Inter Club Match v The Essex Away May 2009
The Essex course was in lovely condition and with the ball sitting up on the fairway and the greens running true, good scores were possible today. Unfortunately for the Stoke players it was the home team who took advantage of the conditions to inflict a 7 & 1 defeat on the visitors.
The Captain, playing with John Simpson lost 6 & 4 to an in form Ray Mabbutt and Steve Park. After 12 holes, Steve, pictured on the left ,was 1 over par and on the 12th Ray putted in from 35ft and on another hole hit the flag from off the green to see it stop 1ft from the hole.
Dave Wyllie and Graham Soar worked hard in the strong cold wind but lost 4 & 2. Graham, seen here trying to get into a strait-jacket, may have had a restricted swing today.
Dave Austin and Colin Ladley suffered the heaviest defeat of the day, losing 7 & 6 to John White and Ernst Midl. Ernst was awarded the 'Bandit of the Day' prize by Capt. Ray Mabbutt. After 12 holes he had scored 30pts!!
John King and Robin Tyrrell were very close to halving their match but a putt that finished a whisker away from the hole meant they lost 2 & 1.
Mike Isom and Tony Hakins and Richard Gregory and David Hunter lost their respective matches 3 & 2. Mike was apparently showing a great deal of interest in the many trees on the course and something unknown caused David Hunter to have a 'don't talk to me' look on his face when he came in.
Graham Head and Dave Ferdinand were 2 up with 4 to play but were unable to hold on to their lead and lost by 1. Dave took something positive from the day when he said he hit a 7 iron 155yds to the centre of one of the greens. Is he the man to put money on winning the Summer Singles KO!!
Finally the Stoke-by-Nayland stars of the show today, Tom MacKinlay and Ian Kent. By winning 2 & 1 they prevented a whitewash and saved the Captain having to prepare a resignation speech. Thanks boys. Your efforts will not be forgotten.
May has been a bad month for Stoke Veterans' with all 4 away matches lost. (23 1/2 to 8 1/2). In fact we have lost all our Away matches so far. We have some Home matches to look forward to in June so things will get better.