Cornwall Golf Union
Seniors Dominate in Win v Wiltshire
Colin Kitt, Guy Norris, Gary Stone, Richard Jones, Ian Veale and Warwick Holland (Captain)
[Seniors County Captain Warwick Holland reports]
2024 has been a great season for Cornwall Seniors so far, reaching the England finals for the second year running and vying for Championship honours in the Channel League. Going into our last fixture, Wiltshire were top of the league with an impressive 100% record of 5 wins from 5 matches, Cornwall were second. We knew we had to not only win to overtake Wilts but inflict a big win to gain significant goal difference as Wilts would still have one match to play (against Glamorgan) to close the season.
We thought the task would be made easier playing at WCGC with so much local knowledge in our favour, assuming regular weather of wind, rain and fast fairways and greens. However, we arrived at Lelant to see blue skies, soft ground from the rain the night before and not a breath of wind. Ah well, home advantage gone, especially as we were only fielding one WCGC player.
Wiltshire were a happy team and let’s be fair, where on earth is a nicer place to play golf than WCGC when it’s warm, dry, calm and clear views out over the ocean. We all set off in the morning Greensomes in friendly warm spirits, including our new cap, Mike Reynard (Trevose). But an easy match this wasn’t to be, at least in the morning. Our openers Reynard & Guy Norris (Trevose losing on the last being very unfortunate with two lipped putts on 8 and 9. The ship was then steadied by Ian Veale (Newquay) & Andy Rowe (Looe) with a miraculous half on the 9th. A very distraught Rowe had knocked Veale’s drive into the cavernous pot bunker left of nine. Short sided with absolutely no stance, up against the face Veale decided to explode the ball 120 degrees away from the hole and green towards a bank (his only shot available). The onlookers agreed, there was no way he could get it out of the bunker and if he did he couldn’t get it on the green. Unbelievably he did both and to boot managed to get Rowey to 15 feet. Their opponents had already got up and down for par, Rowey had to hole. No pressure!!!! What a man, what a putt, dead centre!!
Next up were Richard Jones (St Enodoc) & Mark Johnson (Bowood Park) who played super solid for a 2 & 1 victory, Colin Kitt (China Fleet) & Gary Stone (Lanhydrock) halved, albeit their match was never in doubt and finally Steve Barns (West Cornwall) playing with Mark Blaber (Carlyon Bay) delivered a win to leave us 3 - 2 up at lunch.
We were pleased but not happy. The skipper delivered a firm message at lunchtime to ensure we used our advantage morning platform to drive home a significant afternoon performance and not only win but gain that vital goal difference over Wilts. What followed was remarkable, but unheard of. It started at the first with Blaber one inch from a hole in one. The pattern continued with most matches being up through nine. The pedal was not let up and before any match had reached the 18th Cornwall had inflicted a 10 - 0 clean sweep over the league leaders. Brilliant golf was played by all and great to see was virtually no holes were lost or given, we either halved or won each. Ultimately it pays dividends but to gain such a victory against class opposition is top draw and puts us in a great state of mind for the EG finals let alone our chances of winning the Channel League. Our destiny is still out of our hands but it’s made it very tense for the others. Well done to all!
Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
