PARRY STEERS ENGLAND TO VICTORY
 England
gained revenge for the drubbing they suffered in Madrid two
years ago when they beat Spain 16-8 at Royal Ashdown Forest
in East Sussex at the weekend.
Beginning the second and final day just a point ahead, England
(pictured - photo courtesy of Tom Ward) dropped only half
a point in the foursomes which meant they required just 2½
points for outright victory. They were supplied in the top
three matches by Gary Wolstenholme, Jamie Moul and John Parry
with the vital point.
Not that the day was without its problems, especially after
lunch. The afternoon didn’t start well with heavy rain
flooding several greens, delaying the start by 15 minutes.
Even when it did get underway the rain returned and, with
only the Wolstenholme/Vicente match on the course, play was
suspended for a further half an hour.
There was a danger that the singles might have to be abandoned,
but fortunately the weather improved, the water drained swiftly
away and the match resumed only for Wolstenholme to underline
his value to England by romping away with the top contest.
After winning the opening five holes against Gonzalo Vicente,
the England veteran comfortably completed a 6 and 5 victory.
Moul was in sparkling form, running in six front nine birdies
to be out in 30 strokes and thereby five-up. He also won the
tenth but was content to cross the winning line five holes
ahead for his fourth win in as many matches.
Despite falling behind at the second hole, Parry showed his
mettle with an eagle-three at the fifth to draw level and
after taking the lead for the first time at the long eighth,
another eagle-three at the tenth saw the Yorkshireman two-up.
In the end it was fitting that Parry, the newly crowned Spanish
Amateur champion, should see England home with a birdie-three
at the 15th. It completed a successful couple of days for
Parry who dropped only half a point in his four outings.
Gary Boyd also enjoyed a happy match and took a 100 per cent
record into his match with Lluis Garcia del Moral, the conqueror
of Wolstenholme 24 hours earlier. The two youngsters were
locked in a superb battle in which Boyd led three times by
a single hole only for the Spaniard to battle back, including
a 45-foot chip-in for eagle at the long 12th.
Boyd made few mistakes but one at the par four 17th looked
like proving costly as del Moral edged in front for the first
time. But despite finding his ball on a down slope at the
back of the 18th green, Boyd chipped in for a birdie-three
which del Moral couldn’t match so the pair finished
up with a sporting half.
Further victories came from David Horsey and Paul Waring,
both sporting 100 per cent records, as England completed a
successful weekend.
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