We had won our first two matches this season and travelled to Diss full of optimism as we were fielding a strong side. However Suffolk are last year's 2nd Team Champions.
In the morning Foursomes Suffolk packed their top order and Taylor Sargeant and Richard Dalton found Chris Vince and Josh Driver in good form. A close match ended 3&1 in favour of Suffolk.
Match 2 was very similar with Ben Hawkins and Brandon Sanders playing well but a late on charge from James Tyler and Chris Bartram saw us lose 3&2 again.
Match 3 was the complete opposite as Liam McNeela and Jacob Williams got the better of Dan Smailes and Dan Hedges 3&2, making the Match score 1-2.
Match 4 saw our pairing of Ben Lavender and James Barker play some outstanding golf to see off Adam Golding and Marc Dusyzinski by 7&6, bringing the Match score level at lunch 2-2.
This put the Team in great spirit for the afternoon singles.
It appeared that both Teams were packed in the early games. Taylor had a real battle at the top of the order before losing 2 down to Vince.
Off next was Brandon and a see saw match saw Brandon 1 up with 5 to play. A lost ball at 14 and a loss on 16 and we were 1 down with 2 to play. A spirited win on 18 saw the game end all square.
Ben Lavender, at number 3, put up a good show against Suffolk Captain James, until a run of 3 lost holes in a row made it difficult to come back from and he lost 3&2.
Liam at 4 took on Driver and Liam was never in trouble and was 1 up with 2 holes remaining. Driver used his local knowledge, being a member at Diss, to good effect to win the match 1 up.
Now we needed snookers.
Richard gave us some hope with a good 3&2 win against Adam.
James playing against Smailes, fought all the way, before losing 1 down.
Ben Hawkins had a difficult time on the front 9 but fought all the way to rescue his match against Hedges, with the game finishing all square.
Final game saw Jacob against Dusyzinski. Again the match was very close until around 14 where lots of the games seemed to turn in favour of Suffolk. Despite playing well Jacob was on the end of a 3&2 defeat.
Final Match score was 8 games to 4 in Suffolk's favour.
Next match is at home playing at Wellingborough GC in early August against Cambridgeshire 2nds.
Matches | Suffolk | Result | Points | Northamptonshire | Result | Points |
Foursomes |
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|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Chris Vince Josh Driver |
3&1 | 1 |
Taylor Sargeant Richard Dalton |
|
|
2 |
James Tyler Chris Bartram |
3&2 | 1 |
Ben Hawkins Brandon Sanders |
|
|
3 |
Dan Smailes Dan Hedges |
|
|
Liam McNeela Jacob Williams |
3&2 | 1 |
4 |
Adam Golding Marc Dusyzinski |
|
|
Ben Lavender James Barker |
7&6 | 1 |
Total |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
Singles |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 | Chris Vince | 2up | 1 | Taylor Sargeant |
|
|
2 | Chris Bartram | Half | 0.5 | Brandon Sanders | Half | 0.5 |
3 | James Tyler | 3&2 | 1 | Ben Lavender |
|
|
4 | Josh Driver | 1up | 1 | Liam McNeela |
|
|
5 | Adam Golding |
|
|
Richard Dalton | 3&2 | 1 |
6 | Dan Smailes | 1up | 1 | James Barker |
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|
7 | Dan Hedges | Half | 0.5 | Ben Hawkins | Half | 0.5 |
8 | Marc Dusyzinski | 3&2 | 1 | Jacob Williams |
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|
Total |
|
|
6 |
|
|
2 |
Result |
|
|
8 |
|
|
4 |