2nd Team Match v Cambridgeshire

6th August 2017 - Newmarket Links

Our team consisted of: Tom Burgh - Playing Captain, Ian Wicks, Nathan Holt, Jack Binch, Luke Barney, Jack Brown, Jack Hall & Chris White.

The links course is one of the flattest we have played for some time, the course was in excellent condition, the greens on the slow side, the rough quite deep & wet keeping on the fairways was paramount.

The morning foursomes started with a par 5 which was quite daunting as it is set on an angle across the gallops that surround the outside of the course, this tested players of both teams with few players finding the fairway resulting in wins on the 1st hole to those who hit the fairway! All four matches were close over the 18 holes and could have gone either way our wins came from Jack Binch & Luke Barney winning 2 & 1 and Jack Hall & Jack Brown 1up. After the morning foursomes honours were 2 to each team all to play for.

Jack Hall led the afternoon charge but was under pressure from their inform player Luke Ryan soon Jack was 5 down after 6, he rallied back losing 3 & 2.

Nathan Holt who stood in due to late drop outs played well finding fairways along with excellent approach shots winning 2 & 1.

Ian Wicks showed resilient against a tough opponent and took control of his match after 6 holes with first class putting, comfortably closing out his match on the 15th winning 4 & 3.

Luke was down from the off but fought back closing the gap but with his tee shot finding the trees on the 17th and recovery the bunker lost 2 & 1.

Chris White stood in for Tom at late call and was impeded by a tendon injury which he has been nursing and the singles took its toll, though credit to his opponent Lee Allen who played outstanding golf hitting greens with irons from distance on a regular basis even when well off line. Chris lost 7 & 6.

The last 3 matches were pivotal who took the spoils and were close all the way with only a hole going either way throughout the match. Jack Binch was 1up playing the 18th but missed his putt losing the hole to halve is match. Tom was playing Matt Hartley the Captain of Newmarket Links going down the 18th all sq. both on the green in 2 Matt was about 40ft away and sank his putt, Tom was 15ft away and saw his put agonisingly slide past the hole loosing 1 down. Jack Brown was 1 down playing the 18th both parred the hole with this match going to Cambridgeshire.

The singles finished 5 & 1/2 to 2 & 1/2 in Cambridgeshire favour.

Northamptonshire Match Results
Foursomes
Ian Wicks & Nathan Holt Lost 2 & 1
Jack Binch & Luke Barney Won 3 & 2
Tom Burgh & Chris White Lost 3 & 2
Jack Hall & Jack Brown Won 1 up
Singles
Jack Hall Lost 3 & 2
Nathan Holt Won 2 & 1
Ian Wicks Won 4 & 3
Luke Barney Lost 2 & 1
Jack Binch All Square
Chris White Lost 7 & 6
Tom Burgh Lost 1 down
Jack Brown Lost 1 down
Overall result Northamptonshire 4 & 1/2 points to Cambridgeshire 7 & 1/2 points