A good win this morning, 6 - 2 to Stoke! Report as follows:

 

A pleasant morning for golf, not too warm and a light breeze. All in all it made Constable a slightly less intimidating course for Stowmarket to navigate, but Stoke still came out on top overall

 

Match 1: Kev Price and John Parkinson won 1 up.

Kev and JP started like a train and were 6 up after 7! The remaining holes were a little harder with Stuart and Jonathan fighting back successfully! Just one up standing on the last, a par from Parky sealed a one hole victory.

 

Match 2: Malcolm Nortin and Lionel Hatch won 5&4

Malcolm apparently left early to frame his card after scoring 25 points on the front 9! Feel sorry for Neil and Charles having to cope with that as well as constant sledging from Lionel! Stowmarket did close the gap to 2 at one stage before SbN pulled away again to close out the match 5&4.

 

Match 3: Bill Kemter and Colin Pottle won 2&1

Stowmarket played steady golf, using their shots effectively to build up an early lead. Bill and Colin were however 1 up at the turn (helped by Bill's 2 and NTP win on the 8th) before falling to 1 down midway through the back 9. This turned round however with three wins in the closing holes to secure a 2&1 victory in a very close game.

 

Match 4: Simon Merriam and Neil Ashwell won 3&2

Stoke won the first two holes and never relinquished the lead, although it was a very close game with a lot of halved holes. Simon and Neil kept their noses in front, extending the lead in the back nine to run out 3&2 winners. A very sociable game and steady play from all the players.

 

Match 5: Kevin Walsh and David Seymour won 4&2

Stoke again took an early lead with Steve and Martin both finding water on 3 of the first 4 holes! Steady rather than spectacular play kept SbN ahead for the rest of the game, albeit the lead had reduced to one hole after 13. Pars by David on 14, 15 and 16 closed out the game 4&2. An enjoyable and friendly match played in excellent spirit.

 

Match 6: Nick Wright and Tony Reeves lost 2&1

A close match against the two Paul's from Stowmarket. There was never more than 1 hole in it until the 17th hole (or rather the 15th as the game had started on the 17th!), when some poor shots by SbN handed the hole (and the match) to Stowmarket. It was commented that one of the Stowmarket Pauls, playing off 13.5, may just have come back from Portrush as he was hitting the ball extremely well! 

 

Match 7: David Drew and Dick Lumsden won 5&4

A routine win by SbN with no humorous anecdotes to report! Stoke won the 1st hole (which was the 17th!) and then moved smoothly along to be 5 up after 9. This remained the position for the next few holes and a %&4 win was duly delivered!

 

Match 8: Shikhar Chatrath and John Crane lost 2&1

Shikhar, with a new SbN seniors shirt (!) and John on his seniors inter-club debut started well on the 17th tee - and were 2 up after 6 holes. Then rather unfortunately the wheels came off and Stowmarket moved to 3 up after 12. A brief revival reduced the deficit to 2 holes, but Stowmarket hung on to record a 2&1 victory on the 15th. 

Many thanks indeed to Kevin Walsh for his report on todays ‘fun in the sun’ against Stowmarket