Somerset Golf Captains welcomed Surrey Captains to Weston super Mare where the record-breaking dry Spring produced a fast and bouncy links course to test the two teams’ abilities. Home Captain David Ward played his first match for SGC and welcomed both teams and after a light lunch the pairings were announced. Surrey were on their usual West Country Tour and were in high spirits for the match.
In the opening match, David Ward and SGC Captain of Captains John Perkins faced Surrey’s Captain Alan Tickner and his partner Mike Weaver. It proved to be a tight match with some good golf being played and the teams shook hands on the 18th where a half was probably a fair result.
Match Two saw Murray Parsons and Barry Saunders take on Ravi Patel and Steven Rutherford. Murray and Barry proved to be an inspired choice of a pairing, and they took advantage of a couple of lucky breaks to pull clear in the match. It ended on the 15th with a 4&3 win for the home pair.
SGC President Iain Robertson and Tim Nicholls were up against Surrey Secretary Eddie Wheeler and Jack Lambert in Match Three. Eddie led the Surrey pair with some great golf and it proved too much for the Somerset pair to handle. The match ended on the 16th with a 3&2 win for the visitors, levelling the overall score.
Home Club President John Whitewood teamed up with Angela baker to face Nigel Palmer and Gordon Street in Match Four. 3 up after 9 holes, the home pair were proving too good for the Surrey pair and a birdie 2 from Angela on the sort 14th hole proved to be decisive, Somerset running out winners by 4&3 and opened up a lead for the home team.
Match Five, which started a stunning run for the away team, saw John Shakesby and Brian Reeves matched against Steve Cowan and Nigel Harris. Some indifferent play from Somerset and brilliant putting for Surrey put the home team behind and the result never seemed in doubt with Surrey eventually winning 3&2.
In Match Six, Chris Reed and Keri Allchurch played Steve Woodward and John Hayward in what proved to be a close match. Keri played particularly well with Chris proclaiming that he was not much help! The steady play of the Surrey pair eventually proved too much and despite having a chance to square the match on the final hole, Somerset were unable to and the match was lost on the 18th green
Now behind in the overall scoring, Somerset were represented by Mark Swallow and Steve Parker in Match Seven against Stu Porter and Mike Wickins. The holes were closer than it seemed for much of the game but the Surrey pair kept squeezing the home team out relentlessly and the match finished with a resounding 8&7 win for the visitors.
Some Somerset pride was on the line in the final match with Kev Blakeley and Tony Charalambous up against Ian Snell and Lucas Kirk. A very close game in which Somerset made the early running went all the way to the last green where Surrey won by 1 hole.
So a loss at home, 5 ½ to 2 ½, to a strong Surrey team who were then able to celebrate long into the evening. The banter and camaraderie were the highlights of the day and the Surrey team eventually retired to their Hotel with the trophy.
Our thanks to Weston super Mare Golf Club and their staff for hosting the match and being so flexible with the arrangements for dinner.
Next up for Somerset is a tough fixture against Gloucestershire at Henbury GC.
More photos to follow but here are some taken after the match
