ENGLAND BOUNCE BACK TO BEAT WALES
 After
a disappointing morning when they lost the foursomes 3-2,
England lit up a miserable, rainy afternoon by beating hosts
Wales 8.5 - 6.5 on the opening day of the Home Internationals
at Pyle and Kenfig.
The foursomes proved a wake-up call and Oliver Fisher set
the ball rolling by beating Rhys Davies 5 and 4. The pair
sported unbeaten records in last week’s St Andrews Trophy
in the Czech Republic but it was 17 year old Fisher who held
sway today and the Essex lad was five under par when they
shook hands on the 14th.
Jamie Moul added to England’s success, always leading
from the front in completing a 3 and 2 win over Chris Cousins,
while Paul Waring was never behind against former Welsh champion
Ryan Thomas, romping to a 5 and 4 victory.
Ben Parker, (pictured left - photo courtesy of Tom Ward)
and Steven Lewton marked their England debuts with wins, Parker
completing a notable 3 and 1 victory over former European
Young Master Zac Gould, while Lewton, who was twice four-up
against Rhys Enoch, eventually winning 2 and 1.
Gary Wolstenholme, playing his 18th consecutive Home Internationals,
lost three successive holes from the fourth to Cennydd Mills
but pulled back to one down after nine only to lose the 12th
and 13th on his way to a 2 and 1 defeat.
English champion Ross McGowan raced three-up after seven
holes against Welsh veteran Nigel Edwards and was still two-up
at the turn. But Edwards threw in three birdies on the back
nine to go all square after 14 and he won the 17th to go ahead
for the first time.
More drama came at the 436 yard 18th where Edwards drove
out of bounds. This put McGowan in the driving seat, but Edwards
then secured a birdie-three with his second ball and went
on to win the hole after McGowan drove into deep rough, finished
at the back of the green in three and could only make a half
to lose one down.
Robert Dinwiddie, who was rested from the foursomes, was
always behind against Welsh champion Llewellyn Matthews after
driving two balls into bushes at the first.
He was always behind but battled back to square the match
with a par at the short 15th and again the drama was saved
to the last. There, Dinwiddie seemed to be in control when
Matthews left his third shot 12 feet short. But after the
England man two-putted for par, Matthews holed out to halve
the match.
That left England needing a half point from the last two
matches out and both were all square with four and five to
play respectively.
But while Ed Richardson in the bottom match fell behind to
Tim Dykes, Adam Gee came up trumps by finishing all square
with Craig Evans, before Richardson won the last to halve
his contest with Tim Dykes.
In the other match, defending champions Scotland eased past
Ireland 8-7 after the foursomes had been tied.
In tomorrow’s matches, Scotland will meet Wales, while
England tackle Ireland.
Dave Hamilton at Pyle & Kenfig.
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