Cornwall Golf Union
Looe Lift President’s Trophy
Looe pictured above (L to R) Andy Doney, Martin Nicholls, Kieran Faulkner, John Nicholls, Andy Rowe, Stuart Hamon, Club Captain Steve Wilkins, Simon Walker, CGU President David Inch, Guy Jedwab and Andy Allen.
Yesterday saw the final of the CGU President’s Trophy winter knockout competition at St Enodoc GC between Merlin and Looe. With the CTC final also taking place over the links the finalists were treated to a course in excellent condition and which proved a tough challenge for both teams. In the end it was Looe who claimed the plaudits with 6-3 win.
In this format with teams of 9 players playing singles matchplay off handicap over 18 holes the teams must present 3 players in each of Categories 1, 2 and 3.
Whilst the entire day was dry a cold northerly breeze made it less appealing to the many spectators supporting both teams.
It was the category 3 players who set Merlin up in what appeared to be a good position as they claimed all 3 of their games. Leading by example Merlin Captain Rob Hall defeated Stuart Hamon 4&3, despite having to concede 2 shots to his opponent. Ben Crossley followed this with a 2 up win over Simon Walker, also despite having to concede 4 shots. In the third Mick Hargreaves, also giving four, beat Andy Doney 3&2. So 3-0 to Merlin at this point.
The watching Looe supporters were subdued at this point and with the next three matches all going to the 18th they were kept on tenterhooks. By this time Looe’s Kieran Faulkner had beaten Zack Burrough 5&3 and Guy Jedwab had disposed of Lennie Spark so Looe had claimed two points back.
At much the same time County Senior Andy Rowe drew Looe level with a 3&2 win over Cary Clark, not that his team mates playing the 18th were aware. The three Category two matches proved decisive as Looe claimed all of them.
First Martin Nicholls got Looe another point as he beat Merlin’s Jim McKenzie 1 up. Then it was the turn of Martin’s father John Nicholls to get a Looe point as he defeated Dave Osgood by the same one hole margin. It is always difficult with matches going on simultaneously to determine at what point a match was won but when Andy Allen also produced a 2 up win on the 18th green against John Bate, the Looe victory was complete.
CGU President David Inch, who finishes his term as County President at the AGM this coming Thursday, addressed those present and welcomed them to St Enodoc. He paid tribute to both sides. With regard to Merlin he said ‘You should not regard yourselves as losers. You have proved to be the best two teams in the competition this year.’ He congratulated Looe and said how pleased he was to see their former County President and County Secretary John Rowe in attendance to witness the success. He also welcomed former CGU President Malcolm Jones who along with Gerry Fitter MBE had been responsible for donating the President’s Trophy.
Inch thanked St Enodoc GC for its welcome to the CGU and to the teams participating, and hoped they had all enjoyed the experience.
Merlin Captain Hall commended St Enodoc and thanked his team for their efforts. He congratulated Looe on their win.
For Looe, Captain Steve Wilkins was understandably proud of the achievement. He made mention of the excellent spirit the match had been played in and thanked St Enodoc for the opportunity to play this final there. He also thanked the CGU for their efforts with all the winter knockout competitions. Inch presented Wilkinson with the unique trophy.
Subsequent to the match there are unconfirmed reports that the last time Looe won a county competition occurred in 1974. A member of the team then was a 14 year old Andy Rowe. Some 41 years later the very same Rowe was playing in the 2016 President’s Trophy winning team. I believe in the picture above he is indicating Looe are the number one team!
Other Picture below: Kieran Faulkner tees off, Andy Rowe teeing on the first, John Nicholls waits to play on the 9th, Zack Burrough plays his second to the 9th, the Merlin team, the Merlin Captain Rob Hall with CGU President David Inch, and Looe Captain Steve Wilkins with David Inch.
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