DEVONGOLF
DevonGolf County Championships 2019
This was a first! After 200 years of men’s and ladies’ golfing in Devon, 2019 saw the first combined Men’s & Ladies’ County Championships held over the same weekend.
Exeter Golf & Country Club hosted this prestigious event and DevonGolf are hugely grateful to the staff, both indoors and out, and the members who gave up their course for the finest of Devon's golfers. Exeter Golf & Country Club is the 2019 winner of the England Golf “Most Welcoming Club of the Year” and demonstrated this weekend just why they had won that award
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20 Devon clubs were represented and the two fields saw 84 of the best golfers in Devon come together to play their respective 36 hole Gold Medal competitions.reflecting the depth of talent across the county.
Day 1 was all about the Gold Medals for both men and ladies. 36 holes of medal play to find the top 8 players to qualify for the matchplay rounds on Sunday. After 18 holes home player Dan Dobson (Exeter) who made it into the field as reserve due to his 5 handicap, found himself in front with a superb round of 65, Matt Millar (Dainton Park) and Nathan Gilpin (Torquay) were 1 shot behind. Lewis Beer scored 67, George Robinson 69, Max Parsons, Fred Bishop and Max Harrington all scored 70 – 5 players all from Exeter Golf & CC and right in the mix.
Round 2 in the afternoon saw some changes to the leaderboard. Finishing in first place was Nathan Gilpin (Torquay) with a 72 to follow his 66 in the morning finishing level on 138 to become the winner of the prestigious Gold Medal. Tied in 2nd place were Luke Radford (Teignmouth) who shot a 69 in the afternoon for a total 140 and Matt Millar (Dainton Park) posting a 74 to finish on the same number, Round 1 leader Daniel Dobson (Exeter slipped back with a second round of 75 for a gross 140 but still finishing in the top 4 on countback. 7 men finished with a total of 142 to tie in 5th place. These were Tom Woodhouse (Exeter), Craig Passmore (Torquay), Harrison King (Staddon Heights), Jay Scott (Tiverton), Bradley Scott (Tiverton), Jack Pope (Exeter) and Max Parsons (Exeter). The top 4 already decided would go on to play the semi finals of the DevonGolf County Championship and countback decided places 5-8 to go through to Day 2 for the semi-finals of the Wish Slater Salver.
Round 1 & Round 2 full results sheet click here
The ladies also keenly contested the Day 1 36 hole Gold Medal competition. Chloe Howard (Boringdon Park) led the way in round 1 with a gross 71. Julia Norman (Warren) scored 74 and Emily Morey (East Devon) 80 with Lauren Pearce (Woodbury Park) just 1 shot behind with 81. Keeley Clarke (Torquay) and Lesley Pascoe (Stover) were joint 5th with gross 82, Abigail Turner 7th with gross 83 and Carys Morris (Portmore Park) in tied 8th place with a gross 84 with Charlotte Husband (Exeter) and Lexi Dart (Churston).
The afternoon saw a change of fortune for some and Abigail Turner (Okehampton) led the way with a gross 72 and the second best round 2 score was Chloe Howard (Boringdon Park) with a 77. Emily Morey and Abigail Moyes both had rounds of 78. Helena Standen (Saunton) brought herself into the mix for Sunday with a 79, Lauren Pearce (Woodbury Park) also qualified for Sunday with a second round of 80. Keeley Clarke (Torquay) finished 6th with a combined total of 163 but because of an elbow injury had to withdraw. Lesley Pascoe (Stover) scored 82 in round 2 and this qualified her for the next day. Carys Morris (Portmore Park) completed her 2 rounds with a total of 165 to finish in 9th place. Keeley’s withdrawal brought Carys into the frame but after much deliberation with her Dad, she decided not to take up the place thereby passing on the opportunity to Helena Standen (Saunton) to fill that 8th slot for Day 2. It was Chloe Howard from Boringdon Park who's rounds of 71 & 77 made her the winner of the DevonGolf Ladies' Gold Medal.
Round 1 & Round 2 full results sheet click here
The Men’s Team trophy was won by Torquay Golf Club by Nathan Gilpin, Craig Passmore and Peter Bicknell with a combined score of 424 which was just 10 over par with Exeter finishing second.
Sunday (Day 2) dawned bright and clear and the Men’s President's Stableford was played. Jack Pope (Exeter) carded an impressive 66 to claim the scratch Cooper Cup. Scott Pymm (Torquay) claimed the nett prize and President's Trophy with a solid 38 points.
The ladies' Lloyd Williams Salver semi finals saw Lauren Pearce (Woodbury) beat Helena Standen (Saunton) 3 & 1. Abigail Moyes (Saunton) beat Lesley Pascoe (Stover) 7 & 6.
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Lauren Pearce & Helena Standen | Lesley Pascoe & Abbie Moyes |
The afternoon final for the Lloyd Williams Salver between Lauren and Abbie Moyes went in Lauren's favour as she clinched the Lloyd Williams Salver 4 & 3.
The men’s Wish Slater Salver semi finals saw Tom Woodhouse (Exeter) beaten by Jay Scott (Tiverton) by 1 hole. Craig Passmore (Torquay) beat Harrison King (Exeter) 2 & 1.
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Jay Scott & Tom Woodhouse | Craig Passmore & Harrison King |
The afternoon final for the Wish Slater final between Jay and Craig saw Craig taking the title from Jay 4 & 3.
That left the DevonGolf County Championships semi finals. The first ladies’ match between Chloe Howard (Boringdon Park) and Emily Morey (East Devon) was a 5 & 4 win for Chloe. Abigail Turner (Okehampton) took Julia Norman (Warren) down the 19th only to be beaten by par after missing the green with her second on the first extra hole.
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Emily Morey & Chloe Howard | Abby Turner & Julia Norman |
The afternoon final between Julia and Chloe was nip and tuck early on but Julia’s steady play saw her emerge as the winner 3 & 2 and crowned Ladies' DevonGolf Champion 2019. Julia was thrilled as she has won the Gold Medal 3 times but had not got her hands on the Championship Cup. Julia's mum, Anne Norman is currently the DevonGolf Ladies' Captain and her daughters success has made her captaincy year even more special!
The men’s DevonGolf County Championships semi finals was between top qualifier Nathan Gilpin (Torquay) and Dan Dobson (Exeter). Nathan clinched his place in the final 4 & 2. Luke Radford (Teignmouth) played Matt Millar (Dainton Park) who was beaten by just 1 hole, taking Matt into the final to meet Nathan.
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Nathan GIlpin & Dan Dobson | Luke Radford & Matt Millar |
The afternoon’s final between Nathan and Matt was all square after 9 holes. Eventually Matt got ahead and found himself 2 up with 2 to play as they went down the 17th but Nathan kept the game alive with a superb birdie to win the hole. Matt was now 1 up going down the last. Nathan’s drive was long but right and behind a tree . Matt’s iron off the tee was a little shorter but down the middle and his next shot was similar giving him a pitch to the green. Nathan needed to come out a little sideways to get back onto the fairway for his next shot to the green. His third safely over the water but just missed the green to the left. A steady 3rd shot from Matt saw him to the right just beyond pin high but safely on the green. A good chip from Nathan 5 feet from the hole gave Matt 2 putts to win the match, however the first putt slipped by. Nathan then holed leaving Matt the 3 footer back, which he didn’t miss and was crowned the Men's DevonGolf County Champion 2019. A dunking in the lake by the 18th quickly followed his victory - but he came out smiling!
The first combined men’s and ladies’ championships was a great success and DevonGolf thanks the Exeter G & CC staff and members for hosting this inaugural event.