At last some competitive inter county golf took place as Cornwall took on local rivals Devon by kind permission of Launceston Golf Club in a 4 ball better ball matchplay comprising of 6 matches.

Cornwall County Captain Charlie Phillips selected 6 senior 1st team players to partner 6 debutants in order to test the counties strength in depth. Phillips reports:

As expected Devon fielded a strong team for the cross Tamer match.

Top pair Josh Greenaway (St Enodoc) and debutant Josh Chaplin from Mullion came up against some sparkling golf by the Devon duo of Jack Pope & Leigh Jones who went on to win by 4/3 and get Devon off to a flier.

Joe Ibbs-George, a green keeper at Newquay golf club partnered the in form County Closed winner Matt Richards (West Cornwall). Their match was close all day ending with Matt Millar from Devon hitting an immaculate 4 iron second shot to the par 5 18th hole to 6 feet to close out the match 1 up in partnership with Jay Scott.

Ex County Champion Conor Wilson (Perranporth) partnered young Alec Nile from Carlyon Bay who was selected due to his fine performance in the County Closed.In a nip and tuck affair Cornwall came up just short when a birdie 2 by the Devon pair of Thomas Woodhouse & Elliot Baker on the long 17th proved to be the final blow.

Local lad and county stalwart Richard Jasper partnered Tehidy Park's Justin Barnard. Jasper came out of the blocks fast and got Cornwall 2 up early. Birdies were hard to find but Barnard grew into the match looking the real deal and helped secure Cornwalls only win 2/1 over Sam Dunn & Matt Lyne ..... nice job!

Another Tehidy Park youngster Josh Chapman partnered the ever impressive Tom Fox (Mullion). Cornwall looked dead and buried in this game, 4 down with 6 to play...suddenly 1 down on 18th tee. Chapman found the par 5 green in two and Fox (who was only hitting a 9 iron for his second shot) suffered a cruel bounce sending his ball into the green side bunker. Devon did what Devon do, a superb chip to 6 inches sealed a birdie 4 for Fred Bishop & Lewis Beer. Neither Cornwall players could hole their eagle attempts but again a really close match.

Jamie Greet from Mullion partnered Newquay’s Aaron Stephens and again this was a close match all afternoon. 1 down playing 18 Stephens produced the shot of the day.

From under a tree, no clear path to the green, 240 yards out, in the rough, rubbish lie.. well what a 2 iron... back of the green.. looked like a half match but yet again Devon stiffed their 3rd shot... Stephens missed his eagle attempt and Cornwall lost 1 down to the Devon pairing of George Bryant & George Robinson.

All in all a very worthwhile day and thanks to Devon for making the trip even though most were nearer to Launceston than most of the Cornish lads.

Experience gained, onward and upward.