ESSEX BOYS versus SUFFOLK
Played at Haverhill GC on Thursday, 14 April
Under 18s – Essex 6 Suffolk 3
Under 16s – Essex 5½ Suffolk 3½
On a cool cloudy spring day a combined Essex U18/U16 took on Suffolk in
their annual match at Haverhill Golf Club. This was the first match for
the U18s in their campaign. In the morning foursomes both the U18s and
U126s took a 2-1 lead.
The afternoon singles saw the U18s winning 4-2 with convincing wins by Mason
Papple & Ben David bot 7&5. The U16s was a slightly closer affair winning
by 3.5 to 2.5. The course was well presented although the greens were a
little tricky.
The club members and staff looked after us particularly well. Our
thanks to all concerned.
Total match score: Essex 11½ and Suffolk 6½
Under 18 County match
ESSEX v KENT v MIDDLESEX
Played at Warley Park Golf Club on Thursday, 21 April
Result: Essex 49
points – Kent 32 and
Middlesex 25
On another very warm Spring day the Under 18s played their fourth match
of the Easter holidays at Warley Park GC in a triangular match v Kent and
Middlesex.
In the morning six foursomes, three pairs took maximum points giving us
a four point lead at lunch.
In the afternoon singles, seven players took maximum points which was
another all round excellent team performance giving us an unassailable win.
The course was well presented but the greens were particularly tricky.
This completed the team’s Easter programme making it four wins out of
four.
Our thanks to Warley Park for hosting this event.
This
is the most important fixture in the boys under 18s team calendar and is the
most difficult to qualify in as you are playing against ten other Counties in
the South East region.
This year Hampshire hosted the event and the Championship was played at the
Blackmoor Golf Club in Bordon, which was in excellent condition and a very good
test of golf.
It was a very young and comparatively inexperienced team, none having played in
this tournament previously.
Essex came a very creditable third against a very strong Surrey team who won by
ten clear shots. Their England player Greg Payne shot a 6 under par round of 63
in the morning.
Good performances by the Essex team were from :- Bobby Keeble 71. 72. Reece
Francis 70. 74. Ben David 72.74.
Team selected from :- George Evans (Capt) Wanstead, Hugh Campbell West Essex,
Bobby Keeble West Essex, Ben David Colchester, Reece Francis Loughton, Mason
Papple Stockbrook Manor, Alasdair Plumb Chelmsford and James Allan Chelmsford.
Mike Thirkettle - Under 18s Team Manager