Match Report

Somerset U16’s v Dorset U16’s

Thursday 16^th August 2018

Today’s match against Dorset was held at a well presented Wells Golf Club, the course has greened up a lot since the dry spell. The staff were very friendly & helpful, & the food was excellent.

It was soon apparent Dorset had come to Win, having travelled up the day before for a practice round and bringing probably their best U16 team available, whosehandicap range was between 3.5 & 7.5, compared to Somerset’s handicap range of 4.5 to 14.1.

Also supporting the Dorset team weere a strong group of supporters, Including the Dorset President, Junior President, Exec member & U16 Manager, a good number of family members also were up supporting their team.

I’d like to thank Somerset’s President Paul Middleton for coming up for most of the day to help cheer our lads on.

Morning Foursomes

            With heavy rain coming down on the way up to Wells this morning at 8.30, golf at 9.30 seemed very unlikely, but within an hour the rain stopped and the Foursomes could commence.

First out were Lewis & Harry who worked well as a pairing and soon had the upper hand over the Dorset pair. With solid golf from both players the game was won 3 & 2,

The next pairing consisted of Captain Sam Floyd and U16 debutant Dewi John. Again both worked well as a team, with Dewi stepping up to the next level well.

However, I’m convinced these lads are trying to make me greyer than I already am.

Sam and Dewi were four up with four to play, job done, don’t be silly, the Dorset lads win the next 3 holes so we are now 1 up going down 18. It looked like Dorset were going to get a half, as they were just off the back of the green in two and we were in the front bunker in two, an indifferent bunker shot left us 25 feet away in 3, Dorset chipped on to “give me” range. This left Dewi with the 25 foot put to win the match. With nerves of steel Dewi sinks the putt to win the point. (Start breathing again Kev).

Third out was U14 pairing of Ashton and Jackson, this plucky duo matched their lower handicap opposition well, and eventually finishing off the match on the 17^th.

The final pairing of Jack and Oliver worked hard to keep their match going and pulled themselves back into the match around the turn, however a good chip onto the 17^th green gave their opponents the match.

To have a 3 – 1 lead at lunch was a fantastic morning effort by Somerset.

Singles

This looked to be how the match was panning out, as after a short lunch break Paul and myself drove out through all the matches to find us down in all of them.

Lewis, first out. was up against a strong 3 handicapper who always had the upper hand, and soon took the game 3 & 2.

Second out was Sam, who when we had spoken to him on the 8^th was 3 down, however catching up with him on the 15^th was 2 up, which he held onto, to win 2 & 1, a Good Captains performance.

Third out was Harry, who’s becoming the leading point’s scorer for the U16’s. Harry would make a great Poker player as his body language gives nothing away, so it was pleasing when we catch up with him to find he is 3 up, as with Sam he keeps the pressure on his opponent to take the match 3 & 2.

Debutant, Dewi John played some good golf in the afternoon, but came up against a very good short game player who took the match 4 & 3.

Clevedon member, Oliver Hayden has been a good find this season, and today he gets a well-earned half a point, having to make a tricky 2 footer across the 18^th to equal his opponent.

With 2 ½ points already secured it was again up to Ashton to try and secure the winning point, this match went up the 18^th, with Somerset 1 up, so with Ashton equaling his opponent shot for shot, the point was won, giving us a fantastic victory.

Jackson Carey is a player who is passionate to get the win for his team; he tried so much to get his match back to level but lost the 17^th to go down 3 & 1.

What do you tell a 14 handicapper up against a 7 handicapper, you tell him we need his point to win the match (harsh, but Jack can handle it, and we had already won the match).

Unfazed by this, Jack who had pulled his tee shot on the 16th a long way left, hit a great second shot onto the right edge of the green, and two putted for a great win.

On paper we should of lost this match, but the team spirt is high in the Squad, and it was great to see us come out with the 7 ½ to 4 ½ win. It’s a shame we couldn’t play the Cornwall match as we would be in the running for the Ben Enoch Trophy.

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