KILWORTH SPRINGS GRAB TITLE BY A WHISKER
 Kilworth
Springs, (pictured left - photo courtesy of Tom Ward) representing
Leicestershire and Rutland, won the English Champion Club
Tournament by the narrowest of margins at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire.
Their trio of Gary Wolstenholme, Dion Stevens and Sam Mayfield
finished tied with host club Stoke Park on two over par 428.
But Kilworth Springs took the title on countback with their
second day aggregate of 213 to 214.
It is the first time in the history of the competition that
a team from Leicestershire has come out on top and only the
fourth time in 22 years that a Midland club has lifted the
title.
Wolstenholme, who also won the Champion Club title with Bristol
and Clifton in 1992, was delighted. “To win the title
at a prestigious club like Stoke Park is great,” he
said.
“When we arrived I felt we had a chance to win but
it is always difficult because there are so many good teams.
But to win by such a narrow margin and to beat the local team
is doubly rewarding.
“I am also pleased for our club. It was the first time
we’ve had a team to enter the Leicestershire Championship
and to win the national title at the first opportunity is
amazing.”
But while it was delight for Kilworth, it was despair for
Stoke Park. Their team of Luke Rusher, Steve Barwick and Matt
Briggs were a shot ahead of Kilworth after day one but looked
to be out of the hunt. However, they came fighting back only
to see their bid fall short.
Rusher aided the cause with a second 69 but only after three-putting
the final green, while Barwick also signed for 69.
That left Briggs, who was several shots over par on the course,
needing a birdie at the last to see his side to victory. But
his ball pulled up three inches short in the centre of the
hole.
Bedfordshire champions John O’Gaunt finished third,
three strokes back on 431 with Michael Round compiling a fine
69, while Chelmsford from Essex were fourth with 436, the
same as Kent representatives Sundridge Park.
Chelmsford were elevated to their fourth place by a best-of-the-day
67 from Rob Jarvis, a 19 year old member of the Essex Colts
team.
The teenager from Billericay made a flying start with three
of his total of six birdies coming in the first five holes
and he rounded it off nicely by picking up further shots at
the 17th and 18th.
“I knew there was a good score to be had out there,”
he said.
England boy cap James Smith was the mainstay of Sundridge
Park, compiling a second day 68 with an eagle and five birdies
despite starting with three bogeys in the first four holes.
“That wasn’t the best way to start,” he
said, “but the eagle at the fifth, when I holes from
eight feet, got me going. I also holed a couple of 30-footers
which helped.”
He also had ten threes on his card. “That’s the
best I’ve ever done,” he added. “Usually
I struggle to get four threes.”
|
