Warwickshire Golf
Brilliant Bears at Birstall!!
The England Golf Men's County Championships (Midlands Qualifying) was held this year at Birstall Golf Club in Leicestershire on Saturday 10th July 2021
The players chosen to represent Warwickshire were:
Rob Bardsley – Moor Hall GC
Seb Cave – The Belfry
Tom Cleaton – Rugby GC
Josh Davenport – Maxstoke Park GC
Tom Ibbertson – Coventry Hearsall GC
Louis Sanders – Copt Heath GC
(Official Reserve - Mike Pell – Olton GC)
This annual event is contested between the 10 Midlands counties and is a 36 hole medal event with the best 5 from 6 scores (am & pm) counting towards the lowest combined County total.
Practice on Friday 9th July went well and with all preparation done we welcomed a dry and pleasant Saturday morning for The 6's.
First out for Warwickshire was Rob Bardsley at 8am off the 10th. Level par after 9 holes and then an under par back 9 gave Rob and Warwickshire a solid start with 69. Louis Sanders started strongly being -2 for 9 holes and then -3 after 12, but dropped a couple coming in but still posted our second consecutive 69. Tom Cleaton went one better than Rob & Louis with a 68 courtesy of a 15 yard chip-in eagle 2 at Birstall's tricky par 4 ninth, his last hole !!
Reigning Warwickshire Amateur Champion Seb Cave is in fine form and comfortably got -1 after 9 holes, he would continue that form with further back nine birdies and posted a fabulous 66. Josh Davenportplayed solid golf although not his best to return a creditable 72, followed by County 6's veteran (10 in a row!!) Tom Ibbertson who went one better with a 71.
So with scores of 69, 69, 68, 66, 72 & 71, the 72 was dropped and Warwickshire went to lunch leading with a -7 total (343 shots). A five shot lead from Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire who both carded a collective 348 (-2) from the counting morning scores.
Following lunch Rob Bardsley again provided a solid Warwickshire start with a 71, giving him Level par for the day without his top game. When on fire Rob can go low and the reason for his +4/5 handicap. Louis Sanders once again shot an under par 69, which was the worst he could score on a frustrating day. But 138 on his 6's debut is impressive from the Copt Heath man. Tom Cleaton's positivity is there to see and he would fist pump his way to a four under par 66 and fantastic two round total of -6 (134)
Seb Cave continued his relentless golf on the Birstall course to breeze round his first 9 in a couple under par, he would finish even stronger and add a 65 to his morning 66 for a -9 total of 131 shots !!!!! Quality golf from the 17 year old Belfy member. Josh Davenport was nicely under par (-2) for 9 holes of the second round but some errant shots coming in resulted in a very solid 71 from the Maxstoke youngster. Last Warwickshire man on the course was Tom Ibbertson. As usual Tom played steady golf for the front nine (+1) but the last nine gave Tom the odd difficulty resulting in a four over par 74.
Warwickshire's best 5 afternoon scores were 71, 69, 66, 65 & 71 giving a total of -8 (342) together with our morning total of 343 (-7) gave us a formidable -15 total
We did not have to wait long for it to be confirmed that Warwickshire had WON by 9 shots from the home venue County Leicestershire (-6) following their excellent -7 afternoon total.
Full results can be seen in the below Midland Golf Union link
2021 EG Men's County Championships - Midland Qualifying (TEAM) :: Midland Golf union
It must also be mentioned that Seb Cave's total of -9 (66 & 65 for 131 shots) was the best of the day by a shot from Daniel Haycocks (Oswestry 63 & 69) and by three from fellow Warwickshire man Tom Cleaton (-6). Fantastic performance from Seb who has now been chosen to represent England Boys in the forthcoming Home Internationals in early August.
Individual results can be seen in the link below:
2021 EG Men's County Championships - Midland Qualifying (Final) :: Midland Golf union
Warwickshire support on the day was fantastic as usual, my thanks go to President Mark Reynolds and wife Debs, Bob Harrison & wife, Graham Barton & wife and the ever present John Duncombe. The usual appreciation to Matt Nixon, Pete Clarke, Nev Gardner, Stuart Bloxham, Tom Whitehouse (County coach), Mike Pell (our official reserve) and Steve Creed for their work and support for both the practice day and tournament day. A great team effort and VICTORY.
The England Golf County Men's Final will be held on 24-26th September at Remedy Oak Golf Club. The other finalists alongside Warwickshire known to date are Gloucestershire (SW Winners) and BB&O (SE Winners), the Northern qualifying takes place in August.
Warwickshire are proud to represent the Midlands Counties in these prestigious England Golf finals, all Warwickshire support is very welcome at Remedy Oak (near Bournemouth) in late September.
COME ON THE BEARS !!!!!!
Karl Smith
County Captain
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