GOLF: Cyder Cup outcome was more dramatic than the Ryder Cup!

THE Cyder Cup competition for the seniors at Cricket St Thomas Golf Club near Chard got underway last Monday (October 3, 2016).

The competition sees the captain challenge the vice-captain to three days of golf which includes a greensome contest on the first day, followed by a four-ball-better-ball leg and a singles match on the final day.

On Monday, 44 seniors started the proceedings and two early victories saw the captain’s team take the lead. The vice-captains' team hit back in games six and seven to level the scores and in the penultimate game took the lead.

A dramatic final game went to the wire with Ian Griffiths/Geoff Dean playing for the captain managing to win by the smallest margin of one point on the 18th green.

So the first leg of the competition finished all square at 51/2 – 5 1/2.

Results (captain’s team first): Bloys & Branchflower beat Heath & Hughes; Denning & Skeels beat Markby & Withers; Paolini & Roy lost to Wallace & Anderson; Barrow & Dawson beat Stevens & N Hodder; Dowell & Pope halved with Stone & Gage; Dewar & B Hodder lost to Hone & Frost; Arnold & Stephens lost to Forster & Singleton; Burt & Fisk lost to Pearce & Wallis; Fielder & Hill beat Willerton & Hunt; Dobson & Hall lost to Potter & Hilson; Griffiths & Dean beat Hollingsworth & Mosser.

More drama was to unfold on Wednesday (October 5, 2016) which started with a win for the vice-captain when Bert Robinson beat Mike Dawson in the first game in the four-ball-better-ball section.

The match see-sawed and after eight games, it was tied at 4 – 4. With the scores standing at 5 1/2 – 6 1/2, both sets of supporters surrounded the 18th green eagerly awaiting the outcome of the final game.

PHOTO – TOP: Seniors vice-captain Roger Stone (left) being presented with the Cyder Cup from seniors captain Nick Hill.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Anyone wanting more information about Cricket St Thomas Golf Club – click on their adverts on the homepage of this website.

Eventually, Peter Spencer-Farr and Geoff Dean emerged victorious for the captain’s team to level the scores at 6 1/2 – 6 1/2. After the second day, both sides were locked at 12 – 12.

Results (captain’s team first): Mike Dawson lost to Bert Robinson; Bloys & Skeels beat Stone & Pearce; Dewar & Fisk lost to Willerton & Bareham; Barrow & Branchflower beat Markby & Mosser; Flower beat McOmish; Dowell & Stenhouse lost to Stevens & Gage; Burt & Fielder lost to Wallace & Hughes; Denning & Hall beat Martin & Singleton; Dobson & Roy beat Hilson & Anderson; Arnold & B Hodder halved with Hone & Beale; Paolini & Gane lost to Forster & Wallis; Griffiths & Hill lost to Walgrove & Frost; Spencer-Farr & Dean beat Hollingsworth & Hunt.

The final round was held on Friday (October 7, 2016) with 22 games played in the singles leg. This started badly for the captain, losing the first three games.  After 14 games, the situation remained the same with the scores standing at 5 – 9.

A remarkable comeback by the captain’s team took the score to 8 – 9 after 17 games. With the 18th game seemingly going in favour of the vice-captain, Ian Griffiths, produced the shot of the day when he chipped in from 150 yards for an eagle 2 at the 17th hole to snatch a half.

However, with three wins in succession, the vice-captain triumphed in game 20 with the magic figure of 24 being reached.

Although the captain’s team won the final two games, the result was 24 – 22 in favour of the vice-captain who retained the trophy.