Gloucestershire Golf Union
GGU Seniors play their last Channel League Match of the Season
The Seniors played their last match of the season against Glamorgan at Lilley Brook. Glamorgan had the best record in the Channel League coming into the match and were keen to win to keep up their challenge for the title.
A crisp day with a clear blue sky met both teams as well as a green and lush golf course.
Matt Stanford and Mike Burris led Gloucestershire away playing against a pair who had played for Wales in the Home Internationals last week and who had won all their matches in the Channel League. It was the first of all five foursomes to go down the last with an honourable half being the result. In the second match Steve Yorke and Chris Newman battled hard but eventually went down at the last 1 dn. In the third match Tim Clink and Nigel Gravelle got off to an appalling start being four down after four holes but when Clink holed a great putt on the 5th green the revival was on. An 8 iron that almost pitched in the hole at the 6th from Clink was the next hole won followed by Clink hitting yet another superb iron to within a foot at the short 7th. One down with two to go and when Glamorgan three putted the 8th it was all square. Glamorgan hit a short drive down the 9th and were left with a three wood to the par 4 but a great shot that pitched well short and then ran down the hill left the Glamorgan pair with a 10 foot putt for birdie. Clink was left with a five iron to the green and yet again he delivered with a superb shot to 12 feet. Gravelle, having been told the putt was quick, knocked the putt 3 feet passed and when Glamorgan lagged their but to gimme range it was down to Clink to hole out. A halved match. In the 4th match Nick Barwood and Tim Rogers were all square going down the last. A wayward second shot left them in the trees and with Glamorgan also missing the green a half looked likely, Glamorgan chipped to four feet to heap the pressure on Tim Rogers. He played a great chip from the position he’d been left in to around 20 feet. A superb putt from Nick Barwwod, along with a fist pump, and a missed putt from Glamorgan gave Gloucestershire their first full point of the day. In the last match Dave Law and Ken Madden battled hard but eventually lost the last to lose 1dn. 3-2 to Glamorgan at lunch.
In the afternoon singles Matt Stanford threw a barrage of birdies at his opponent and ran out a comfortable winner 6&5. Its been fantastic to have a player of Matts quality amongst the Gloucestershire senior ranks. Chris Newman followed this up with another 6&5 victory and things were looking good. Unfortunately Mike Burris and Tim Clink weren’t at their best in the afternoon and both succumbed to 4&3 defeats. Steve Yorke won his match 1 up with excellent golf against a Welsh International and when Tim Rogers secured a half in his match after being 1 down on the 18th tee victory for Gloucestershire was within grasp. Nick Barwood delivered the next point with a 5&4 victory followed by Dave Law, bucking his foursome form, with a fine 5&4 win. Gloucestershire at a half at worst could we secure the win. News was that Nigel Gravelle had been 4 down after 12 and so he needed a revival. Unfortunately the revival ended some way left of the 17th green! The key to the match was the final game where Ken Madden had been down all the way round. Unfortunately his opponent locked out his match with a 3&2 win. Match tied 7.5-7,5
It was the end of a great season. Two matches lost 8-7 and one tied. Had the team secured just 2.5 more match points we’d have won the league.
Tim Clink - Seniors Captain
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