Warwickshire Golf
MENS 2nd TEAM v WORCESTERSHIRE
1st August at Coventry Hearsall.
Team selected
Chris Laird (The Warwickshire)
Dan Bardsley (Moor Hall)
Alex Ford (Robin Hood)
Finlay Stokes (Atherstone)
Will Kilbey (Coventry Hearsall)
Adam Humphreys (Harborne)
Niall Collins (Robin Hood)
Lewis Watson (Handsworth)
Cameron Bridger (Maxstoke Park)
Jacob Parsons (Coventry)
After a brilliant start to the season it was the current League Champions Worcester up next. We knew this was going to be a tight affair.
Onto the morning foursomes first up was Chris and Finlay making his men’s County debut. After a solid start the pair were 1 up through 4. Over the next few holes their opponents threw in a few quick birdies and the match was even through 9 holes. Another run of birdies from Worcester left the bears 1 down through 15. Unable to turn the match around the game went down the last, and a halved hole meant a 1 down loss. Unlucky boys.
Next out an exciting pairing of Dan and Alex, another men’s debut for the latter. After Alex holed a nice 4ft putt for birdie on 4 it was 1 up to the bears. More quality golf over the front 9 left the bears 4 up through 9. A difficult score to come back from especially against two solid players meant a fantastic 5&4 win.
Out at number 3 was debutant Adam and Niall. A slow start and the bears were 2 down through 2. After a drive pin high on 4 from Adam, Niall hit a stunning chip to make birdie and reduce the deficit to 1 down. Some steady golf got the pair back to all square through 7. A par on 9 was enough to go into the back nine 1 up and a great comeback was nearly complete. 2 up through 13 holes enable the bears to close out a very nice 3&2 victory after the slow start.
Lewis and another debutant Will were off number 4. Another to get out the block slow again with their score being 2 down through 2. After winning the 3rd the pair were 1 down through 4. Two birdies over the next 4 holes got them to 1 up through 8 holes and another turn around was in motion. 2 up through 12 holes and the match was guided to a 4&2 victory.
Number 5 was the usual pairing of Cameron and Jacob, now in possession of his brand new lucky cap 😬. A solid start had the lads 1 up through 3, a birdie on 4 got them 2 up. This is when the Worcester pair kicked into life winning 3 quick holes, meaning the bears were 1 down through 8. A nice birdie on 13 got the match all square. Standing on the 17th tee 1 down a solid par got the match even down the last. This would be 1 of 7 games to be decided on the 18th. Two solid pars men’s another half point for each team.
The bears 3.5 to 1.5 up going into the singles.
First up in the singles was Chris, as usual his pace of play is ridiculous and almost impossible to keep tabs on. Two birdies in the first 8 holes had Chris in the lead only for the Worcester player to fire back with a few of his own which pegged Chris back to all square. Another birdie on 15 meant Chris was now 2 down with 3 to play. Unable to find the birdies needed it was a 3&2 victory for Worcester.
At 2 was Dan, a tight game over the first 7 holes and the match was level after a nice par on 7 from Dan. It remained close over the next 5 holes but Dan got himself into a slight lead and was 1 up through 12. After an amazing turn around Dan stood on the 16th tee 2 down. Remarkably he managed to win 1 up with a par, birdie par finish. A great point to set us on our way.
Next was Alex after a solid par on 7 Alex was 1 up. A close match for the next 6 holes and the match was all square through 12. Another Worcester birdie on 15 meant Alex went into the last 3 holes 2 down. From that tough position there was not enough holes left and Worcester won 2&1.
Finlay was out at number 4. After a slightly pull shot into the par 3 seventh Fin hit a great chip stiff to remain all square. This one would never have more than a hole in it with Fin 1 up through 12. All square through 15 lead to this match going to the 18th with the scores level. Fin held his nerve made a par on 18 to score another vital point on the 18th.
At number 5 was Will, a tough start and some good play from the Worcester player and Will was 2 down through 7. Unable to get going and the bears were 3 down through 12. The match stayed tight from there on. Will was not able to bite into the lead and it was a 3&2 win for Worcester.
Up next was Adam. Just like most of the day the first 7 holes were not kind to us and Adam was 2 down. A win on the 9th and he would start the back nine 1 down. The game remained on this score all the way to the 15th. A win on 16 and the match would go to the 18th level. After two great drives lead to the hole being halved and it was a hard earned half point.
Number 7 was Niall, 2 up through 6 but pegged back to 1 up through 12. This was another match destined to go deep. After a great 3rd shot from Niall into 15 the match was all square going to the 16th. 16 & 17 couldn’t separate the pair, it was again to the 18th. After Niall split the fairway the Worcester player made a mistake off the tee which gave Niall the advantage. Another win on the last gave the bears another superb point.
After all the excitement of the first 7 games it was nice to have a more routine match. Lewis was out at number 8 and went 1 up through 3. 3 up through 6 and a solid par on 7 took him to the 8th in a strong position. 7 up and in the middle of the 12th fairway it looked like the match was over. Unluckily Lewis’s ball had found a divot which meant a hole handed back to Worcester. Luckily this was short lived and Lewis won 5&4.
At 9 was Cameron, a good start from the Worcester player and Cam was 1 down through 3. Having started to get into gear Cam coasted into a 1 up lead after a fantastic birdie on 7. Due to all the excitement of the 18th I missed much of Cams back 9 but having spoken to his Dad Michael, it was very much business as usual. Cam played his usual solid golf and won 5&4. This is Cams last game for the County this season as he returns to his college in America. Good luck for the rest of the year Cam and we will see you next season. 👍
In the Gardner position was the man in the new cap Jacob. This would be one of the closest matches on the day. All square through 3 it seemed every time I asked him he was even. This one went down to the wire again to the 18th. This time Jacob was 1 up, after a fantastic drive splitting the fairway, a par was enough to record a 2up win. Again this will be Jacob’s last game for the County this year as he returns to his golf college at St Mellion. Hope the year goes well for you and don’t forget your new lucky hat 😉.
End score 10.5, which seems like a routine victory, but it was far from it.
There was some new faces, some young faces and some old faces in this fixture. I want to thank each one of you for playing and winning what was a huge game. The amount of points scored on the 18th today really shows that our power of concentration was supremely high.
As always thank you to Neville Gardner, Graham Barton and Micheal Bridger for their support.
Go Bears!
Chris Staite
2nd Team Captain
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