South Secure Title in 2014 Golfshake North vs South

Old rivalries were renewed as Team South broke their four year hiatus by winning the 2014 Golfshake North Vs South 10 - 8 ½ at The Warwickshire Golf and Country Club.

The contest was another close fought battle between the two sides which was played in early torrential conditions with wind and heavy rain battering the players during the morning greensomes and into the start of the afternoon fourballs.

Team North came into this year’s event in high spirits, holding the trophy since 2009 and winning five out of the six events where the trophy has been up for grabs, however the narrow 10-9 loss last year left Team South reeling and they came into this year’s event in confident fashion.

Morning greensomes

With 13 matches ready to brave the elements, half a point was on offer for a win in the 9-hole greensomes and Team South came out of the blocks quickly to win the first three matches to establish an early lead. Team North had to wait until match four to register their first point with John Flood and Gary Thomson winning a decisive match 1up on the last. Team North would get back within half a point with a win in game five but that was the closest they came all morning as Tim Greaves and Alex Clarke delivered Team South’s biggest win of 4&3 in game six to pull further away.

Only two out of the 13 matches ended all-square as the back-nine on the Earls Course provided a good challenge for the greensome format.

The Team South pairings of Andrew Guyton and Colin Ainsworth along with James Wilson and Kevin Swain won matches nine and 11 respectively to increase their team’s lead to an unattainable 1 ½ points with two matches remaining out on the course.

Dave Kitchen and David Douglas added on another half a point for Team South in game 12 before Glen Curwood and Dean Wood gave Team North a vital win with a 4&3 victory over Mark Jackson and Jon Wood.

End of morning session - Team North 2 – 3 ½ Team South

Afternoon fourballs

It was a quick turnaround for the players as The Warwickshire’s Kings Course was ready to challenge the players in what would turn out to be another close contest reminiscent of the scenes last year.

Team North Captain Chris Perry knew his side needed a quick start if they stood any chance in retaining the trophy:

“We were a bit further behind after the morning greensomes than I’d have liked but I told my team to just concentrate on winning their match and being matchplay you just never know what could happen.”

Perry heeded his own words as alongside Adam Smith won match one 6&5 to avenge a morning defeat to Team South Captain Daniel Alvarez and Shane Davis.

The second match out saw familiar names pit their wits against each other with Dave Ley and Pete Nash winning 2&1 over rivals Martin Millichip and Tim Hawkins.

As the morning weather subsided it was much calmer conditions going into the back nine in the afternoon and the good weather was followed by even better golf as the score swayed both ways with matches finishing all over the inward nine.

Matches three, four, five and six went very much Team North’s favour as they won 3 ½ points out of a possible 4 to take the lead for the first time in the event. Match three was certainly the one to watch as Team North’s Stuart Laws and Michael Hopkins stood on the 12th tee 6up over Dan Greaves and Indy Jassal only for Team South to win the next five holes and halve one to go down the last 1down. Laws and Hopkins eventually won 2up.

Momentum was certainly with Team North at this point as match seven came down the last with Team North leading 6 ½ - 5. The tide would begin to turn for Team South as Colin Astbury and Simon Overland broke their losing duck by claiming an unlikely victory over Ian Roberts and Phil Eadsforth 1up. There was drama on the 18th fairway as Overland’s second shot found long grass and after a long search they thought the ball was dead. With Astbury out of the hole Overland began to walk back to play his fourth shot until Astbury found his partner’s ball which meant Overland came running back down the fairway. He got up and down to snatch a 1up victory from the clutches of Team North.

That good fortune was certainly a catalyst to a Team South revival as they would win five out of the last seven matches left out on the course. Behind Astbury and Overland, Matt Wabe and Matt Holbrook wrapped up an early win over Robin Vidlar and Robert Haynes 6&4, and another early point would come in match nine as Guyton and Ainsworth made it two wins from two on the day with a 5&4 victory over Ron Sloane and Ian Arnold.

Another twist in the proceedings came as match ten went to Team North with Scott Nicol and Jason Allsebrook defeating Clive Dakin and Richard Lane 4&3. Around the same time, the last match of the day was coming to a premature ending as Team North’s pairing of the day Curwood and Wood claimed the highest winning margin of the day with a 7&6 victory to put Team North back in front 8 ½ - 8 with two matches still out on the course.

Both matches finished pretty much at the same time as on the 17th green Wilson and Swain claimed the 2&1 scalp of unbeaten North pair Kevin Shearsby and Lorna Jackson and over the pond on the 16th green it was time for Team South to start celebrating as Kitchen and Douglas completed a 4&2 win over Alan Davison and Peter Wilson to make the final score Team North 8 ½ - 10 Team South.

Winning Team South captain Alvarez was delighted with the way his team held on for victory and praised the event itself:

“It’s an amazing feeling to be a winning captain, it was so tight out there especially towards the end but to come away with the victory for only the second time in the history of the tournament is fantastic and credit to my players out there.

“This event, if you ask anyone playing, is one they look forward to throughout the year. The format is different each year, it’s fun, yes it’s competitive but it’s great to play against the guys from Golfshake that I’ve made good friends with and it’s even better to beat some of them.”

Losing captain Perry spoke of his disappointment at losing but couldn’t fault his players efforts:

“I’m gutted obviously to be losing the trophy to the South but full credit to my players who fought for it all the way. There were a lot of unbeaten partnerships out there today which I obviously wanted out there at the start of the day and the South also had pairings out there that had never won together, so you can never plan for things like that but as Daniel (Alvarez) said earlier it was so tight it could have gone either way coming down the stretch.

“I stood and watched about four matches come down the last which is a testament to both the players and the course which was fantastic but congratulations to the South and we’ll be back next year to win it back.”

After the event players heaped praise on both courses saying for a matchplay event it was perfect, especially the final three holes on the Kings Course that offers up risk and reward shots that can turn matches on its head.

Golfshake Director Darren Ramowski echoed their sentiments and praised some of the golf he saw out there:

“I’m really pleased with how the event went and big congratulations to Team South who fully deserve their victory. The weather during the morning and at the start of the afternoon session was testing so full credit to all the players as it didn’t dampen any spirits. There was still good banter flying about and some of the golf was fantastic. The teams fought for every point which made it so tight just like last year.

“Looking at the Team South players when they realised they’d won made me smile as you saw how much it meant to them having not won for so long - it’ll only make for an even great event next year.”

Final score - Team North 8 ½ - 10 Team South