For full score sheet click here
Karl Smith
County Captain
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
