The CGU Cornwall County men's golf team made an exceptional start to their bid to land the English County Final title today when they beat 20 time champions Yorkshire at aglorious Royal North Devon GC today. The morning foursomes set the foundation as Cornwall won all three before a much tenser afternoon singles session saw an expected very strong fightback from a talented and experienced Yorkshire team.

On a sunny morning, in the top game, the Yorkshire pair of Nick Marsh, the English champion, and William Whiteoak birdied the first hole to lead but Cornwall’s Tom Fox and Joe Cruse birdied the third to square the contest.

However, the Yorkshire pair led again at five with a birdie-two while a birdie-three at seven increased their advantage. But the Cornish duo cut the deficit to one by the turn with an eagle at the long ninth.

A par at the 12th proved sufficient for Fox and Cruse (image © Leaderboard Photography) to level again and the contest remained all square with two to play. But a birdie-four at 17 gave Cornwall a crucial advantage and when the Yorkshire pair conceded the 18th Cornwall were home by 2 holes. The Yorkshire pair were three under at the end and the Cornwall duo an approximate four under.

The Cornish second pair of Conor Wilson and Matthew Richards were level par through the front nine and 2up, having been 3up after five holes. The Yorkshire duo of Joe Dean and Dan Brown won the tenth with a par to cut Cornwall’s lead only to lose 11 to a birdie-three and slip 2down again.

The score remained the same with three to play but a Wilson and Richards par at 16 sealed the game 3 and 2.

In the bottom game, Cornwall’s Harry Hall and Rob MacGregor won the fifth and sixth holes with a par and a birdie but they lost the next two to pars to reach the turn all square with Jamie Bower and Craig Smith.

However, the Cornwall lads reeled off three successive birdies from the 12th to race 3up and although they lost the 15th to a par, a three at the short 16th gave them a 3 and 2 win.

The other match proved a closer affair with Warwickshire going into lunch 2-1 ahead against Surrey.

Cornwall however went on to pull off the shock of the day.

Despite a spirited and entirely expected fightback after losing all three morning foursomes, Yorkshire came back hard in the afternoon but despite winning four of the six singles they came up short.

Everything hinged on the final single on the final green between Cornwall’s Tom Fox and Dan Brown. Fox was 1up playing the last but when he fired his approach to the 414-yard hole through the green it opened the door for Yorkshire to snatch a draw.

It was even more ajar when Fox chipped 12 feet short of the hole and took five. But Brown three-putted for a half, leaving his par putt to halve the game and secure a draw on the edge of the hole.

Fox said, "In a strange way I don't think I have ever felt so disapointed at winning. I thought I had blown it for the team and for myself so ultimately I am very relieved we got the win. Now we have to start again."

Rob MacGregor was very pleased with his two wins today and put it down to a change of routine. At South West  Week he was eating a Nutella and Peanut Butter sandwich on the second fairway every day but today altered the habit and ate the unusual combination on the 6th hole.

“I thought we’d give Yorkshire a good game but this is awesome,” said Cornwall captain Richard Simmons. “We made a dream start in the foursomes but they got after us in the afternoon. But we’ve got players of international level and overall I feel we deserved to win.

“I’m hugely relieved and this is possibly the biggest win Cornwall has ever achieved in county golf. I’m delighted.”

His opposite number Daryl Berry, the Yorkshire skipper, said: “It was a game of two halves. We got off to a slow start this morning and heads were a bit low at lunch. But I’ve got a lot of experienced players and we always hit back hard.

“Getting back to 5-4 still gives us a chance. We could have won and it was unfortunate the way the last game ended but there is a long way to go.”

Starting the singles three behind, Yorkshire responded well and English champion Nick Marsh led the way with a 3 and 2 win over boy cap Harry Hall. There was little to separate them over the front nine despite Hall opening with an eagle-three and staying 1up through nine.

But Marsh levelled on ten, went ahead at 11 then birdied the 13th and 15th to complete his victory.

Joe Dean was on fire in the second game, going out in five-under-par 31 against Matthew Richards to be 3up and par figures from there completed another 3 and 2 win for Yorkshire.

When Jamie Bower beat Josh Greenaway 4 and 3 for another Yorkshire point a victory for the north region champions look a distinct possibility. But Cornwall gained some relief when Rob MacGregor got the better of William Whiteoak 3 and 1.

That left Cornwall needing one more win for overall victory but Yorkshire levelled when Martin Brown beat Joe Cruse. They were neck-and-neck for 11 holes but Brown reeled off three successive birdies, the third a concession, from the 12th to go 3up and although Cruse battled back by winning the 16th and 17th Brown stayed ahead for a narrow success.

That meant everything rested on the final game which went Cornwall’s way much to their relief.

The Cornish team were supported today by representatives from Devon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and with many messages of support from the region's other counties. The support and messages are much appreciated.

Tomorrow Cornwall play Warwickshire while Yorkshire meet Surrey.

Report with many thanks to David Hamilton, England Golf and with minor irreverent laterations.

COME ON CORNWALL