Warwickshire Golf
Boys v Staffordshire - Match Report
STAFFORDSHIRE v WARWICKSHIRE: BOYS' UNDER 18s
WUGC MATCH REPORT
Sunday 9th July 2023 - Perton Park GC
BOYS Team Player
Sam KNOWLES (WISHAW)
Alfie MITCHELL (NUNEATON)
Lennon O'NEILL-KNIBBS (HEARSALL)
Louis TAYLOR (LADBROOK PARK)
Freddy MONTGOMERY (MOOR HALL)
Ben HOPKINS (HEARSALL)
Miles PEGG (STONEBRIDGE)
Joey WILLIAMS (MOOR HALL)
Team Warwickshire's Boys (u18) travelled away to PERTON PARK GOLF CLUB, with a couple of possibilities in mind. First, that a win could keep any hopes of winning the league alive. And second, with thunder and lightning forecast, we could be in for a weather-affected day's play.
The first 2 foursomes matches of the morning session were not close affairs. The magnitude of Lennon and Louis' defeat (6&5) was only eclipsed by the magnitude of Sam and Alfie's victory (8&6) to keep honours even. We were behind in matches 3 and 4 for most of the way, but both Warwickshire pairs dug deep and somehow pulled out victories with some excellent golf on the closing holes (Freddy/Ben won 2&1 and Miles/Joey won 1up).
Those seemingly unlikely points had turned a potential deficit into a very welcome 3-1 lead from the morning session.
We headed out to the singles with an increasing prospect of weather interruption, and sure enough the klaxon halted play for an hour, with some of the groups still on the front nine holes.
It is fair to say that some crucial singles matches slipped away from our lads after the weather break, leaving the scoreboard looking as bleak as the earlier skies which took us off the course.
Only Joey was able to secure victory in the final match, with Lennon, Freddy and Miles all registering halves to show what a tight contest this had been.
Team Warwickshire was left, frustratingly, half a point short of a draw, and a full point short of converting their halfway lead into an away win.
So, with one fixture still to play, the league evades us for this year. There's plenty of pride to play for in our final match, and great cause for optimism for next year, as most of this year's squad will remain eligible for u18 selection next season…after another year of valuable experience and improvement.
Thanks to Perton Park Golf Club, our successful opponents, and of course to our officials and parents for their valuable support.
Match results sheet attached.
Next for the Boys' team is our final league match of the season, at home to Shropshire & Herefordshire. To be played at HEARSALL GOLF CLUB on Sunday 13th August.
Simon Taylor
Warwickshire Boys Team Manager
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