The South West Counties Men’s team played their annual fixture against the Midland Golf Union on Friday 20th September at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, Wiltshire.

South West Captain, Tom Woodhouse (Devon) selected an experienced side, featuring two players making their debuts (Matt Millar and Jay Scott). 

Eliot Baker- Devon

Jake Phillips- Gloucestershire

Josh Loughrey – Wiltshire

Lewy Hayward – Wiltshire

Andrew Isaacs – Somerset

Sam Roles – Dorset

Matt Millar – Devon

Jay Scott – Devon

Matt Richards – Cornwall

Dan Rosevear – Devon

Baker and Phillips led the South West off in the morning foursomes and were down early as the Midlands raced to a 3 hole lead. An important half in birdie on hole 5  would be the turning point for the experienced pair who won a hole back at the 6th before 3 birdies and an eagle around the turn moved them into a winning position. This high quality match would go to the South West team 3&2.

Josh Loughrey partnered with county teammate Lewy Hayward in match 2 and were a couple of holes down early and were unable to turn this deficit around in the scoreable middle section of the golf course and were defeated 3&2.

Match 3 featured debutants Matt Millar and Jay Scott, the pair showed why they are both previous winners of the Clifford Burdon Trophy. Some clinical work on the greens meant the South West pair were up in throughout, finally closing it out on 16 for a 3&2 win.

Somerset’s Andrew Isaacs and Dorset’s Sam Roles had an entertaining and up and down game in match 4. The South West pair had a hard fought 2up advantage heading to the par 3 16th hole.

Two three’s on 16 and 17 won both holes for the Midlands and took the match all square up 18. With both pairs slightly out of position off the tee the teams had tricky up and downs to a difficult front pin position. The Midlands made bogey giving Isaacs the opportunity to win a full point but his 5-footer slid by on the high side and gave a deserved half point to each team.

In the final foursome, Cornwall’s Matt Richards and Devon’s Dan Rosevear were up early and made no mistakes in to convert the early lead into a 5&4 victory.

This left the morning foursomes 3.5 to 1.5 in favour of the South West.

The singles were led off by Eliot Baker under darkening skies, and the front match would only reach the 9th fairway before the players were called from the course due to the threat of lightning in the stormy conditions. At this point the final match was only on the 3rd tee but already the singles were looking to be a series of tight matches. The state of play at the break reading, South West up in five , Midlands up in three and two matches all square. 

Thankfully, the storm clouds mostly skirted the edge of Cumberwell Park and after a couple of sharp showers we were able to continue after a forty minute break. The South West team made the most of the restart, particularly in matches that were down before the break.

Baker continued from where he left off and raced to a 6up lead at one point before closing his match with a conceded birdie on 15 and a 5&3 victory.

Jake Phillips in match 2 was trailing for most of his match before squaring it up with a par at the dog leg 15th. A bridie 2 won the par 3 16th after nearly holing his tee shot and another birdie on 17 secured a 2&1 win.

Matches 3 and 4, featuring Josh Loughrey and Matt Millar were close matches throughout and exchanged holes regularly. Josh would end up defeated on the short 17th 2&1, whilst Millar needed all 18 holes before birdieing the last to win 2up.

Wiltshire’s Lewey Hayward was another who trailed going in to the delay but some fine play through the back nine gave him a narrow lead going into the final three holes, which he held on to securing halves on the last 3 holes and a 1up win.

Jay Scott carried on from his unbeaten South West Week by winning his match 4&3. Jay was already 1up before the weather break and then chipped in for birdie with his first shot after the resumption of play.

Andrew Isaacs was up early and maintained a healthy lead into the back nine holes. With matches in front finishing on the final few holes Andrew’s impressive 5&3 win was the winning point on the day.

This left 3  matches still on the course, Matt Richards , playing the Midlands captain, was 2 up early but in a competitive match with late birdies from the Midlands taking this one down the last, a hole Richards would win, for a 2up victory.

Dan Rosevear lost the first three holes but he lent on all his experience and chipped away at the lead to be all square with 3 to play. A win on the 17th and a par save on 18 saw Dan over the line and a 1up win.

Dorset’s Sam Roles in the anchor match was up in his match before a comeback from the Midlands on the back nine meant another match that was all square on the 16th tee. Both players had opportunities on 16 and 17 but were halved in par, as was the 18th for a deserved half point for each team.

We enjoyed a brilliant day of golf played at an extremely high standard with a final score of 12-3 to the South West team. Thanks to all at Cumberwell Park for a superbly presented golf course and a great clubhouse experience. 

Tom Woodhouse

Captain

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