The second day of the 2024 tour saw the team turn up at Farnham Golf Club. After sitting on the balcony overlooking the course the words of the Captains of Captains from the detailed team talk the night before echoed in the ears of the Somerset team (especially Kevin – see pictures), reminding all the need for a victory to complete two wins on a Sussex/Surrey tour – a feat never completed before.
After a wonderful ploughman’s lunch the pairs took to the first tee and looked at the well-prepared course in the sunshine concentrating their minds and clenching their muscles not wanting to let the team down.
First off was Mike Rossiter, Captain of Captains, accompanied by Glyn Sewell. To say that the Somerset pair played indifferent golf was generous. However as Graham Horn and Stephen Woodward from Surrey got off to a lead, Mike with some support from Glyn held on and started to exchange holes. Eventually the cream floated to the top and Somerset won 2 and 1.
A game of two halves saw Roy Parmiter and Murray Parsons for Somerset hold onto a half with Alan Tickner and Alistair Cockburn. The pairs thoroughly enjoyed each others company on what was agreed to be a fabulous course.
Somerset took an early lead in the third match, but the Surrey pair of Martin Simpson and Ravi Patel won 4 holes to go 3 up including a birdie by Martin at the 5th and Ravi using his shots. The lead increased to 4 at the 10th and despite a birdie by Paul Chesney at the 7th and George Davis’ Benylin kicking in on the back 9 Surrey managed to hold on to win 2 and 1.
The Somerset Johns Beer and Perkins played in the 4th match and managed a win of 4 and 3 against two ‘gentlemen’ of Surrey Mark Kissin and Michael Weaver. In not losing in this ‘key’ match John Perkins managed then to lose his keys!
Refusing to lose the Surrey pair of Eddie Wheeler and Alan Wilkinson managed to turn the tide on Rob Ford and Maddie Casson pulling the game back over the last few holes to halve the match.
The score was now 2½ to 1½ and if Somerset were to complete an achievement never managed before they would need the last three games to go their way.
Despite holing no putts and by delivering a few good shots, Mike Usher Clark and Rob Hirons overcame the Surrey pair of Steve Dobbin and Gordon Street to win 2 and 1.
Stuart Potter and Jerry Marvin for Surrey were first class hosts and with the consistent greens Geoff Rooke and Colin Davies slotted in well for 7 holes. Despite a fight back by Surrey, Somerset won 2 and 1.
Ian Gover and Kevin Blakeley for Somerset somehow kept pegging the Surrey pair of Mark Hemswood and Charles Rankin back to level the scores after the first 9 holes. Mark then eagled the 10th with a 100-yard pitch to go one up. This woke the Somerset pair up and using his shots Ian won four of the next 5 holes and with the support of Kevin who got a half on the 16th the game was won 3 and 2.
A resounding 6 to 2 victory for Somerset!
A glorious day’s golf completed with wonderful hosts on a splendid course finished with a good meal and many tales told between the new friendships made on the day.
Surrey had remembered to bring the trophy and presented it to Mike. As excellent hosts they made sure that it was carefully packed to prevent breakage. Thanks to Surrey Past Captains and Farnham Golf Club who looked after us in a tremendous way.
With this new record achievement this team of ‘Tour Invincibles’ would go down in the history of Somerset Past Captains. A wonderful two days.
