Dorset County Golf Union
South West Championship 2014
7th – 13th June 2014 at Royal North Devon
The 2014 South West Counties Championship (SW Week) is being held at RND who are celebrating their 150 year annaversary. The The Captain David Cook has selected the following to represent Dorset: Tom Robson, John Welch, Robbie Mabb, Pete Corrick & John Blanks from Weymouth along with Matt Hector, Tom Leech, Harry Mitchell & Giles Legg from Ferndown with David Cook (Captain) and Tom Peacock from Parkstone. The event gets under way on the Saturday with a practice round for all six counties.
The format of the week is each county plays each other Singles am and Foursomes pm so the order of play is below with the SW Individual Strokeplay Championship and EGU County Qualifier is played over 36 holes of Stroke Play on the Tuesday. I will endeavour to post the results of each of our matches at the close of play each day to keep you up to date.
SUNDAY 08th JUNE
Devon v Dorset
Result: Devon 9.5 Dorset 4.5
We started against the home side Devon, new boy John Blanks Weymouth led the way but came up against an inform Ryan Pope who won 5&4. Next out was Captain David Cook against Harrison Greenberry a tight match with Devon just taking it by one. John welch grabbed a halve for the first points of the morning which was compounded when Giles and Robbie and Tom Robson both went down. Tom Leech played well and was at one stage 5up against Dan Rosevear finally seeing him off 4&3. Harry Mitchell lost out to Matt wells 5&4 So we are 6.5 to 1.5 down but it was still all to play for in the Foursomes which got under way with David playing alongside Tom Robson they were up against Harrison and Ryan who came out on top 3&2 Jon and Robbie put some pride back with a good solid win against Ollie and Sam. Sadly it wasn’t a good start for Pete Corrick and Tom Peacock who got beat 7&5 against Dan and Matt. That just left Tom and Giles who at one stage looked very comfortable but then they were pulled back but a very good up and down on the last just saw them through by one. So it was three all in the foursomes not the start we had hoped for but spirits are high and we look forward to tomorrows match against Wiltshire.
The other matches Gloucestershire v Cornwall & Somerset v Wiltshire
MONDAY 09th JUNE
Dorset v Wiltshire
Result: Dorset 5 Wiltshire 9
Today we were up against Wiltshire not an easy match and with our singles record we needed to get some points in the bag. That wasn’t happening Jon was up against Ben Amour and all though it was nip and tuck but when Jon found the ditch on seventeen Ben wrapped up win 3&1. The next match saw Robbie up against Ali James it was tight but it was real fun watching them on seventeen when both players decide they would give it to their opponent! Robbie eventually won it with a seven and managed to secure a good halved match with par on the last. We then lost the next four matches, John Blanks fought hard to get a halved match on the last and Harry made amends for the first day by secure a narrow win by one. So again we are 6-2 down and need to win all the foursomes, the players all tried hard and at one stage it looked good the Weymouth pair were well in control of their match against Ben and Ali winning 3&2. Matt & Harry were up against England international Ben Stow playing with Paul Green but they failed to convert the early lead losing 2&1 and when Captain David playing with John blanks lost 3 & 2 we knew we again had been defeated but credit to Tom leech and Giles who fought hard to secure a 2 hole win. So it’s a rest from match play tomorrow as they play in the Championship but they will have to dig deep Wednesday if we are to avoid the dreaded spoon!!
The other matches Devon v Gloucestershire & Somerset v Cornwall
TUESDAY 10th JUNE
SW COUNTIES STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
We move to the Stroke Play Championship and this years County qualifier the Dorset six who will try to win a place at this years final are: David Cook, Tom Robson, Robbie Mabb, Jon Welch, Giles Legg & Tom Leech. The weather is against us and the competition has been reduced to 18 holes due the torrential rain thunder and lightning.
Congratulations to Cornwall who qualify for this years County Finals
To view Stroke Play results click here.
WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE
Dorset v Gloucestershire
Result: Dorset 4.75 Gloucestershire 9.25
So after a day of torrential rain we now have wall to wall sunshine and the temperature is rising as Dorset play Gloucestershire in search of their first win. Jon welch led the team off but was up against a seasoned SW campaigner Nick day who won 3&1, Robbie Mabb was next and he also went down 3&2. Tom Robson secured his first single point when he managed a halve against Mitch Waite this was followed by a fine display by Captain David Cook winning by two holes sadly the next two games then went to Gloucestershire Pete Corrick lost 3&1 and from what should have been a fine win Matt Hector lost six holes on the bounce to lose by one! Tom Leech continued his fine week with another win by one hole, whilst Harry Mitchell still looks for his going down 2&1 to Laurie Potter. So once again with have left a mountain to climb in the afternoon foursomes Jon and Robbie led the way and they were two down after sixteen, they then dug deep to birdie the next two to maintain their run a a pair with a fine halve. Harry and John Blanks were well beaten 5&4 as were Tom and Pete Corrick 4&2. Giles and Tom fought hard and dug deep to take their match on the last with par to win one up. So still no win and a mountain to climb to try to get some points on the board as we play Cornwall next.
The other matches Devon v Somerset & Wiltshire v Cornwall
THURSDAY 12th JUNE
Cornwall v Dorset
Result: Cornwall 6.75 Dorset 7.25
On possibly the hottest day of the year we were out against Cornwall Jon led the way and was two up with two to play when matt hit him with two birdies to halve the match. Tom Robson won 2&1 with club mate Robbie just missing out by the same score. David Cook found it hard going against an in form Chris Fleming going down 4&2. Matt hector played some tremendous golf but was up against a class youngster Harry Hall they were halving holes with birdies but harry won 4&3. Harry Mitchell is having a tough time and again found it hard going losing 6&4 to Richard Jasper. Giles hung on in managing to win by 1 as did the ever impressive Tom Leech who also won by one to bring us right back into it with the foursomes to come. Wow what an afternoon the foursomes were so tight apart from our opening pair of Jon and Robbie who saw off Conor Wilson and Chris Fleming 4&3 Tom Robson and Matt hector came down the last all square against a strong pairing of Harry Hall and Rob McGregor, Tom had a six footer which just slipped past for the match so it was a half. Then Pete and John came down the last having been down for most of the match one down and when Cornwall missed a short putt for the game it was again another halved match with just Tom and Giles to finish off and they stood on the last tee one down! The Cornish pair then stuck there drive into the ditch and when Giles putt the second shot on the front edge there was great hope that we could get the halve needed to give us the game and so it was as Tom rolled the putt to with in six inches and at last victory was Dorset’s. Well done all.
The other matches Devon v Wiltshire & Somerset v Gloucestershire
FRIDAY 13th JUNE
Dorset v Somerset
Result: Dorset 2.75 Somerset 11.25
Somerset came out all guns blazing after their defeat yesterday Jon Welch led the way and lost on the last, John blanks went all the way to gain a halve against Jamie Clare and as it was turned out to be our only point of the morning. The rest were all wins for Somerset with Tom Robson taking a heavy defeat 7&6, David Cook lost by one as did Matt Hector. Harry Mitchell lost 5&3 and Giles lost 5&4. Tom Robson looked like he may get a half point against John Grace until John sunk a 22 footer on the last for a half and the match. Not good reading and nothing but pride to play for in this afternoons foursomes. Our Congratulations to Somerset on winning the Inter-County match play Championship.
The other matches Cornwall v Devon v Gloucestershire v Wiltshire
Clifford Burden Trophy Results.
Captains summary:
"There is no denying this was a difficult week for the Dorset Team, it just was not to be at the end of the day. I have to pass on my thanks to all of my team for their commitment to every match and the stroke play day. We have a great team spirit and I believe we will take the positives away from the week and move on to improve again. My thanks to Dan Frost for his valued coaching once again.
Congratulations to Tom Leech for his selection for the South West Team to represent the Midlands, a much deserved inclusion in the side and an acknowledgement of his dedication and consistent results for Dorset over many years.
Thank you to Giles Legg for his assistance, support and well done for another solid weeks golf.
My thanks also go to Colin Legg, John Calver, Bill Kennedy, Ian Clark and Mr and Mrs Doug Pratt for their support and caddying and Mr Mitchell for once again travelling a long distance to support the team. Thank you also to Ian Hulse the County Secretary for his hard work this week. This is all invaluable to us.
On now to the remaining East League fixtures, the first being against Surrey at St Georges Hill on the 6th of July."
David Cook
Dorset County Captain
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