With our Captain away in Turkey once again Vice Captain Graham lead the team in our first home match against Colchester.

The weather was perfect and the course, especially the greens, was in great condition.

Match 1  - Cork and Gault v Rippingale and Hollinshead.

Result - lost 2&1

A well contested match, played in great spirit. Colchester started fast and were 3up after 4 holes. SBN dug in and were able to make the turn all square. A missed short putt on the 10th (Graham did not want to say who it was, but Iain quoting the great wordsmith  ‘Shaggy’ said “It wasn’t me.” The match stayed in the balance until the 17th which both Colchester players birdied to close out the game.

Match 2 - Sandfield and Hatch v Schofield and Crickshank

Result - won 6&5

What can you say when you feel guilty winning 6&5. Mark and Iain were great company and played really well until they reached the green. After countless 3 putts by Colchester we made the turn 4 up. Although their putting improved on the back 9 a run of par, par, birdie, par by SBN from the 10th meant the game finished on the 13th green.

Match 3 - Fisher and Drew v Smith and Mellish.

Result - won 3&2

A keenly contested match saw SBN go 2up after 3 holes. Terry Mellish, 2024 CGC Captain played some amazing bunker shots to keep the score tight and SBN made the turn with their 2 hole lead intact. Colchester pulled the game back to all square after 12 holes but by the 16th tee SBN had once again taken a 2 hole lead and were able able to close the game out by winning the 16th.

Match 4 - Allen and Henry v Duncan and Cushing

Result - won 1up

With Richard playing out of his skin SBN went 2 up after 3 holes. As Richard started to fade Colchester came on strong and the match was all square going to the last. It was left to Mick to hold a nervy 3 ft putt on the 18th to win the match. A thoroughly enjoyable match.

Match 5 - Denmead and Reeves v Rock and Shackell

Result - won 2 up

A first class match with Tony D producing some magical golf whilst carrying Tony R on his back. Never more that 2 holes up in the match, SBN managed to halve the 17th to take a one hole lead to the last which SBN won to close out the match 2up.

….at this stage it would have been nice to have ended the report.

Match 6 - Walsh and Middleton v Hyde and Spurgeon

Result - lost 3&2

Colchester took the lead on the 2nd hole and never relinquished it. A mixture of pars and birdies were too good for SBN who eventually succumbed 3&2. A par/birdie finish on the last 2 holes was too little too late! An enjoyable match with 2 excellent opponents.

Match 7 - Hitchcock and Hinckley v English and Rust

Result - lost 2 down

A good close match with Barry playing good and Phil not so good. All square after 16 holes Colchester finished with two gross birdies to close the match out.

Match 8 - Sheffield and Chatrath v McManus and Cranston

Result - lost 6&5

With Shergar not bringing any part of his game and with Paul not much better it was not a good day for our pairing. Colchester played well and dovetailed beautifully. Paul said afterwards despite the loss “ the company was great (apart from Shergar)”

Many thanks to Paul Sandfield for reporting on the Colchester match. 3 Inter Club matches - 3 4:4 draws !!

Team -

     1     Graham Cork (Captain) & Iain Gault

     2     Paul Sandfield (Reporter) & Lionel Hatch

     3     Eric Fisher & Simon Merriam

     4     Richard Allen & Mick Henry

     5     Tony Denmead & Tony Reeves

     6     Kevin Walsh & Richard Middleton

     7     Barry Hitchcock & Phil Hickley

     8     Paul Sheffield & Shikhar Chatrath