MATCHPLAY FINALS 2010

                                  SAM BENTON
                       Staffordshire Matchplay Champion


The weekend started with the final 16 in the County matchplay; the semi-finals and final being played on the Sunday.

The semi-finalists were:

• Brian Belcher (Beau Desert) v John Whitehouse (Walsall)
• George Dukes (Druids Heath) v Sam Benton (Enville)

After some closely fought matches John Whitehouse and Sam Benton progressed to the final with Brian Belcher and George Dukes playing for for 3rd and 4th Place with Belcher winning on the 18th hole.

The top match was all square on the tenth tee, Whitehouse having saved the 9th with a magnificent chip and put for a par, but with a gust of wind taking his second to the 10th into the left hand rough under a tree and a bunker preventing a direct shot to the flag he was unable to get up and down and lost the hole. 

A drive into the fairway bunker at the 11th hole cost a shot and he was two down. He then recovered to one down but was unable to make up the extra hole and the match finished with Sam Benton coming out the winner by one hole.  Congratulations to Sam.

The Seniors Matchplay Final was played between Barry Whitehouse (Bloxwich), the holder, and Glen MacBryde (Stone).  This was a very closely fought match with MacBryde being one hole up after 17 holes.  He then promptly drove OOB and they set off down the 1st extra hole where Barry Whitehouse was bunkered off the tee and unable to reach the green in two; MacBryde winning at the firsr extra hole.

The County are grateful to Little Aston for hosting the County Matchplay Championship.

Full details of the matches will be posted on the Results tab by the Secretary

There are some additional photos in the PICTURES section of this web site.