CHESHIRE HAVE THE LOOK OF CHAMPIONS
Cheshire threw down the gauntlet to their three rivals on
the opening day of the inaugural English Seniors County Finals
at Minchinhampton by completing a clean sweep of the seven
matches against Somerset.
In the other match, Kent beat Northamptonshire 5-2 after,
like Cheshire, taking both morning foursomes.
On paper, Cheshire looked pre-match favourites with their
trio of senior internationals led by English and European
seniors champion Roy Smethurst. But it is one thing to look
good on paper and another to underline it on the course.
However, the north region champions did just that to appear
to be champions in the making although no one in their camp
is taking anything for granted, least of all their captain,
Roger Fielding.
“Yes, it was a good win but there is a long way to
go,” he said. “The boys played some great golf
today but success brings it own problems as I now have two
guys I left out of this afternoon’s singles who were
superb in the morning foursomes.”
His rival skippers would like such problems not to mention
the wealth of experience at his disposal.
That was under lined by Smethurst, who recovered from a shaky
foursomes performance, which Cheshire took 2-0, to win the
top singles 5 and 4 against Welsh seniors cap John Whitcutt.
It took a while for the Crewe man to wear down his opponent
but once he got his nose in front there was only one way the
match was going to go. In perfect weather, Smethurst didn’t
drop a shot, reaching the turn in one under to be two up and
he finished it off with further birdies at the 13th and 14th.
Another Welsh senior cap, Philip Jones, strengthened Cheshire’s
grip but he had to dig deep to beat John Smith 2 and 1.Jones
led the contest on four occasions only to be pegged back and
they were all square with three to play. But Jones wrapped
it up with winning pars at the 16th and 17th .
Bob Walker was always in charge of the bottom match against
Jim Scott, winning 5 and 3 but Somerset looked like salvaging
something from the other two singles. Both went to the final
green but Cheshire held sway here again with Rolfe Furmston
(pictured) and George Payne securing narrow victories.
After securing the foursomes, both by 3 and 1, Kent marched
a step nearer overall victory when David Jamieson took six
of the opening seven holes against John MacCallum on his way
to a 6 and 5 success.
However, Northants made a spirited fight of it, not least
through Brian O’Connell and skipper Martin Harris. O’Connell
won the first two holes, the first with a birdie-three, against
Ian Mason and although he was pegged back, further wins at
the sixth, seventh and ninth put the Northants man four up
at the turn. It was a lead he was never to lose and the end
came at the 17th with a 3 and 1 victory.
Harris was conceded the opening hole by Chris Buckley only
to lose the fourth. However, the Northants man then won four
of the next five holes, two with birdies, to turn four up
and he eventually ran out a 4 and 3 winner.
However, Kent were not to be denied and they took both bottom
games comfortably through Chris Reynolds and England cap Howard
Moxon.
In tomorrow’s (Wednesday) matches, Cheshire will play
Northamptonshire while Kent meet Somerset.
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