INTER REGION SCRATCH MATCHPLAY, 6-8 JUN 11

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Last week saw the fourth iteration of the RAF Golf Association’s Inter Region Scratch Matchplay Championship at Lincoln Golf Club. The competition forms part of the RAFGA’s development programme which pits established RAF players against those who have already been identified as future potential RAF Team players, as well as younger, lesser known players.

Playing in teams of 10, split into the 4 RAFGA regions (namely North, Central, South-West, South-East), the competition is played over 3 days with each Region playing against each other in 5 foursomes matches (alternate shots) and 10 singles matches. The winners for the last 3 years, the Central Region, started as hot favourites.

Day 1 saw the Central Region playing against the SW team who appeared on paper to be the weakest of the four regions. However, the Central Region never had it all their own way and the morning foursomes saw 4 out of the 5 matches go down the last. Unfortunately, for the SW they could not convert any of the matches into a win and, with the Central already winning one, took a 3½ v 1½ lead into the afternoon singles matches. The SW got off to a flyer in the afternoon, with Keith Thompson, Gaz Wilkinson, Alex Stones, Mark Elsbury and Iain Graham all winning their matches, a shock looked on the cards. Unfortunately, this was not to be and the Central Region returned wins in the last 4 matches to square the afternoon singles and win the tie 8½ to 6½.

It was a similar score in the day’s other match. Looking like a difficult one to call the first 4 matches all went down the last but the SE were not able to convert any of the matches into a win and it was only by the saving grace of the SE Champion Steve Beveridge and rookie partner Matt Thomas that some respectability was persevered when they won 4 & 3 to see the North take an lunchtime lead 3½ to 1½. The afternoon saw the first two matches go one each to either side but impressive performances by youngsters Danny Dickson, Matt Thomas and Cameron Kinvig overturned the SE’s morning lead. Two points from the final 4 matches would see the SE beat the North for the first time, but with the North winning 2 of the final matches and the SE’s Ian Robinson 5 down with seven to play against the North’s captain Richie Larratt, it did not look good for the SE. However, some impressive play by Ian with 4 birdies in the last 7 holes saw him produce a remarkable comeback and in front of all of the players on the 18^th the fourth of his birdies meant a win and an overall 8 & 7 victory for Jase Parr’s men.

After the close battles of Day 1, expectations were high on Day 2 for yet more titanic battles between the regions. In the morning foursomes the Central Region led by Liam Pucill returned to their convincing winning ways by taking a 4 v 1 lead over the Northern Region with only Brian Molloy and Nat Simpson able to return a victory for the North. The afternoon was to be equally convincing for the North with them gaining 7 victories and 1 half to run out eventual winners 11½ v 3½.

Buoyant from their previous day’s victory the SE went into their match against the SW full of confidence. However, it was the SW who were to prove dominant by convincingly winning the morning session 4 v 1. While things were much closer in the afternoon, the morning’s lead was never able to be clawed back by the SE and Alex Stones’ men were able to secure a much needed win of 10 v 5 which meant that going into the final day 3 teams, Central, SW and SE would all have a chance of winning the competition.

Unfortunately, for the SW, the Northern team found their form and won 4 of the morning foursomes with only the final pairing of Alex Stones and Adam Thornhill able to return a win for the SW. In the other match, Jase Parr’s SE team took a slender 3 v 2 lead into the afternoon singles over Liam Pucill’s Central Team which would mean if the North and SE were both able to maintain their leads, the SE would win the overall competition on the basis of the head-to-head result against the Central Region.

The singles matches were split fairly evenly in the first of the afternoon’s fixtures between the North and SW with the North running out 6 to 4 winners and an overall score of 10 to 5 in the favour of the North. Accordingly, the result of this year’s competition would go down to the wire and therefore all eyes were on the singles matches between the SE and Central regions. Unfortunately, for the SE they returned their most disappointing performance of the week in the singles with the only highlight being Steve Beveridge beating Liam Pucill in the last match. With 7 wins and 2 halves in the other matches the Central Team ran out 10 to 5 winners and therefore, remained undefeated and retained their Inter Regional Crown.

Words: Paul Mardon

Full Results

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Photo: Participating teams