Autumn Foursomes Final

AUTUMN  FOURSOMES  FINAL --  Sunday 4 February 2018

The Players were Andrew Shard (12) and Ian Brady (19)(A)(current  holders) vs. David Lawrence (6) and Richard Fenn(13)(B), with A receiving 6 strokes.

A clear blue sky and 2.5 degrees with a bitter North East wind (which strengthened through the morning) greeted the Players at 10 am. Ian and Richard teed off, halving 1 in bogey and parring 2 before A won 3 with a nett birdie.  B responded immediately with a par at 4 to draw level again but A’s shorter drive and second at 5 allowed B to go ahead with a regulation 4. Accurate play enabled B to par 6 and to go 2-up with a halved bogey at 7 before A’s immaculate nett birdie at 8 with Andy’s third to three feet yielding a concession. David was bunkered greenside at 9 but halved in bogey to remain 1-up.

Refreshed, 10 was halved in (nett) birdie and then B struck again, winning 11 in bogey following Lawrence’s bunkered drive, and then B stole the A’s stroke hole 12 after Ian was bunkered greenside and the recovery was through the green..  It felt like a tipping point in the  match. Ian’s drive was bunkered left at 13 to lose and B to go 3-up  --  the biggest margin of the Match --  but A fought back with a par at 14 after Richard’s short  par putt  lipped out. A held on with a nett birdie at the stroke-hole 15 recovering well from an errant drive right.

Drama at 16 when Lawrence’s drive lodged by the tree back left of the green. Richard’s recovery to five feet was reckoned to be the shot of the day, but the missed putt that followed enabled A to pull it back to a one hole deficit. Unfortunately, Ian’s drive at 17 was bunkered right which beckoned the end when it took two strokes to get out – and another to reach the back of the green. B was on the green for two and close.  A conceded the match with David and Richard 2-up.

This was a very exciting match which swung either way throughout, although A was never in front again after 3. The standard of golf was mostly good with some splendid shots including the putting – and the course was in good shape. Lawrence’s long driving was a feature although he was not always the longer against Andrew.  The combinations were such that one mistake usually lost a hole. The game was played in a good spirit. The winners consistency won the day.

Basil Evans

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