Surrey Golf
Surrey 1st Team on a high after back to back wins
Our previous three wins and the considerable points difference accrued meant that a draw or even a marginal defeat would be enough for our third league title in a row. The team only had one change from the previous weekend with Ben Palmer replacing Ben Partridge who had headed off to San Francisco to start at his new school. We wish him all the best.
The team was as follows:
- David Corben (Captain)
- Harvey Byers
- Charlie Crockett
- Harry Crockett
- Terry Nicholls
- Ben Palmer
- Aadam Syed
- Harry Uzzell
Farnham was presented in fantastic condition with the recent dry heat leading to a firm fast course. The courses array of short par 4's and par 5's presented an exciting match-play set up. As always, we must thank them for their hospitality over the whole of the weekend.
Aadam Syed and Terry Nicholls once again led out the side and with birdies exchanged on the front nine, the score was A/S through ten holes. Unfortunately, Surrey would miss three shortish putts in a row and could not manage to recover the deficit, eventually succumbing to a 2&1 loss.
Charlie Crockett and Harvey Byers continued where they left off the previous weekend and after another ruthless display brought the scores level with a 3&2 victory. Two weekends of foursomes' golf without a bogey was mighty impressive and would be rarely beaten.
Harry Crockett and Ben Palmer occupied the third match and found the going tough making the turn a few holes down. With the final match of David Corben and Harry Uzzell slowly increasing their lead going 3up through the 11th it was looking likely that at lunch the score would be 2-2.
Harry and Ben's predicament was not helped at the 13th when their opponents chipped in to go 4up with five to play. Two great shots into the par 5 14th got one back and a solid par at the 15th reduced the deficit to two with three to go. As they headed up the 16th the final match reached the 15th and was finished with the final margin a 4&3 victory, 2-1 to Surrey.
Another excellent approach from Harry resulted in a birdie at the 16th and the deficit was now only one. A solid par at the tough 17th resulted in a tied match going up the par 5 18th hole where Harry, after another solid drive from Ben, produced one of the shots of the year. A 4 iron from 216 yards to the heart of the green, two putts later and one of the great county comebacks had taken place, winning 1up. The score line at lunch read Surrey 3, Kent 1.
The league was now all but wrapped up with Surrey only requiring one point from the eight singles to mathematically win the league. However, at lunch the target was set to keep up our run of having not lost a session all summer, and with it a perfect record of 4 wins from 4 matches.
Aadam Syed once again led the singles out, and quickly found his rhythm which he had slightly lacked in the morning. His experienced opponent, Liam Burns, a highly successful player in his own right had no answer for Aadam's power and guile and Surrey were quickly on the board with a 4&3 victory.
We would secure another point from Harvey Byers in match three with a solid 2&1 victory extending Harvey's 100% record this summer. However, Charlie would go down fighting 3&2 with his opponent Conner Bell putting together an excellent round.
Terry Nicholls outplayed his experienced counterpart from tee to green but his opponent, Ed Richardson, fresh off a morning where he hit virtually zero putts would make the footage where it mattered. Standing on the 18th tee Kent were 1up and after executing the hole perfectly Terry picked up his marker and conceded the match, a 2up victory to Kent. Simultaneously Kent would win match five, with Ben Palmer, potentially running out of steam after his morning's endeavours going down by a score line of 2&1 to his young opponent.
At this point the score read 5-4 to Surrey and the league was guaranteed no matter what happened. Harry Uzzell continued his excellent run this summer cruising to a 3&2 victory and completing a perfect 8 from 8 record in the four league matches. With Harry Crockett dormie two up the victory was assured but Harry would finish it in style holing a lengthy birdie putt at the 17th to finish the match off 3&1.
All players awaited the final match as two old counterparts, David Corben and Danny Jones battled it out. Through the 13th Danny stretched his lead to 3up but an uncharacteristic drive off the 14th allowed a hole back. After a solid par at 15 the Surrey captain thought he had reduced the deficit further but a 30ft bomb from the Kent player kept his lead at two and that is where the match would finish with Kent winning 2&1.
The final score of the match Surrey 7, Kent 5 with the singles drawn four apiece. Surrey finished the season with 4 wins from 4, 34.5 points out of a possible 48, and having never lost a session.
We thank Farnham for their hospitality and as a team, thank John Noble, Jim Christine, Simon Crockett and Steve McNeill for their work behind the scenes.
The 1st team now go on to face the winners of the Northern division on October 2nd at Letchworth GC. The week prior the 1st team represent the South-East sector in the EGU National Finals at Royal Norwich aiming to be the first Surrey team to become national champions since 2004.
David Corben
County 1st Team Captain
From left to right
Simon Crockett (board member) Steve McNeill (County Secretary), Jim Christine (Surrey Coach), Terry Nicholls, Harry Crockett, Harvey Byers, Ben Palmer, Aadam Syed, David Corben (Captain), Harry Uzzell, Charlie Crocket, David Primrose, John Noble (Surrey Lead coach)
Charlie Crockett teeing off the first with the Farnham Captain
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