Cornwall Golf Union
Wareham for the U16s & U14 Boys
Both the Cornwall U16s and U14s were in action last Friday at Wareham GC, taking on Dorset in Ben Enoch Trophy and Jack Roberts League matches respectively and it was a double win for the Duchy as both recorded wins.
[For the U16s Team Manager Steve Chapman reports]
Cornwall under 16s played their second match of the season in the Ben Enoch Trophy against Dorset away at Wareham Golf Club.
We arrived for a practice round the day before and the weather was stunning. The course was in good condition after the dry weather and we appreciated their hospitality over the couple of days.
Play got under way with 4 x foursomes in the morning and we were looking to get off to a fast start. Our first pairing of Bobby Godfrey and Harry Jolliff were up against a strong top pair for Dorset and went down 4&3. We were back on track in the second match with Alfie Chapman and Harry Gurd winning their match 2&1 . Tom Richards and Kennane Burt were never behind and ran out 5&4 winners. There was now only 1 match out on the course which was Sam Hanton and Ryan Tozer and looking to take the lead going into the afternoon singles it was all square coming down the last. The boys unfortunately lost the last and lost 1 down. It was now 2-2 at lunch and all to play for.
Heading into the singles needing 4.5 points to win the match we got off to a fantastic start and at one point in the afternoon we were leading in all 8 games. The first win of the afternoon came from Bobby Godfrey (St Enodoc) who won 5&3. This was then followed by 3 more points in quick succession with Harry Jolliff , Tom Richards and Alfie Chapman (all St Enodoc) winning their singles matches. We now needed just half a point to get over the line. This was completed by Harry Gurd (Perranporth) winning his match on the last. Kennane Burt (Bude) also won his singles to make it 2 out of 2 on the day for him. We took 6 points in the afternoon and won the match 8-4, a great performance.
After winning our first 2 games we now face Somerset for a decider hoping to lift the Ben Enoch Trophy after they also won their first 2 games. This will be played at St Enodoc on the 12th August and the boys are understandably very eager to win the league.
[For the U14s Team Manager Tim Faull reports]
The County U14s travelled to Wareham Golf Club near Poole for their third match in the Jack Roberts league against Dorset. A practice round on Thursday was beneficial to learn the course as some holes were tricky with some blind tee shots. This also allowed the players to decide who was going to tee off on the odd or even holes in the morning foursomes. The fairways, like a lot in the southern counties, were very dry and brown with preferred lies in force but the greens were immaculate and very receptive.
Friday started with a trip to the driving range at Dorset Golf and Country Club to get the players loosened up (the sunny hot weather didn't mean a warm up was needed!!) due to lack of driving range at Wareham and then onto the course where the players were keen to find out who their opponents were for the foursomes and singles matches.
The pairings for the morning 9 hole foursomes remained as per the previous two matches this season with Ethan Kinski and Rory Hudson leading the way and playing good golf to be 4up through 5 and then sealing the win on the 6th 5&3. Their only disappointment was not finishing on the 5th as it was next to the clubhouse whereas the 6th green meant a walk back. Next were Will Dingle and Rory Julian whose combined handicaps had moved them up to second groups as their recent form had seen their handicaps come down. Their match went up the 9th with the Cornish pair 1up but the Dorset pairing won the hole to halve the match. Third out were Oliver Lawrence and Harry Faull who got into a good 2 hole lead with 3 to play but two wayward tee shots on 7 and 8 brought the match level going up the par 5 9th. On the green in 4 we had two putts for the win but Oliver sank a 20ft putt to seal the win 1up.
The final grouping of Oli Hanton and Theo Davis was all square after 7 but our tee shot on the 8th ran on the slope of the hard fairways and gave a awkward second shot which unfortunately we couldn't play well so went up the 9th 1dn. Both teams played their approach shots slightly long and left but ours ran on a few yards more into some thick brambles with no easy relief available and the players couldn't get out of, so an unfortunate way to lose the hole and match 2dn.
Lunch was provided with sandwiches and chips with the team knowing that 4 points was required in the afternoon although a 2.5-1.5 lead doesn't mean anything as we have held leads in the previous matches this season. A quick discussion with all team managers moved the singles matches from one match per tee time to fourballs to allow an earlier finish.
The first point of the afternoon came for Dorset with Rory Hudson (West Cornwall) unable to find his morning form and seem to have the whole team's bad luck to lose 8&7. Knowing that he was upset it was fantastic to see all his teammates coming up to him and consoling him as they went past and credit to Rory he supported the players cheering on every good shot and hole won.
Cornwall's first point came from Will Dingle (St Enodoc) who had an inspired spell of holes mid round to put the pressure on his opponent to win 5&4. Will is probably the most in form player at the moment in halving his handicap in the last four months.
Next point of the afternoon came from Rory Julian (Falmouth) who got a couple of holes ahead through the front 9 to finally win on the 16th 3&2. The 16th was eventful with Dorset losing their first tee shot out of bounds and their next one of the tee into difficulty with a chip out required. Rory's tee shot rolled into the gorse which he tried to play out but only put it further in so a penalty relief was required. Rory's fourth landed on the green which allowed him to win the hole.
First match out was Ethan Kinski (St Mellion) but despite being 2dn after the front 9 his ability to remain calm brought it to 1dn through 14 and then 1up through 17. A huge drive on 18 put him in a good position and a par meant a halved hole and therefore the third point of the afternoon and now only needing 1 more point out of the remaining 4 matches.
The 'honour' of winning the match went to Harry Faull (St Mellion) in match 7 who was 4up through 10 losing the next two (ironically when I was watching him). So I left him to it and for once he remained calm and won 13 but lost 15 to be 2up with 3 to play. On the 16th both players ended up in the same rough area to the right of the green but whereas Harry had a good lie unfortunately his Dorset opponent's ball landed on a twig and had a bad contact playing his shot so Harry won 3&2.
The two Oli's were next to finish on the 18th with both players being ahead most of the round with Oliver Lawrence (Tehidy Park) being 1up and Oli Hanton (St Enodoc) all square starting the hole. Oliver Lawrence halved the hole to win 1up and Oli Hanton's opponent missed a relatively short putt to allow Oli to win the hole and his match.
The final match to finish was Theo Davies (Falmouth) which again went up the 18th in a match that went one way then the other. Theo was dormie 2 but couldn't carry the momentum on to finish the match out but still finished unbeaten with a half point.
A thank you to Wareham Golf Club for their hospitality and providing a BBQ on both nights which was enjoyed by all the juniors. Also thanks to the parents of both county's who followed their players round in a friendly atmosphere and special praise to one Dorset parent who called out one of his pairings for playing out of turn and therefore losing them the hole.
The next match is in a couple of weeks time at St Enodoc against Somerset which is the last match of the season. Cornwall U14s currently sit second in the Jack Roberts table and a win will see them in with a chance of the title albeit dependent on other matches.
U14
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