Warwickshire Golf
Warwickshire Matchplay 2023 - Report
Warwickshire Matchplay Championships 2023
Friday 16th June - Quarter Finals
An early start to proceedings at The Warwickshire so that our morning matches could have the course to themselves and a clear run round to lunch.
The first match on the course saw Ian Smith (Forest of Arden) against Harvey Elliot-Money (The Warwickshire). This was a close match with Ian holding a slender 1 up lead playing the 18th. Harvey hit a fantastic approach and his closing birdie would see the match go to extra holes.
Harvey's tee shot on the 19th would find the edge of the thick rough which lines the humps and hills of The Warwickshire. Ian would find the fairway and win the 19th to progress to the semi-final.
Ian would play the winner of Stuart Bloxham (Coventry Hearsall) and Gareth Jenkins (Stratford on Avon). This was another close match with Gareth always holding a small advantage as the match progressed. Gareth would be dormie 2up on the 17th tee, but after winning 17 and with a fantastic approach shot into 18 to only a few feet Stuart would take this match into extra holes. Gareth would play the 19th in textbook fashion and a birdie would be enough to see him through to play Ian in the first semi-final.
Rob Bardsley (Moor Hall) would play Bobby Campbell (Ladbrook Park) and this was the lowest scoring match of the morning, with both players playing great golf. Rob was a par and birdie machine and despite being around level par for the day Bobby would lose his match 4 & 3. This was great golf by both players given the tougher flag positions introduced for the match play.
In the last Quarter Final Dan Bardsley (Moor Hall) would play Tom Ibbertson (Coventry Hearsall). Two regular first team players would battle hard in this match, with Tom just coming out on top in this one with a 2 & 1 win.
Friday 16th June - Semi Finals
Rob and Tom would be the first match out in the semi-finals. Rob would go 2 up through 7 holes and would always stay in front despite Toms best efforts to reel him in. Rob would close out the win 2 & 1.
Ian and Gareth would have a similar pattern to their match in the other semi-final. Gareth taking an early lead and despite a mid-round fight back from Ian, Gareth would remain in charge to record another 2 & 1 victory.
Sunday 18th June - Final
The weather forecast warned of a significant risk of thunder and lightning from 2pm in the afternoon and so with agreement from the players the final was reduced from 36 holes to 27 holes.
Both players would have a steady start to the final. Rob would win the 6th hole to go one up before Gareth would win the 7th to restore parity. The next few holes would be crucial as Rod would win the 8th, 9th, 11th and 12th to move into a 4 up lead.
Gareth would fight back with wins at the tough 14th and 16th holes to get the match score back to just 2 down. Rob would finish the round strong with birdies at 17 and 18 to restore a 4 hole lead at lunch.
The first hole after lunch both players would lip out for birdies. Gareth would win the 20th hole and then the 23rd hole to reduce the deficit to 2 down with 4 holes to play. Gareth bravely holed a ten foot putt for a half on the 24th, but Rob was not to be denied and two fine shots into the 25th hole of the match would be enough to win the hole and the match by a 3 & 2 margin.
A huge thank you from me to The Warwickshire Golf Club, who as per the amateur championships held there a week earlier, were extremely helpful and flexible in allowing the match play to be played and playoff holes to be finished.
My thanks to Alastair Scott who refereed the final for us and to our president Mark Reynolds for his support as starter throughout.
(L-R) Rob Bardsley Matchplay Champion 2023, Mark Reynolds (Warwickshire Golf Union President)
(L-R) Rob Bardsley - Warwickshire Matchplay Champion 2023, Mark Reynolds (Warwickshire Golf Union President), Gareth Jenkins - Runner Up Warwickshire Matchplay 2023
Chris Brown
Warwickshire Golf Union County Secretary
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