Report from Mens Seniors Team Captain Matthew Cohen;
Following the disappointment of not qualifying at Royal Blackheath for the final of the Southern Region Senior Foursomes on Monday and having lost in the league against Beds two years ago, here at The Bedfordshire, for what was going to be a vital, first league match of the year, on a tricky, bouncy, windswept, well-presented golf course.
With a combination of quality, experience and two rookies, the team was well balanced and motivated for a win to get the season back on track.
David Lang and John Ambridge got us off to a great start winning their matches. Then came our first rookie, Steve Standing, in and out of hospital the past two weeks without having played at all but assuring me he was good to play! All square playing the last, we were banking on him winning his match. He and his opponent hit magnificent, long drives leaving them gap wedges in. Steve hits to 12 feet and his opponent, Colin Beard hits to 8 feet. Oh no! With several of us behind the green, I whisper to a teammate, I think Steve will hole this! Not only did he hole it, but his opponent just missed. Another win. We are three out of three.
Then zooming around in a buggy like Seve at Valderrama in 1997, the captain raced back to the 17th green to find Doug Montgomery, our second rookie, casually wandering in having despatched his opponent out in the country 5 & 4. That’s 4-0.
Then, I would have put my house on Simon Kay beating his opponent but having annoyingly holed over 150 feet of putts including 30 feet-worth on the last two greens, it wasn’t to be. Thankfully, I still have a roof over my head!
Then coming down the 16th was Dom Ronan, who on Monday had said “absolutely do not pick me, my confidence is rock bottom” (so I picked him) to our relief, holed a five-footer to win 3 & 2. It was an emotional and character-building moment which will see him kick on to a successful season, I’m sure.
Micheal Charles was next, dormy two up, loses the 17th but hits a perfect tee shot down the middle, a 9 iron to 15 feet and a two-putt par to halve the hole and win his match 1 up. That was the match secured with six points out of seven so far.
Now we need our strong back end to perform and get us some extra points, which we may need at the end of the season if it comes down to points difference to decide the league. Dave Scammell, vice-captain, in for an injured Paul Marshall, dormy one down, wins the last for a half.
Then it was business as usual for two of our most experienced and reliable players, Gordon Stewart and Paul Nancarrow to secure an 8 ½ – 1 ½ away win. The demons of The Bedfordshire had been fully exorcized.
So important was this match, that a throng of Herts supporters attended to cheer the team on. There was a sea of navy and white across the course. Thanks to Nick Davis and Phil Embleton for your enthusiastic and loyal support.
A fantastic performance by the team, just what we needed. Once again there was a great team spirit, and confidence is building as we head towards our next event, the 6-man team at Stoneham in mid-July.
