Seniors Win Again
Tuesday 29th June 2021
SCL Cornwall v Somerset Monday 18th June 2021 Launceston GC
Cornwall Seniors maintained their unbeaten record yesterday with a second home win over Somerset at Launceston GC. Having beaten Devon last month the Duchy team repeated the feat with the same scoreline 8.5 - 6.5.
On a course presented in excellent condition and on a day that became warmer throughout, the two teams fought out a close battle and avoided the threatened thunderstorms and heavy downpours which appeared to surround them. Both counties were fielding teams bearing little resemblance to those who last did battle in 2019 as a new batch of 'seniors' took to the course and the morning greensomes set the tone for the day. The overall result would be a close one.
Mark Blaber and Kevin Mula got the first points on the board for Cornwall with a 2&1 win over the Burnham & Berrow pairing of Andy Fisher & Andy Harriott. Somerset levelled in the next game as the experienced James Ward & Simon Rudd beat Cornish debutant Guy Norris partnered by Andy Rowe (3&2). Richard Simmons and Andrew Clotworthy halved with former Minehead Professional George Hampshire & Frank Ward and the same outcome was the case for the West Cornwall pairing of Richard Bunch & Rod Hnadyside who were playing Neil Holbrook and Rob Chandler. Cornwall got their noses in front at the halfway point courtesy of a 1 up win for Colin Kitt & Gary Stone over Adrian Deakins and Tim Jones.
In the afternoon singles Mark Blaber (Carlyon Bay) was 2 up through 9 holes but was reeled in by his opponent Harriott . Blaber though did gain an all important half point. Guy Norris (Trevose) was again on the wrong end of his match just losing by the odd hole to Rudd. Kevin Mula (above, Newquay) had a close battle with Fisher but stayed on top to win 2&1.
Gary Stone (above, Bude & N Cornwall) got the Duchy back in front with a 2&1 win over Deakins but yet again the scores were levelled when Colin Kitt (China Fleet) was beaten by Hampshire.
At this point things though turned in favour of the Duchy, Richard Bunch (West Cornwall) claimed an excellent 5&3 win over Holbrook and Richard Simmons (Tehidy Park) gained a 3&2 win over Frank Ward. This meant Cornwall could not be beaten but the win was not certain.
Cornish debutant Steve Barns (West Cornwall) - who had replaced Andrew Clotworthy for the singles - was 1 up over Tim Jones playing the par 3 17th. Barns made an excellent up and down to halve the hole, sinking a nasty 8 footer across the slope and thereby making sure of at least a half point which would give the Duchy a win. Barns did what he had to making a sensible par 5 at the final hole after Jones found trouble. The latter was fortunate to be able to play a pitch to the green but when he left his birdie putt hanging agonisingly over the edge of the hole Barns had his first county match win for Cornwall and given his team a 2 point winning margin.
Seniors County Captain Paul Clahane was delighted "This was another good squad win against a strong team. The quality of golf played by both sides was excellent and Launceston GC have done us proud. First thing this morning and before we arrived the greens were flooded and there was some doubt as to whether the match could go ahead. Well, the weather favoured us all and you would not have known there was a problem. So thanks to Launceston and their staff for the early morning efforts they put in. This result gives us a boost heading into the SWCGA Seniors Championship at Ferndown in a couple of weeks time and the team for this will be announced shortly".