The last match in the Channel League season saw Devon travel to Trevose to take on the English County champions, Cornwall. With debuts for Saunton’s Paddy Towson, The Warren’s Chris McGill, and freshly crowned Order of Merit winner Tom Partridge of East Devon.

On a beautiful September morning, Cornwall made the early moves, holing putt after putt for the first 2 hours. With the first 3 matches finishing early, it was the Thompson brothers, Robbie and James making a stand, winning 5 and 3. Last match out on the course was Towson and McGill, and a great tee shot on the long par 3 16th by the latter meant the former could hole from 6 feet for birdie to go 2up. A par at the last closed out the match, and Devon were still in touch at lunch, 3-2 down.

The singles started in similar fashion to the foursomes, with Cornwall dominating on the greens, and dominating the early exchanges. Partridge, Jake Burnage, and Jack Philpotts, though playing well, were out-putted on the slick greens of Trevose. 6-2 to Cornwall, and Devon needed a lot to go its way in the final hour. But then there was hope. Adam Bridgewater, playing his 150th match for the county, won the last 2 holes to win 1up. Then Tom Trowbridge sealed a fine win on the 17th, and Chris Brown closed his match out at the last. But when Robbie Thompson fell 2 and 1, Cornwall were one point from victory. Chris McGill was walking in from the 13th green after a dominant 6 and 5 victory to make it 7-6 to our neighbours, but James Thompson was all square with 2 holes left, and Towson was 3 down.

Then something wonderful happened. Towson birdied 14, 15 and 16 to go all square, and Thompson hit a sublime wedge to 3 feet on the 17th. Suddenly the game was back on. Thompson closed the match out with a solid par on the last, and then Towson hit a trademark 340 yard drive up 18. The pressure was too much for his opponent, and the Saunton man didn’t have to putt out. It was a wonderful 8-7, fightback victory by a relatively inexperienced, but very gutsy Devon team, and a moment for the Captain to savour.

Many thanks to Trevose for being such superb hosts, to the Cornwall team for providing such excellent competition, and finally, to the Devon team, for providing the Captain with a day he will remember for a long time.

Back to previous results