Dorset County

Our first South East League match of the season took place at Ferndown against Hampshire. The course was immaculately presented with firm fast greens and striped fairways.

Andy Rideout and Tom Robson, playing his annual match against his namesake from Hampshire, got us underway and were soon in a commanding position. They pushed on and eventually won their game 4 & 3. This was just the start we wanted, but unfortunately the other three foursomes games were all down through the 8th hole. Giles Legg and Tom Leech turned their game around with an eagle and a birdie at the 10th and 11th holes but the other two games were losing more ground. They both lost their games on the 14th green leaving Dorset’s third pairing as our only chance of parity at lunch. Hampshire’s winning of the 16th hole with a birdie gave them hope of a comeback but they followed this with a wild tee shot into the bushes on the 17th. When they failed to reach the green with their fifth shot the game was conceded, leaving the match score level at lunch 2 - 2.

 Feeling very positive at lunch, Dorset were led out by Andy Rideout, fresh from defending his Hillamsland Trophy. Full of confidence, he was always in control and got us off to the perfect start.

The Robson brothers were next up and both came up against very stiff opposition. Everything then seemed to revolve around the 16th hole. In very quick time, four games all came to a conclusion on that green. Both Robson’s lost, Tom Plumb had an excellent win against Martin Young and Giles Legg lost to Darren Walkley. Jon Welch birdied it (with a little fist pump) to go one up and Harry Mitchell lost the hole to a birdie. With Tom Leech going through one up it was looking like the best result we could manage was a halved match. Tom Leech won his game on the 18th and despite pulling his tee shot into the trees, Jon Welch conjured up a par to also win one up.

Everything then rested with Harry Mitchell in the last game. Harry holed a tough 7 foot putt on the 17th green to square his match and then blasted a driver up the middle of the 18th fairway. His opponent, Mark Burgess followed him but his approach just fell off the left hand side of the green. Harry pitched up to about 20 feet. Mark’s approach putt came up 6 foot short and he missed the next one leaving Harry a relatively simple 3 foot putt for the win to ensure a memorable win for Dorset.

 This was our first win against Hampshire since 2006 and an excellent way to start the season. We are now really looking forward to South West Week at St Enodoc in June and I’m sure the boys will go there with a lot of confidence.

Giles Legg (Captain)

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