Warwickshire Golf
Men's 2nd Team versus Shropshire & Herefordshire
Warwickshire 2nd Team vs Shropshire and Herefordshire.
The first away leave match of the season with an overnight stay was played in the 04/06/2023 at Shrewsbury Golf Club. The weather for the practice round was perfect and with those staying over being of a certain age. I was not worried about having to round people up Sunday morning.
Team Selected:
Cameron Bridger (Maxstoke Park)
Stuart Bloxham (Coventry Hearsall)
Chris Laird (The Warwickshire)
Paul Dakin (Copt Heath)
Paul Reeves (Ladbrook Park)
Jack Sharpe (Moor Hall)
Finlay Stokes (Masxtoke Park)
Niall Collins (Robin Hood)
Lewis Watson (Handsworth)
Richard Bush (Coventry)
Arriving at the club after a lovely hotel breakfast it was a good start to the day which the weather looked to match. All of the team that were travelling that morning were accounted for, breakfast eaten and it was time for the foursomes.
Order as follows:
Cameron & Stuart
Chris & Paul
Jack & Paul
Finlay & Niall
Lewis & Richard
With the sun shining and the course looking fantastic it was a far cry from the weather conditions we played for the last game. I was feeling confident we could get a positive result from this fixture. Through the first 6 holes the games was even up in 2, down in 2 and even in 1 but all matches were close. The front 9 and back 9 are completely different test. With the back 9 being extremely hill and full of blind shots. Going into the back 9 it looked as though the foursome could indeed be even. This would be the case 3 of the 5 matches went down then last hole with the points evenly split. The score at half way ,2.5 each.
Lunch eaten and the weather only getting hotter it was onto the singles.
Cameron
Stuart
Chris
Paul
Jack
Paul
Finley
Niall
Lewis
Richard
You could see by the afternoon the course had dried out and was now offering a different test. The greens had become hard to hold with anything missing the surface getting bug bounces. Keen to get his singles winning ways back Cam go us the first point of the day followed by Stu. This is went the momentum swung towards S&H the next 4 points would quickly go to them. From the scores of the remaining matches it looked as though it would be tough for us to turn it around. The next 2 points went to the bear Niall with an impressive 7&5 and Fin birdying the last to win 2up (hold that thought on birdies). Rich was unable to turn his match around so it was all down the final game. Lewis ‘twiddler’ Watson going into the last hole all square. With both teams watching I’m sure it was obvious to the two players that this point mattered. Lewis split the last fair with a stunning iron and his opponent hit it into the right tree. His opponent managed to scramble his ball pin high a few yards of the green. A majestic approach to a tough back pin left Lewis with a 10-12ft putt. The S&H players managed to scramble a par. Leaving the stage open for Lewis but could he take it………… Of course he could showing no sign of the pressure he rolled the putt in for a fantastic birdie to half the match. All I can say is AWESOME.
Final score 7.5 each.
This was another fantastic point. The league looks like it’s going to be tighter than ever and this keeps us on track for our season goal.
A big thank you to Pete Clarke who does all of the organisation for each fixture with the overnighters requiring even more planning, So Cheers Pete. Thank as always to my buggy buddy Nev and Mike for their support.
Onto the next fixture GO BEARS.
Chris Staite
2nd Team Captain.
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