Mark won the first hole and Mikey, Jack and Brad all halved with Leigh and Craig going one down. Mark then steamed ahead to go four up on the front nine but then his opponent who plays off plus one took control over the back nine with 5 birdies. There is just no living with that and Mark finished his game two down.
The team we played today were Rochford Hundred and five of the team play for the county of Essex so they were always going to be a tough team to beat.
By the time Mikey reached the thirteenth he was two up and this was where he got the last of his four shots from his opponent Taylor who also plays off plus one. We witnessed some quality golf today from all the players and Mikey put in a great effort to win his game four and three.
Jack was having a more difficult time and his opponent from Rochford Hundred was Bradley who plays off one, and was giving Jack two shots. Jack won the tenth to bring the score back to two down and then the eleventh too. Conditions were near perfect at this time, with no sign of the gusty wind that had hampered play on the first two days. Jack lost three and two on the sixteenth.
Bradley was playing steady at number four and increasing his lead over his opponent Connor (1) as the game progressed. He was three up at the tenth with a lovely birdie then four up by the time he reached the thirteenth and had a lovely chip out of the bunker to the far edge of the green. He is under pressure but pulls off a lovely putt for a five to half the hole and still remain ahead. By the time he reaches the sixteenth he is still one ahead. He wins the 17th in style with a chip to within a foot, and wins the game two and one.
Leigh also wins two and one on the 17th, having a late surge from a very close match with Jack from Rochford Hundred. They had spent the whole game either level or one up/down so it was a very close match. He was very unlucky not to hole a 25' putt on the 6th; it might have gone in but for the pin.
Craig had a fantastic game but found himself three down by the twelvth. The pressure was on as we believed that he had to half the game to win. He steadily pulled back to one under by the 16th but then lost on the seventeenth two and one.
So that meant the match was even, but on countback of the holes Turnhouse were awarded third place seven to six. A great acheivement for the boys after such an intense week of play. It is certainly an experience they will never forget, and will have sharpened up their golf as they have been playing such a difficult course. We can look forward to handicaps tumbling over the coming season.
It has been a true team effort from all eight of the boys and everyone played a part in their success today. Thanks too to the team management, Iain, Allan and Brian for their wisdom and never ending patience.
Off to the gala dinner tonight to celebrate!