Cornwall Golf Union
Super Seamus Seals CTC Win for West Cornwall
In golf pivotal moments come thick and fast and yesterday at St Enodoc GC was no exception as one of the best Cornwall Team Championship Finals in recent memory saw West Cornwall GC beat Perranporth by the narrowest margin of a quarter point (6.5 - 6.25) and claim the title for the 7th time in the 63 year history of the competition.
For the West Cornwall team - pictured above - Seamus Stevens was the hero in the closing moments as he made an excellent four up the 18th in what was the last match still alive on the course and with the result in doubt until the last putt. Sadly for Perranporth the 6 footer faced by Adam Taylor slipped past the hole. Had he made it Perranporth, who have never won the coveted shield and who were in their third CTC final, would have claimed victory.
It would be wrong, however, to lay any blame at the door of Taylor who had played some inspired golf across the day and earned his 9 man team 1.5 points doing so.
St Enodoc GC was presented to the finalists in perfect condition and the weather played its part in ensuring the final was a real spectacle. Whilst the entire day was dry a cold northerly breeze made it less appealing to the many spectators supporting both teams. For those spectators there was no end of drama and for the neutral observer this was in county golf being played to the highest standard.
Play got underway with the morning foursomes at 0800, when County Vice President Glyn Rowett acting as starter despatched Matt Richards, West Cornwall’s team captain and 2014 County Champion, and Dean Tulley as they took on current Cornwall County Champion Conor Wilson and Chris Fleming. This match went the way of Perranporth as Wilson and Fleming dominated before closing out a 4&3 win. Matters were levelled soon after when another former County Champion Jon Coleman, playing with Phil Weaver, defeated the father and son combination of Trevor and Chris Johnston 2&1. West Cornwall got their noses in front when Alex Glasson playing with Stevens closed their match against Chris Llewelyn and Simon Knowles out on the 18th with a 1 up victory. Proving what a tight affair the final would be were Perran’s Sandy Kirton and Taylor. They had a tussle with the West Cornwall junior pairing of Bradley Barnes and Finn Rule and took the honours with another 1 up win on the 18th.
With the foursomes honours even (at 2 - 2) the 9th man singles match between Ian McKechnie and Graham Smith proved to be the only difference between the teams as the former claimed a 3&2 win to set the lunchtime score at 2.75 - 2 in favour of Perranporth. This meant if Perranporth could find 4 points from the afternoon 8 singles they would win whilst West Cornwall would need 4.5 points to claim victory. There was all to play for.
Wilson in the first single did his bit for Perranporth as he claimed a second victory of the day when he beat Richards 6&4. The first hurdle had been crossed. The script for Perranporth was dented in the next three matches in the actual order as West Cornwall won all of them. The big hitting Glasson won 5 &4 against Trevor Johnston and Tulley followed this up with a 4&3 win over Chris Johnston. The third of those matches between Coleman and Fleming went all the way to the 18th where Coleman claimed a vital 1 up win. By this time Perran’s Knowles had beaten Weaver 4&3. The scores at this point Perranporth 4.75 - 5 West Cornwall. With Barnes defeating another former county champion in Llewelyn by 3&2 and Kirton winning by the same score over Finn Rule it meant it was all coming down to the game between Taylor and Stevens although at that stage neither knew it.
Taylor had gone 1 up on the par 5 16th hole and when he hit a superb iron to 17 ( tee shot of Taylor above) he looked to be in control. Stevens came up short and right and was forced to chip from the rough. He played this shot perfectly and got inside the 10 footer Taylor was facing. When Taylor’s putt slid by Stevens calmly knocked his in for a half and the pair set off to the 18th tee, with Taylor still the one hole to the good.
Taylor found the 1st fairway and a good angle to the pin whilst Stevens had knocked his drive perfectly on the left edge of the 18th. Taylor played first and just failed to find the putting surface pin high left. Stevens, facing a 184 yard shot, hit a perfect iron (picture above) and found the green some 25 feet beyond the stick. With the green surrounded by spectators Taylor chipped well and threatened the hole before the ball finished those few feet beyond it. Again Stevens calmly rolled his to the hole edge where it was conceded meaning Taylor’s par putt would determine the overall result. Much to his disappointment it slid by and the trophy was heading in the direction of the Lelant based West Cornwall club.
For CGU President David Inch, who finishes his term as County President at the AGM this coming Thursday, it was a fitting end as he himself is a West Cornwall member. In welcoming those present to St Enodoc he paid tribute to both sides. ‘Neither of you are losers. You are the best two teams in the county this year and you have just displayed why. I am obviously very proud of the West Cornwall team but at the same time well done to Perranporth whom most of us present will feel more than a little sorry for.’
In a packed clubhouse, Inch praised and thanked St Enodoc GC for its welcome to the CGU and to the teams participating, saying it is the toughest course in the county and had proved a fitting venue for the final.
Perranporth Club Captain Clive Eade praised both sides and complimented them on the excellent spirit in which the game had been played. He commiserated with his team but challenged them to continue competing in the manner in which they had. He was sure that would reap its reward in the future.
Inch presented West Cornwall’s retiring Captain Ian Hanley with the CTC shield. Hanley, whose term of office finished two days earlier (he is replaced by Paul Horsell), said he was immensely proud of his team and also paid tribute to the Perranporth opposition.
West Cornwall will now represent Cornwall in the England Golf Champion Club event which takes place at Stoke by Nayland GC, Colchester in September.
West Cornwall Team picture (L to R):Phil Weaver, Dean Tulley, Jon Coleman, CGU President David Inch, Alex Glasson, Matt Richards, Graham Smith, 2015-16 Club Captain Ian Hanley, Finn Rule, 2016-17 Club Captain Paul Horsell, Club President Ken Evans, Bradley Barnes and Seamus Stevens.
Other images below: Trevor Johnston chips at 15, Jon Coleman putts at the same hole, Sandy Kirton faced with the impossible putts around the bunker on 15, Graham Smith plays from the bunker, Simon Knowles putts on 18, Chris Llewelyn plays from an impossible lie on 16, That chip from Stevens, Seamus Stevens accepts congratulations from Ian Hanley, the scene on the 18th, the winners West Cornwall and getting their hands on the CTC shield.
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