Match v Derbyshire

Match V Derbyshire at Erewash Valley

Foursomes

This match was a replay after the original match was abandoned due to rain at Kedleston. Unfortunately as with the Warwickshire match we were a few players down. The first two matches lost, Jarred Mcknight and Neil Wain surprisingly lost 6 & 5. John Whitehouse and David Mercurio lost 3 & 2. Andy Ellis and Brian Belcher won 3 & 2. James Fox and Gianluca Romano had a very close match taking it to the eighteenth but lost by 1 hole. In the last match Andy Guy and Glen Macbryde halved their match.

Staffordshire 1.5 Derbyshire 3.5

Singles

We started strong, Neil Wain in the top match who won 1up, Jarred McKnight won 3 & 2. John Whitehouse lost 6 & 5. Andy Ellis halved his match with his opponent finishing the last three holes birdie par birdie, Andy's opponent sank a 25ft putt on the last. The next four matches went Derbyshire's way, David Mercurio lost 2 & 1, James Fox lost 2 & 1. But Gianluca Romano had a hard match on his debut, with his opponent having five birdies and an eagle to lose 4 & 3. Andy Guy won 1up. Glen MacBryde had a great win 4 & 3.

Final Score

Staffordshire 6 Derbyshire 9

Brian Belcher

1st Team Captain

Staffordshire 2nd Team v Derbyshire

Date: Sunday June 7th 2009

Venue: Leek Westwood Golf Club

Captain: Kevin Beattie

Captains Report

The opening match of 2009 was against Derbyshire and played at Leek Westwood Golf Club on this wet and windy Sunday in June.

There were 2nd Team recalls for Tom Bourne of Westwood Golf Club, who has only been back from the USA for the past week, Martin Crook of Great Barr Golf Club and Scott Smallman of Newcastle Golf Club. There were also 2nd Team debuts for Liam Smith of Newcastle Golf Club, Lee Wain of Trentham Park Golf Club and Martin Lowe of Westwood Golf Club who came in at short notice.

The foursomes were a close run thing with wins for Staffs from the Wolstanton pairing of Captain Kevin Beattie and Dave Walley and the Newcastle pairing of Scott Smallman and Liam Smith with a great half achieved by Chris Bradshaw and Martin Crook who were 3 down with 3 to play, they proceeded to birdie the last 3 holes to get a half point.

The rain was heavy all morning and following taking a lead (3.5 to 2.5) into lunch the Derbyshire players were reluctant to play in the afternoon as some of the greens were holding water. Play was delayed until 2.45pm when a gap in the weather allowed for play to resume.

The singles turned out to be equally as close with wins for Dave Walley, James Willis and a half from Ben Barwell the only points in the top half of the draw, but some good performances in the bottom half saw Martin Crook gain the point he needed for his county colours and Lee Wain and Martin Lowe to secure good wins on debut. Chris Bradshaw again came from behind (4 down) to gain a half point but alas it was little too late as the singles were drawn 6-6.

Many thanks to Westwood Golf Club for their hospitality and efforts on the day to ensure play could go ahead.

Result ? Staffs 8.5, Derbyshire 9.5.

Regards

Kevin Beattie