Warwickshire Golf
Boys 4 Counties 2022
The Boys 4 Counties is an annual event contested between Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. It is played on a round-robin matchplay format. The 8 boys selected to represent Warwickshire were:
Channon James - Coventry Hearsall GC
Charlie Faulkner - Coventry GC
George Halstead - Kenilworth GC
Josh Gardner - Coventry GC
Lennon O’Neill Knibbs - Coventry Hearsall GC
Ollie Clark - Ladbrook Park GC
Ryan Gavin - Coventry GC
Sam Knowles - Wishaw GC
After the amended format required for last year’s event (due to it being played in October half-term as a result of a covid postponement), we reverted to the traditional format of 8 singles matches against each county. Unfortunately, Simon Parsons (Boys Team Manager) was unable to attend the first day and I was asked to stand in to be the on course “drinks and snacks” provider for the lads, as well as providing support and carrying out other managerial duties.
It was our turn to host the event this year and we selected Stratford Park GC as the venue. This was due to the courses great matchplay layout, in particular the finishing stretch which can mean any match can fluctuate. The course was well prepared for the tournament and the boys were all prepared to put up a strong performance to retain the trophy we had won the year before.
Match 1 v Staffordshire
All the boys were present by 12.00 as asked and, after a light lunch, I sent them out to the driving range with a basket of balls each to loosen up. Whilst on the range I confirmed the playing order for the first match. The match was played in bright sunshine, but strong winds, gusting up to 25 mph.
Leading us out was Ryan Gavin who was playing an England International. Ryan got off to a great start and was 2 up after the opening 6 holes. We knew there was likely to be a fight back on the cards and when we saw Ryan next his lead had been trimmed to 1 after 11 holes. The 17th at Stratford Park is their feature hole – a 200 yard par 3 across a stretch of water. The strong breeze was straight behind and both balls landed on the green but bounced into the gully behind the green. Two great “up and downs” meant the match went up the 18th all square and 10 minutes later the 18th hole was also halved – so the match finished all square.
Second out was Lennon “Len Dog”. Len made a similar fast start and was also 2 up after 6 holes but retained his lead after 11. Some strong play from his opponent meant Len stood on the 17th dormie 2 down. A battling up and down on the 17th won the hole and then an incredible par up the 18th (having never been anywhere near the fairway!) meant Len Dog had squared his match.
In match 3 Channon was up against a lad who was suffering from a bit of poor health. Chan didn’t take any sympathy and, quite rightly, went out to finish his game as quickly as he could. 5 up after 6 became 7 up after 11 and the final result was a 7&6 victory.
George went out fourth and was in a real ding dong battle against a lad whose handicap index was several shots lower than George’s. Not deterred, George battled to be all square after 6 holes and still all square after 11. Sadly a couple of holes slipped on the closing stretch and George lost 2&1.
Fifth out was Captain Ollie who suffered on the greens – all his good putts lipped out but his opponent’s putts lipped in. This resulted in Ollie being 3 down after 6 and despite his best efforts he was unable to make any inroads into the lead – ultimately losing 4&3.
Our number 6 was Charlie who you can never tell if he is up or down as his body demeanour never changes. 1 down after 6 quickly became 2 up after 11, a lead which he held on to, running out a 2&1 winner.
Josh is the youngest member of the team but don’t let that fool you, boy can he play. Josh cruised to a 3 up lead after 6 and he was never going to let things slip. He had retained his 3 up lead after 11 holes and was next seen walking back from the 15th green having won 4&3.
After his strong performance in the anchor role in the Boys playoff, I put Sam in the role again. After 6 holes he had taken a 2 up lead, a lead he retained after 11 holes. Standing on the 16th the match was back to all square but a sublime up and down from 50 yards for birdie meant Sam was 1 up standing on the 17th tee. A solid tee shot caught the down slope on the green and finished in a horrible lie up a bank. It was all Sam could do to chop it out to the front fringe and a failure to get up and down meant it was all square going up the last. The Staffs lad hit a “worldy” driver up the 18th, leaving a mere flick to the green. To his credit, Sam hit a lovely tee shot too but a flyer to the back of the sloping 18th green saw him 3 putt from long range.
Overall result Warwickshire 4 – Staffordshire 4
We felt we had been in command of this match after 11 holes but Staffordshire had fought back to earn the match half.
We had a very pleasant dinner at the golf club and then off to the hotel for our overnight stopover.
Match 2 v Gloucestershire
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we made our way back to the golf course. It was a chilly morning, strong winds still present and threats of possible showers. Fortunately the showers never materialised but the temperature didn’t rise and the winds didn’t abate.
We suspected Gloucestershire would be our toughest opponents on day 2 as they had beaten Worcestershire in their opening fixture and so it would prove to be. I shuffled the order slightly for this match in an attempt to gain the win we needed.
Ryan again led us off but was always just behind in the match. 2 down after 7, 1 down after 14 and finished 1 down.
Len Dog’s match took a similar pattern. 1 down after 7, 1 down after 14 and finished 1 down.
Channon gave us some hope in match 3 as he led 3 up after 7, 2 up after 14 and won 1 up.
Josh’s opponent got off to a fast start and Josh was 3 down after 7 but he battled to just 1 down after 14 and fought to get a well earned half.
George also saw his opponent get of to a fast start and was also 3 down after 7. Despite his best efforts he couldn’t make any headway and was still 3 down after 14 and eventually lost 3&2.
Sam was struggling in the windy cold conditions and was the third successive match standing 3 down after 7. Like George he battled away but couldn’t make any impression on his opponent and was still 3 down after 14 and lost also 3&2.
Similarly, Charlie was 2 down after 7 holes and 3 down after 14. Unable to turn the game around he lost 4&3.
Ollie took on the anchor role but he was still suffering with a cold putter and was 1 down after 7 and 2 down after 14. Unable to make any inroads the match ended 2&1 to Gloucestershire.
Overall result Warwickshire 1.5 – Gloucestershire 6.5
Match 3 v Worcestershire
After a very quick lunch the boys went out in the same order for the third and final match. Fortunately the threat of showers had gone and the sun showed its face a couple of times, however the strong breeze continued. It was clear a combination of the weather conditions, and playing 3 matches in two days on an undulating course, was starting to take its toll on some of the lads.
Ryan rushed out of the blocks to take a 5 up lead after 7 holes and remained in command of his match, running out a 3&1 winner.
Len Dog was up against a strong opponent and was 3 down after 7 holes. His opponent continued playing solid golf and the end result was a 6&4 loss.
Channon’s match turned out to be a crucial game. 3 up after 7 had been whittled back to 1 up after 14 and all square on the 18th tee. Both tee shots found the left trees and a miraculous up and down from the bunker 40 yards short of the green by the Worcestershire player, meant the match was halved.
Josh was always slightly behind in his match – 1 down after 7, 3 down after 11 and finished 2&1 down.
George was “running on fumes” in this match and his opponent played some great golf, so another loss was recorded.
Sam was determined to get a full point for the team and started all guns blazing. He had rushed to a 5 up lead after 7 holes and I told him to imagine he was all square and needed to win 4 more holes. He took this little pep talk to heart and won 8&7.
Charlie was up against it as he was 3 down after 7 holes. He battled to get things back and was just 2 down after 14 holes but losses on both the 15th and 16th resulted in a 4&2 loss.
Ollie shone in the anchor match, his putter warming up at long last. He was 2 up after 7 and 4 up after 14 and a win on the 15th saw a 5&3 victory.
Overall result Warwickshire 3.5 – Worcestershire 4.5
League Position
Sadly we finished joint third with Staffordshire, Gloucestershire winning the league and Worcestershire finishing second. We had a very young side this year and the lads will get stronger from this year’s event. Next year’s event will be hosted by Worcestershire and we will be going all out to get our trophy back!
I have lots of people to thank for this success:
The boys themselves as they played their matches in a fantastic spirit and demonstrated terrific Team Warwickshire bonding and ethos, not to mention some quality golf.
To the parents for making their sons available and being Mum’s/Dad’s taxi at all our matches.
To the Board of WUGC for their ongoing support of boys golf.
To Pete Clarke for arranging our accommodation and for assisting on the 2 days.
To Stratford Park Golf Club for accommodating the event. Also their green staff for presenting the course in terrific condition (especially given the recent weather) and their catering/bar staff for looking after us.
To our opposition for playing the matches in a great spirit and to their management teams for being so friendly. We all have a common goal of getting our boys playing golf, long may that continue.
To Matt Nixon (Warwickshire Operations Director) for running the tournament.
To President Mark Reynolds, Boys Golf Ambassador Graham Barton, John Duncombe and John Stubbings for being present and supporting the boys at this event.
To Kent James for also supporting the boys on the second day.
To Simon Parsons (Boys Team Manager) and Richard Clark (Head of Boys Golf) for all their efforts in developing our boys into strong golfers. Both were present and supporting the lads on day 2.
For full scoring details please CLICK HERE
Neville Gardner
Director and Chairman TMPD
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