INTER CLUB MATCH v GOSFIELD - CONSTABLE - 26th JUNE
Stoke by Nayland Seniors v Gosfield at home 26 June 2024 Course Constable in very good condition and with clear blue skies, and a slight breeze Stoke was ready.
Seven matches gathered in Bills lounge at 8am, the club house was buzzing with golfers playing in the UK disabled golfers event which had started the day before. More on that event later.
Captain JP announced the pairs with each pair politely acknowledging a wave to the opposition. The last two matches would start from the 17th tee. Unfortunately Gosfield could not muster a full 8 pairs so Ian McKay & Tony Emms didn’t play.
Malcom Norton and his merry band of Interclub organisers had attempted to match players with similar handicaps to reduce the shots that opposing clubs, seem to benefit from, it was now down to the stoke boys to see if they could capitalise.
8.32 Match 1
Captain JP & Mick Henry played Phil Spillane & Mike Jones Micks report and Johns speech should how these two dominated their match with majority of holes being taken with Paras or Nett Pars. Their captain Phil also commenting in his speech how well the stoke boys played with JP hitting par 5s in two.
SBN result win 6&4
Match 2
Eric Fisher & Malcom Norton playing Robin Hurst & Mick Calver. SBN getting 2 shots each and Mick 7 shots. Hole 2 saw SBN go 1 up to a MN par. Hole 3 saw SBN go 2 up to a net eagle by EF Hole 4 saw SBN go 3 up to a net birdie.
No it didn’t last, the match was to swing, so at the turn SBN were 2 up with one halved hole (6).
Good start on 10 saw stoke now 3 up. By start of 14th match all square. Then followed 2 nett birdies and a winning nett eagle on 16th to close out the match.
Result SBN won 3&2.
Match 3
Bob Filler & Richard Middleton v Chris Turk & John Dixon Smith Bob giving 7 shots to RM and 11 & 9 to visitors.
Bob had countless gross pars but suffered from shots given. Rich had a new buggy but which required some effort to unload and was late for lunch whilst reloading it in the car park. Hmmm Wildlife was to assist Rich on 3rd hole with a crow assisting in nudging it back onto the green, only for cheeky Richard to hole the putt and win the hole.
Result Match halved
Match 4 Graham Cork & Tony Denmead v Les Turner & Malachy Sheilds Tony giving 6 shots to Graham 13 to less than & 9 to Malachy
The 1st saw Tony put the pair in front with a tap in Birdie, only for Les to par the 3rd. The game was nip & tuck round to 15 with SBN pair to stay 2 up after 17th and win.
Result SBN WIN 2&1
Match 5 Brian Wiltshire & Terry Mitchell v David Bland & Steve O’Donnell BW giving 15 shots to TM 6&8 to them.
A competitive front nine ended all square with boring Bob and Steve (the pub landlord) coming back from 2 down after first two holes. Terry & Brian start the back nine stronger with holes swapping the lead. The 16th saw Brian sink a 25’ putt for birdie from top tier to nail a lead followed by a win on 17th to close out the match.
Result SBN win 3&1.
Terry won the NP bottle of wine 13th.
Match 6 Pete Hele & Kevin Price v Richard Pace & Richard Brooks Pete giving 5 shots to Kevin & 5&4 to the Richard’s
A well balanced group with little to choose between both sides. Kevin was on form with his approach shot to the 4 green, ending up in the BACK of the buggy ahead. Slogging it out never more than one hole difference saw the fair result.
Result match halved.
Match 7 John Jardine & Andrew Cracknell v John King & Peter Prince Andy giving JJ 9 shots and 20&14 to the royal couple.
Tough start for our lads being 5 down after 7 holes. However the tide turned and as they say cream always rises to the top with SBN lads winning.
Result SBN won 2&1.
Following a superb carvery meal in the gallery restaurant finally John could claim a 6&1 win
Many thanks for individual match reports and well done.
Re Gainsborough course hosting UK golfers with disabilities tournament, saw Richard Saunders BEM win the stableford competition with 88 points over two rounds. congratulations .
Many thanks to Eric Fisher on his report of todays match - thanks Eric
Team ………..
1 John Parkinson (Captain) & Mick Henry
2 Eric Fisher (Reporter) & Malcolm Norton
3 Bob Filer & Richard Middleton
4 Graham Cork & Tony Denmead
5 Brian Willsher & Terry Mitchell
6 Peter Hele & Kevin Price
7 John Jardine & Andy Cracknell