TORQUAY WIN PARKER TROPHY

Phil Parker presents the Parker Trophy to Torquay Club Captain Peter Jeffery

What a brilliant day. For the first time in its history Torquay GC lifted the Parker Trophy County inter-club Scratch Team knockout defeating Tavistock 5½ points to 3½ in an enthralling final at Exeter. Former County President Phil Parker was on hand at the end of the day to present his Trophy to an absolutely delighted skipper Pete Jeffery, cheered on by his players, their caddies and supporters. Commiserations to an excellent Tavistock side, who contributed to a really fine game in the quality of their play and the spirit in which they competed.

The day did not begin well for Torquay. When Scott Davey holed from 10 feet for birdie at the 7^th it took he and Alan Gawman to 5 under par for their round and 5 up on Tim Aggett and Craig Passmore. A Torquay dropped shot at 8 and lost ball from an aggressive, birdie-chasing tee shot at 11 meant just a half at 12 secured the first point for Tavistock.

Fortunately, Torquay were in control of the last of the three morning foursomes, as Nathan Gilpin and Harry Thorne comprehensively outplayed Kenny McKenzie and Dave Turnbull, making an excellent birdie at the 14^th hole to close out the game 5/4.

All the attention turned to the remaining game, Will Farley and Steve Thorne playing Adam Bridgwater and Will Stenhouse. Bunker trouble for Tavistock at 12 put Torquay 1 up. 13 was halved in birdies, Steve reacting to Adam’s sensational approach by chipping dead. Torquay had a chance to go 2 up at the next, but a nasty short putt was missed so the hole was halved as were the next two, Adam holing an excellent 8-footer for half at 16. Adam again pitched brilliantly dead to the hole at 17, and although Steve also hit it close the short downhill birdie putt didn’t drop, so all square playing the last.

Neither pair could go for the par 5 green over the water in two, but Tavistock's third was mis-clubbed, leaving a very long uphill putt. Steve’s third just ran through the green but Will chipped back dead for par. Tavistock left the first putt 5 feet short and the next was missed, giving Torquay a vital 1 game advantage going into the afternoon singles session.

First up was Steve, playing County Men’s OOM Champion Bridgwater. Steve found himself down at the turn, but fought back strongly, under par for the back nine. Adam, though, is a terrific competitor, and whilst perhaps a little fortuitous with the helpful intervention of a big tree on a wayward second shot at the 18^th held off the charge to win 1 up. Nathan was out second playing Scott Davey, and by his own admission “putted the eyes out of it”. Scott did really well to hang in as Nathan made the hole look the size of a bucket, but a key 20-footer from the Torquay man at the 17^th sent him down the last 1 up. He made birdie to win that hole too, so 1 single each.

Third game saw Will Farley playing Alan Gawman. Will remained absolutely solid, producing a par golf performance which Alan simply couldn’t match. Will ran out a comfortable 5/4 winner, in the process capturing a very notable scalp. Behind them in the fourth game Harry Thorne was having a real battle with the hugely experienced Dave Turnbull, and the Tavistock man was not to be moved, winning 3/1.

All would come down to the last two games, Craig Passmore playing Chris Gawman & Tim Aggett playing Will Stenhouse. Both the Torquay players established good early leads, but the Tavistock guys showed real heart in fighting back. The short par 4 14^th looked to be pivotal in both games; Craig hooked his tee shot and the ball disappeared – being Craig he then hit another tee shot onto the green and holed the putt for an unlikely par, but Chris made a brave birdie to cut the deficit to just 1 hole. Behind Tim, 1 up at this point, saw his tee shot career into the hard face of a greenside bunker; arriving at the green the ball was found wedged between a bunker rake and the back lip of the bunker. Bogey was the result and back to level.

Both games halved the next two holes. At the 290-yard 17^th Craig hit his tee shot so far that it flew the green, the greenside bunkers on that hole and ended up in the greenside bunker on 8. Chris had hit a solid tee shot in the fairway in front of the green, and thought Craig’s position so difficult that he could even win the hole with a par 4. In the event Chris hit a good pitch within 15 feet of the hole, and stood back to watch what Craig would do.

The heavy rain of the previous days had made the bunkers really awkward. Although the greenstaff had been able to create a surface, it was sticky and difficult to make good contact. Not an issue for Craig, though. From a poor position he produced a stroke of the very highest quality, a bunker shot laden with spin which bounced once and hauled up within 4 feet of the hole. Chris thought he had made his birdie putt, his arm briefly in the air as it reached the hole, but the ball stayed out. Craig calmly holed out to win his match and the Trophy in real style.

Tim and Will hit their tee shots up the penultimate hole, but with the overall match decided shook hands on a friendly half to leave the final score 5½ - 3½

This has been very much a squad effort throughout the season, with as well as the six guys who played on Sunday notable contributions from Keith, James and Robbie Thompson, and from Lester Barnes, with VC Mark Passmore picking the teams and, importantly yesterday afternoon, the order of play. The team would also like to thank the many caddies and supporters who have come along to cheer the side on, not just yesterday at Exeter but in the four previous rounds as we fought our way to the Final.

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