On an overcast, muggy day, we entertained Essex at Aspley Guise & Woburn Sands GC. Looking forward to a good match we got together in good spirits anticipating a positive outcome.

Our league this year has been very tight, with Hertfordshire and BB&O remaining very strong but Essex growing and having an excellent season, beating BB&O 6 - 4, halving their match with Hertfordshire, and hammering Middlesex 8 – 2!

So, we knew we were in for a tough time but remained positive, as Aspley is one of the venues we have most success at. As you would expect for their last game of the season, they put out the strongest 10 players they had. As usual, we had an excellent team turning out, all willing to give of their best for the team.

The result, a 6 – 4 win to Essex could have been much closer. Phil White out 3^rd made a great birdie on 17^th to go 1up, but he sadly 3 putted 18^th to settle for a half. Ian Chivers followed this up with (according to his playing partner) ‘a devastating display of chipping and putting’ to win 4&2. Then out at 6^th was our debutante Dave Banwell. Dave enjoyed his 1^st County Seniors match by beating big hitting Kevin Saunders 4&3, welcome to the group Dave and well done!

I followed Dave and played steady par golf (with the odd birdie) winning 6&5. Charlie Snelling had a good close match but went down 18^th 1 down. A fighting finish with a great chip from just off the green to within a foot, gave him the hole and a good half. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t sustain the momentum and lost the last 2 matches after being level at 4 – 4.

We go to Hendon to face Middlesex on 4^th September in a positive frame of mind, hoping to finish a really good season with a win!

Steve Montague

Seniors Captain

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