Warwickshire Golf
MENS 2nd's SUCCEED AT STONEBRIDGE
Warwickshire Mens 2nd Team V Derbyshire
Sunday 4thAugust
Stonebridge GC
Team Selected:
Ben Bernamont – The Warwickshire
Dan Launchbury – Coventry
Alex Summers – Kenilworth
Chris Leonard – Hearsall
Laurence Johnson – Coventry
Jamie Johnson – Coventry
Ben Smith – Coventry
Jacob Parsons – The Warwickshire
Lee Podmore – Harborne
Lewis Watson – Handsworth
The penultimate league match of our 2019 campaign would see the Warwickshire 2nd team have a home fixture at Stonebridge Golf Club against Derbyshire. Overcast but dry conditions greeted us on the morning and making use of Stonebridge’s good driving range and warm up facilities we were ready to try and keep our unbeaten league record for 2019 intact.
Leading the way in the foursomes for Warwickshire were Alex Summer and Ben Bernamont. This was a close match throughout but the Warwickshire pair managed to get themselves 1up on the 17thtee. A well holed putt from Alex after a good chip from Ben would give them a win on the 17thto close this match out with a 2 & 1 victory.
Dan Launchbury and Chris Leonard would be next and they would fall behind early on in this game to be 4 down at the turn. They battled hard and won the 17thto head up the last one down. A battling par would not be quite enough and a one hole defeat was the final result in this game.
In the next match were the Johnson brothers (Laurence and Jamie). Some big hitting and good pitching would see the Warwickshire pair take command in this match and reach the turn 2up. Not for catching they would secure the win in this game by a 3 & 2 margin.
Ben Smith and Jacob Parsons were in match 4 and they were enjoying the conditions, playing some excellent golf. Despite being one behind early on they would seize the initiative and the lead by the turn. Not for catching they would finish strongly for a 4 & 2 win.
The last pair were Lee Podmore and Lewis Watson. They would have a slender lead for the majority of the day but would lose the 17thto take the match back to all square. The Warwickshire pair would find trouble on the last and would unfortunately lose the hole and match.
A 3 -2 lead for Warwickshire at lunch and so all to play for in the singles.
Alex Summers would lead us out in the singles. Very good golf all day from Alex and he was always in control of this one. He would close out a 3 & 2 win and maximum points on the day. Alex heads back off to the states after this game so all the best and we look forward to having you back next season.
Ben Bernamont was playing at number 2 and played steadily to reach the turn all square. His opponent would finish strong with three quick birdies on the start of the back nine would leave Ben too much to do, finally succumbing 4 & 3.
Dan Launchbury was next out and he has been hard to beat in the singles so far this year. Today was no exception and 4 up early on Dan would lose a few on the way in but still had the composure to close out a 2 & 1 win.
Chris Leonard at 4 would start well but would soon be pegged back and fall behind entering the back nine. The birdies just wouldn’t fall on the way in and Chris would eventually lose by 3 & 2.
Laurence Johnson playing in the 5thmatch was playing some very good golf to take a 3 up lead into the back 9. An unfortunate 3 putt cost a hole but not rattled or phased Laurence got the job done, winning the 17thto win 2 & 1. Maximum points, well done.
Jamie Johnson in the next match was equally impressive, a good birdie on the 9thtaking him 3up at the turn. Managing the match well he never looked in any real danger and would finish strongly for a 3 & 2 win. Another maximum point haul and honours remaining even in the bragging right stakes in the Johnson household.
Ben Smith would struggle in the afternoon and despite trying his best it just wasn’t happening. Great thing about Ben though is he takes the good and bad in his stride and he’ll be back. This was a 3 & 2 defeat.
We needed one point from the last 3 matches to ensure the match win.
Jacob Parsons was in match 8 and he would be 4 up after 12 and looking strong. The lead was reduced to 2up with 2 to play and a loss on 17 would see this match go to the last. When the Derbyshire player found trouble on the last Jacob wisely revised his club selection and hit two terrific shots to the last to close this match out and give the overall result to Warwickshire. Great composure with a large gallery.
Lee Podmore in Match 9 was behind early on but would take control around the turn and with a red hot putter on the back 9 close his match out impressively 4 & 2.
Lewis Watson in the last match was in a close battle all afternoon, never more than 2 holes in it he could never quite reel in his opponent and when his putt came up agonisingly millimetres short on 17 it was a 2 & 1 defeat for Lewis.
The singles had gone Warwickshire’s way by 6 points to 4 and the match by 9 points to 6.
Thank you to Sam and the Derbyshire team for a well-played match and thank you to Stonebridge Golf Club for their hospitality and allowing us the use of the facilities for the day.
A personal thanks to Nev Gardner, Mark Reynolds and Chris Watson for on course support and a big thank you to Matt Nixon who went out of his way to collect some additional kit we needed on the day in addition to undertaking the starter and photography duties. Very much appreciated.
Our last match is against Worcestershire on 1st September at Halesowen. They have a 4 wins from 4 matches record this season, just like ours, so this match will decide the league winners for 2019. Any support for the team on the day would be gratefully received.
This will be my last match as Warwickshire 2ndteam captain, I’m so very grateful it’s not a dead rubber. It should be an absolute corker.
Chris Brown
2ndTeam Captain
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