Today a strengthening wind blew the rain clouds in from the sea and there was a marked change in the temperature and also the need for sun tan lotion. So the Turnhouse Juniors took on the English champions - starting from the tenth tee at 08:30 in the morning.
The rain clouds were threatening over the mountains as Mark and Jack teed off against the Huyton & Prescott pair. Jack quickly went up 1 to his female opponent Georgia who plays off 4. However, Jack was giving away 4 shots as well as having his opponent play off the ladies tees. It soon became apparent that she had a sharp and accurate short game and she took the second. Jack won the 3rd (12th)and maintained his plus one till Georgia won it back two holes later and they went back to all square. Jack went up on the second 9 and by the 11th hole he was 2up, only to be back to all square again by the 14th. He persevered though and when he reached the 18th to give Turnhouse the win.
Mark also had a tough game and was also giving away 2 shots to his opponent. He went down on the first game and the theme continued throughout the game and at the turn he was 3 down with everything to play for. However, he lost 6 down with 4 to play on the 14th hole Mark reckoned he gave away 6 putts throughout the game and admitted that his short game was not all it could be on the day.
Mikey following on in the second pairing against Adam also had a tough game. He was 1 down on the 4th and this wasn't helped when his ball bounced out of the bunker and into the hazard on the 5th. By the 7th was 3 down and only began the fight back after the turn when he won the 13th to only be one shot adrift. It was such a pity that he lost on the 16th.
There were high hopes for Rory who had a brilliant game against Michael from H & P, and at one point was 5 up on the 11th and looking very assured of a victory for Turnhouse. The weather began closing in on the back 9 with squally blasts that caught out the shots to the green. Rory gave away a shot today but was unimpressed to see his lead diminish and on the 18th he managed to hang on against a very difficult opponent to half the game.
Leigh was playing steadily and by the time he got to the 7th he was 3 up. However by the time they get to the 11th the sun has gone again and a very blustery and cold wind has got up he was 3 down. He lost the 8th and then then by the 10th he was only 1 up and seeing his lead disappearing till he reached the 11th and was level. He was so unlucky on this hole to hit a tree and when he it out then connected with another tree! He had gone back to level after this hole and by the 14th he was 3 down with 3 to play. The 15th ( 6th) provided lots of controversy with a visit from the referee that held up play for some time.
Craig also had an intense match with his opponent Matt. Although he was giving away the same number of shot as Leigh (5) it seemed that he couldn't catch up. He was 4 down by the 14 but managed to fight back to 2 under by the 11th (also the 2nd) The weather was very cold and with a biting wind too and a lot more like being in Scotland than in Spain.
The game ended with only one win from Jack and a half from Rory so there is everything to play for tomorrow in the final round robin game against Galway who have already won both their games in the section.
The team tomorrow will be Jack & Mikey, Rory & Leigh then Craig & Matthew
Mark will play in the reserves game as will Ben if his injured shoulder allows. He had to pull out after 9 holes in the stableford today after a jarring injury yesterday,
Good luck for tomorrow - its a 09:10 start on the 1st.
The rain clouds were threatening over the mountains as Mark and Jack teed off against the Huyton & Prescott pair. Jack quickly went up 1 to his female opponent Georgia who plays off 4. However, Jack was giving away 4 shots as well as having his opponent play off the ladies tees. It soon became apparent that she had a sharp and accurate short game and she took the second. Jack won the 3rd (12th)and maintained his plus one till Georgia won it back two holes later and they went back to all square. Jack went up on the second 9 and by the 11th hole he was 2up, only to be back to all square again by the 14th. He persevered though and when he reached the 18th to give Turnhouse the win.
Mark also had a tough game and was also giving away 2 shots to his opponent. He went down on the first game and the theme continued throughout the game and at the turn he was 3 down with everything to play for. However, he lost 6 down with 4 to play on the 14th hole Mark reckoned he gave away 6 putts throughout the game and admitted that his short game was not all it could be on the day.
Mikey following on in the second pairing against Adam also had a tough game. He was 1 down on the 4th and this wasn't helped when his ball bounced out of the bunker and into the hazard on the 5th. By the 7th was 3 down and only began the fight back after the turn when he won the 13th to only be one shot adrift. It was such a pity that he lost on the 16th.
There were high hopes for Rory who had a brilliant game against Michael from H & P, and at one point was 5 up on the 11th and looking very assured of a victory for Turnhouse. The weather began closing in on the back 9 with squally blasts that caught out the shots to the green. Rory gave away a shot today but was unimpressed to see his lead diminish and on the 18th he managed to hang on against a very difficult opponent to half the game.
Leigh was playing steadily and by the time he got to the 7th he was 3 up. However by the time they get to the 11th the sun has gone again and a very blustery and cold wind has got up he was 3 down. He lost the 8th and then then by the 10th he was only 1 up and seeing his lead disappearing till he reached the 11th and was level. He was so unlucky on this hole to hit a tree and when he it out then connected with another tree! He had gone back to level after this hole and by the 14th he was 3 down with 3 to play. The 15th ( 6th) provided lots of controversy with a visit from the referee that held up play for some time.
Craig also had an intense match with his opponent Matt. Although he was giving away the same number of shot as Leigh (5) it seemed that he couldn't catch up. He was 4 down by the 14 but managed to fight back to 2 under by the 11th (also the 2nd) The weather was very cold and with a biting wind too and a lot more like being in Scotland than in Spain.
The game ended with only one win from Jack and a half from Rory so there is everything to play for tomorrow in the final round robin game against Galway who have already won both their games in the section.
The team tomorrow will be Jack & Mikey, Rory & Leigh then Craig & Matthew
Mark will play in the reserves game as will Ben if his injured shoulder allows. He had to pull out after 9 holes in the stableford today after a jarring injury yesterday,
Good luck for tomorrow - its a 09:10 start on the 1st.