ENGLAND BEAT SCOTS TO REGAIN SENIORS CROWN
England retrieved the Seniors Home Internationals by beating
defending champions Scotland 5-4 on the final day at Caldy
while Ireland overcame Wales 5½-3½ to finish
runners-up.
 England’s
victory means that they now hold all three Home International
titles following the earlier wins by the boys and men (picture
© Tom Ward).
But the win didn’t come easy. Although England took
the foursomes 2-1, they were made to sweat before being able
to confirm their overall success. At one stage only one England
player lead in the six matches and it was difficult to see
where the other points were going to come from. But they slowly
turned it round to get their hands on the trophy for the first
time in three years.
“I’m thrilled,” said English President
and Seniors Captain Richard Palmer. “At the start of
the year I said I wanted to win back all three Home Internationals
titles and particularly the seniors and we’ve done it.
“I’m also relieved to have beaten the Scots because
at hour from the end we were only up in one match and I could
see the worst happening. But it was a great team effort and
I’m pleased that everyone earned a point.”
David Lane found himself behind on four occasions but battled
back to tee off on the last all square with Jim Watt. Both
found sand on the hole but Watt was generally in the driving
seat and when Lane offered a halved match the Scot refused.
However, Lane then sank his putt for a par five but Watt three-putted
for a six, leaving Lane to take the hole and the point, having
only lead once and briefly throughout the match.
Andrew Morrison won the first two holes against Stephen Ellis
but was pegged back after six and then found himself 3-down
after ten. He managed to win the 13th and 16th with pars and
the 17th with a birdie-two to get back on terms only to lose
the 18th and the match.
Alan Squires was involved in a battle royal with Scottish
seniors champion Ian Hutcheon but was always in the ascendancy
and eventually ran out a 3 and 2 winner to finish with a record
of five wins from six matches, the best of the week.
Roy Smethurst was another to gain and early lead but he found
himself behind at one stage to Donald McCart although there
was never more than a hole between them. Smethurst got his
nose in front again at the 14th and held it to the last only
for McCart to birdie the last and snatch a half.
Doug Arnold was always playing catch up against John Fraser
and he was still two behind with four to play. He might have
pulled one back on the 15th but Fraser duffed his drive but
got up-and-down for a half and he did the same at the next
to keep his lead and seal the match 2 and 1.
In the bottom contest, Chris Reynolds generally held the
upper hand against John Johnston but the Scot won the last
two holes with a par and a birdie to gain a half.
In the other contest, Ireland ensured Wales would collect
the wooden spoon when they beat them 5-3 with one match halved.
The Irish edged the foursomes 2-1 but the Welsh had the satisfaction
of marking their victory with the wide margin of 8 and 7 thanks
to Glyn Rees and Michael Rooke in the top match. Other wise
Ireland called the tune although the bottom match went to
the last green where Hugh Smyth and Barry Reddan got home
by the narrowest of margins.
Most of the singles were close but at one stage it seemed
that Wales might achieve their only win of the week. But it
wasn’t to be although three matches went to the final
green, Ireland winning two with another halved.
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