FIRST TEAM AT FRILFORD HEATH.

The Bedfordshire first team travelled to Frilford Heath on Sunday 8th May for the first league fixture of the season against B.B.&O.
After a very positive pre-season, expectations were high with the lads in a very confident mood, something we have perhaps lacked in the past but, after beating them at home in the last game of last season, it was now time to compete in the away fixture.
Norman Cilliers and Michael George took the honour for Bedfordshire in near perfect golfing conditions. The B.B.& O pair came out of the blocks fast with some quality golf, Norman and Michael held on over the front nine but couldn’t stay with them as the match progressed finally losing 4/3.
Scott Armitage and Harry Boyle out second looked solid in a very tight match going all the way to the last with the Bedfordshire pair coming out on top with a 1up win and levelling the score.
The newest additions to the squad of Ryan Smith and Ryan Craig went out third and these two under 18 players looked and played the part taking a fantastic 3/2 win.
Advantage Bedfordshire 2-1 up with the last foursomes out on the course, this proved to be very important as far as the match was concerned.
Last out team Captain Paul Kenna and Jack Hawksby in another very tight match, nothing in it over the front, but Paul and Jack nicked a couple early on the back and held on well to take a 2/1 win. A great foursomes’ performance, 3-1 up with the afternoon singles ahead.

The wind picked up for the start of the singles, we knew the B.B.&O lads would come at us in the afternoon, they seemed a bit shocked going in 3-1 down in the morning, so we were expecting a backlash.
Ryan Smith lead the way for Bedfordshire against a newly selected England player and Ryan produced some very solid golf to take the match to the last few holes but finally losing out 2/1.
Jack Hawksby out at two, Jack would need to be at his best to get anything from his playing partner and at his best he was taking a superb 3/1 win. Norman Cilliers at three and again the Bedfordshire regular produced the goods taking his match 2/1.
Things were looking good, three and a half points needed to win the match and two secured, but news travelled and our opponents seemed to find another gear.
A couple of the later matches had finished Michael George out at seven and Ryan Craig at eight both went down 3/2 and 4/3 respectively.
Scott Armitage out at four had progressed with his match taking it to the last and managed a battling half.
Paul Kenna out at five had also taken his match to the last few holes but again lost out 3/1.
At this point I thought we had lost the match, Harry Boyle had gone out at six but the last time I saw him he was five down after eleven but he was still on the course.
I soon found him to realise he was more than still in his match incredibly he had won the next five holes to bring his match back to all square with two to play.
Then on seventeen he slightly pushed his tee shot under a tree to the right of the fairway his partner in pole position centre of the fairway, his partner played first to the centre of green, twenty feet from the pin. Harry then produced a shot the great Seve would have been proud of playing, a low punch from about 120 yards running up the fairway to five feet.
His partner then two putted and Harry sank his putt for an incredible birdie to win his sixth hole in a row and secure at least a draw in the match. To the eighteenth and Harry after his incredible fight back, again found the trees on the left his partner again on the fairway. No shot for Harry just a chip out with his partner making a four Harry had thirty feet for his four and the match but it wasn’t to be, just missing.
What a match, a great morning for us and a great fight back from B.B.&O and some great golf.
After the initial disappointment and on reflection, it was a great performance with a B.B.&O side fielding four Frilford members and the odd England player, we had just drawn away against a very strong team.
We now take on the challenge of the Eastern Counties Foursomes at Seacroft on the 14th & 15th May we look forward and feel ready for this great golf weekend.

Dave Weedon.
First Team Manager.

Back to previous results