Warwickshire Golf
Bainbridge Shield Final 2022 - Copt Heath v Kenilworth
Reaching this year's final were Warren Bladon and Ian Stranks representing Kenilworth and Louis Sanders and Alex Ford representing Copt Heath.
The Belfry had kindly offered to host the 36-hole final for us, the PGA course was in fantastic condition for the time of year and despite the 7-50am start time the sun was shining.
Playing the PGA course from the back tees at about 6950 yards it was going to be a tough day, or at least I thought so.
Ian and Warren started very quickly with birdies at holes one and two, this gave the Kenilworth pair an early 2up lead through 4. Louis and Alex having also birdied the 2nd, won the 6th with another birdie and a par on the very tough par 3 8th saw them take the lead for the first time. Another birdie on 10 and put them further in front. Warren and Ian hit back with a bridie on 13 only for Louis and Alex to restore their lead with their own birdie on 16. All of the players were making an extremely difficult golf course appear very easy. Alex and Louis closed out the morning round well and had secured a 4up lead at half time.
After a nice lunch, we were back underway for the final 18. The glorious sunshine of the morning making way for some rather gloomy looking clouds.
Ian and Warren looking for a fast start almost got their wish but for an exquisite chip from Alex from behind the green at the first to secure a half. Ian and Warren did then birdie the 2nd and when Alex and Louis par putt on the 3rd slipped by there was just 2 holes in the match again. A timely birdie on the 4th restored the lead to 3 for Copt Heath but then a birdie 3 on the par 4 5th hole for Kenilworth got the match back to 2. The standard of golf was just fantastic and the large support contingent from Copt Heath were enjoying the match as much as I was. Even more so when Louis and Alex played outstanding golf to win the 7th,8th,9th and 10th to increase their lead to 6 up with only 8 to play. By now the weather had turned very miserable and the wind and rain made it very tough. A final birdie on the par 5 12th hole was enough for Louis and Alex to secure the title for Copt Heath. By my score, approximately level par for the day in stroke play terms, which in foursomes on that course in the weather was quite remarkable.
My thanks go to Tim and everyone at The Belfry for allowing us to use the PGA course for the final. It really was in amazing condition for the time of year. Thank you to the Copt Heath fan club who followed and supported their team to victory throughout the day (even in the worst of the rain mainly without umbrellas) and thank you to John Duncombe for his continued and passionate support of county golf, as we have all enjoyed for many years.
Louis now heads into the professional ranks, this being his last title as an amateur. Everyone at Warwickshire golf wishes you all the best Louis and thank you for all your involvement and contributions to county golf over the recent years.
Pictured: L to R
Alex Ford, John Duncombe, Louis Sanders
Pictured L to R
Warren Bladon, Alex Ford, Louis Sanders, Ian Stranks
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
