Cheshire representing the Northern Group won the inaugural English Seniors County Championship, against Northamptonshire representing the Midlands Group, Kent the South East Group, and Somerset the South West Group.

Captain's Report

Reflections on the inaugural Seniors County Finals 2004

As a result of a narrow win at the EGU Northern Region tournament at Heswall in July, Cheshire qualified to compete against Kent, Northamptonshire and Somerset at Minchinhampton Golf Club in the first week in October.

Our seven invited representatives were Colin Axon, Tom Dickinson, Rolfe Furmston, Phil Jones, George Payne, Roy Smethurst and Bob Walker. The format was to play two foursomes and five singles on each day of a round robin play off.

On the first day we beat Somerset 7-0 (with a particularly strong foursomes score from Colin and Tom). Worryingly some outsiders were heard to speculate about us proving our position as pre-tournament favourites.

We were up against Northants on day two. In spite of a mix up on the team sheet (senior moment!), and Colin needing the attentions of the medical staff to treat the effects of the food poisoning (which kept him out of the afternoon singles) we won 5-2. At the same time Kent and Somerset were battling away. With the score at 3-3 Somerset missed a putt to win the last single. The Kent man then rolled one in from 5 feet. A different outcome for either putt would have given Cheshire the Cup there and then.

Playing Kent on day three saw us one down in each of the foursomes on the eighteenth tee, but monstrous fairway shots by Phil and Tom resulted in conceded birdie fours and two halves. We therefore needed only two and a half more points to win. In the singles Roy secured the first point early on but not before George had won with some of the best scoring of the week. Bob, playing last, had always had the whip hand until the 17th when he was brought back to all square. A manful half on 18 gave Cheshire the title. In that half hour, team members and supporters suffered more excitement than they would normally endure in a whole year.

Roy played a maximum of 6 matches and remained unbeaten as the corner stone of a great team effort. The EGU set up a first class tournament that was a wonderful experience and a live illustration that senior’s golf is being played at a very high level and with great skill and commitment.

Roger Fielding

Cheshire Team

Detailed Results

Details of the individual matches and overall result are available on the EGU website, click the link below.

Pictures

Click to enlarge pictures