Warwickshire Golf
SENIORS BEGIN CAMPAIGN WITH A WIN AWAY
Warwickshire Seniors began their 2019 league campaign with victory against a very strong Shropshire & Herefordshire side at Llanymynech Golf Club on Thursday 23rd May. The course which boasts being Europe's only dual country golf course with 15 holes being played in Wales and 3 holes in England has the unique claim that at the 4th hole you actually tee off in Wales but putt out in England.
On a bright sunny day both sides began their league season after suffering defeats in their opening county matches against Lancashire in the case of Shropshire & Herefordshire and Leicestershire in ours.
The morning foursomes saw Warwickshire lead by 4.5 points to 1.5, with three wins and three halved matches from the six played, but mindful that the County had lost a larger lead last time out it was important for all pairings to keep focused and to continue to put points on the board. The Warwickshire pairing of Mike Calvert and Nev Gardner in the opening fourball repeated their win in the morning by getting the first points for Warwickshire after lunch with a fine victory of 3 & 2. David Mason and Rob Soen matched that score in winning match 2 and after the pairing of David Calvert and John Hathaway won the 4th match, Warwickshire were over the winning line. All the above pairings were unbeaten on the day and when Tim Cooley and Martin Fell added to the above list by adding another point for their halved match, indeed their second halved match of the day, the Warwickshire points score was completed. Unfortunately, Willie Donnelly with Laurence Greatley and George Kennedy and Mark Reynolds could not repeat their morning victories and with both pairs being behind for most of the afternoon, neither were unable to complete a comeback with both pairs losing on the final green.
The final result was a win for Warwickshire by 11.5 points to 6.5.
To Llanymynech Golf Club my thanks to their staff for their hospitality and first class catering. The presentation of their fine course which offered magnificent views over the surrounding area was a real treat and was very well received by the two sets of players.
To Steve Hawke and his Shropshire & Herefordshire team mates, who always provide such a warm welcome, the match as always was played in a very competitive but friendly manner, I wish them well for the remainder of the season.
My thanks to Warwickshire President Graham Barton for his support on the day, it is always very helpful to know exactly what the state of the other matches are at as we go around and also to Warwickshire Board Chairman Bob Harrison and his wife Bridget for their support also.
However special praise must go to the team, many of whom had not played the course before, in going to Llanymynech a day early for a practice round and after an overnight stay, then applying what course knowledge they had learnt during that practice round so effectively during the match. Llanymynech can be described as 'quirky' with a real advantage to those players who know where they are going. An example of this being the two par 3's on the inward nine of approaching 200 yards long, uphill, with the only view from the tee being the top of the flag. It was so important to know where the 'miss' was and the practice round no doubt helped in this regard. I am grateful to the players for this giving of their additional time in what proved to be a winning cause for Warwickshire.
We look forward to our next fixture, also a league match against Staffordshire at Olton next month.
Mark Reynolds
Seniors Captain
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