A FINE WEEK FOR DEVON GIRLS AT SW INTER-COUNTIES' CHAMPIONSHIPS

Carlyon Bay Golf Club is just  the most glorious venue - the sunshine and the sea views and the golf course stretching before you, inviting you to launch your golf ball was a sight to behold over 3 days at the South West Girls' Inter Counties Championship. 

The DevonGolf team has been working hard towards this event. The team, captained by Carys Morris, ranged in age from 12 to 17 and handicaps 0-27.
Susie Carr (5.8) Exminster Golf Club
Ruby Davis (8.5) Saunton Golf Club
Chloe Hall (9.3) Exeter Golf & Country Club
Carys Morris (5.9) Tiverton & Portmore Golf Clubs
Gudrun Nolan (0.0) East Devon Golf Club
Sophie Page (1.5) East Devon Golf Club
Hannah Reynolds (8.4) Exeter Golf & Country Club
Belle Tarr (9.5 ) Churston Golf Club
Flossy Voaden (11.9) Exeter Golf & Country Club
Rosie Arnold (26.7 - Reserve) Teignmouth Golf Club

The format is gruelling with Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire playing each other over 2½ days. Including a practice round on the Sunday, this meant some of the girls played 108 holes in 4 days. There are 2 foursomes matches and 3 singles over 18 holes in the morning and again with a different county in the afternoon - in the hottest weather conditions they could experience. Arriving on the Sunday and straight out for a practice round, spirits were high. As one of the lowest handicapped counties, the shot situation was always going to be a challenge for the Devon girls and the first match demonstrated that with the Devon girls giving a collective 35 shots over the 5 games. Our first foursomes pairing was Chloe Hall & Flossie Voaden who unfortunately lost their match 3/2 to a very strong Wiltshire pairing off 5 and 24. The second pairing of Ruby Davis and Hannah Reynolds met even stiffer opposition to lose 5/3, but with some fantastic golf shots on display. The first in the singles was Gudrun Nolan who won her match 4/3 to lift the team spirits. Sophie Page followed suit with a win on the 18th after giving 7 shots and Carys Morris fought hard, giving 15 shots, and narrowly missing out on a halved match to lose on the 18th to a birdie from her opposition who it seems played the best game of her life. The first match win therefore went to Wiltshire 3-2.

Time for lunch and a break from the sun. A visit from Jon Axford, the Girls' Coach, was very well timed as he delivered a rousing pep talk to inspire the girls to move past the morning's games and look forward to the next. Leading the team out in the afternoon was Hannah Reynolds paired with Belle Tarr (in her first Inter-Counties appearance). It was a very close run match with the girls losing 1 down. Chloe Hall & Flossy Voaden came back to even the score with an impressive 5/4 win, despite giving a whopping 13 shots. Gudrun Nolan was the first up for the singles, winning 3/1 with some incredible golf. Sophie Page had a tough match and lost after giving 8 shots but young Susie Carr played some fantastic golf to win 4/2. The final result was a Devon win 3-2. The end of Day 1 was 1 win and 1 loss, not too bad a start for Devon.

Overnight, Cornwall were leading with 1½  points from Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset with 1 point and a ½ point  for Gloucestershire.

Day 2 saw Devon take on Dorset. Hannah Reynolds was re-paired with Ruby Davis and they had a comfortable 5/3 win. Chloe and Flossy lost 3/1 to a very strong pairing. Gudrun halved her singles match, performing under pressure and winning the last 2 holes. Carys lost 3/1 in another tough match and a very composed Susie Carr won 5/3. None of the scores can show the quality of golf played by all the girls, winning or losing, the standard was stunning. It was a 2½ -2½ draw for a ½ point for both Devon and Dorset.

But the day wasn't over and the next match against the overnight leaders Cornwall needed some fast team selection decisions. Straight from their morning win, Hannah and Ruby played a great game but lost out on the 17th green. Sophie Page was teamed with Belle Tarr who played a strong Cornish pairing and lost 6/4. In the singles Gudrun halved her match, with another exciting 18th hole. Susie, struggling a little with injury and playing a very experienced Cornish player lost 5/3. Chloe Hall played her first singles match and brought home a fantastic 4/2 win finishing strongly with a birdie on 16. Experience and course knowledge really did win out on the day and It was a good win for Cornwall 3½ to 1½. 

The overnight scores showed Cornwall holding on to first place with 3½ points, Dorset 2½, Somerset 2, Devon and Gloucestershire 1½ and Wiltshire 1 point. Going into the final day it was clear that Devon couldn't win but there were still points out there to win and strategic team picks were made. The match was against Gloucestershire and Hannah chose the 5 girls who leave the Girls' Team at the end of the year - moving into the Women's First and Second Teams. Gudrun Nolan and Team Captain Carys Morris led the Foursomes winning 3/2, Chloe Hall and Flossy Voaden followed winning 4/3. Ruby Davis led the singles to win 3/2 and Hannah Reynolds won 4/3. All 5 of the leavers from the class of 2022 went out on a winning high. Last out for the team and playing her first singles match for Devon was 12 year old Belle Tarr. It was a nervous start for the young player who quickly went 4 down. After a quick pep talk and some words of encouragement from me at the back of the 6th tee (and the continued support from her non-playing team mates who walked with her to show their support), Belle hit a cracking tee shot right up the hill and began an incredible fight back. Belle brought it back to just 1 down with 2 holes to go. With the entire team and Devon supporters watching it was an intimidating 17th hole. A great par hole from Belle's opponent, Neve Jefferies (fresh from her Hole in One the day before) was just too much for our young player and she lost the match 2/1 but gained a great golfing and character building experience that will prepare her for even greater success in the team in the years to come.

The worthy winners were Cornwall with 4½ points, Dorset in second place with 3½ and Devon were a very fine third with 2½ points. Full scores from the 3 days click here

Carlyon Bay Golf Club were simply the best hosts anyone could wish for. The course was magnificent in the most difficult of summers and the sea views were spectacular. The clubhouse staff are to be praised for the exceptional patience and hard work over 3 gruelling and long days. Mr Brennan (Clubhouse Manager), whilst not serving food, supplying endless bowls of chips, sorting drinks and rearranging the furniture, took some fantastic photographs out on the course which were rolling through on the big screens after each day. It was a lovely touch amongst the many that all the staff at Carlyon Bay Golf Club gave to all 6 counties. Mel Nile (Cornwall Girls' Team Manager) also needs a very special mention.Her work in the lead up to the competition and throughout really was clear to see. To host this event and manage the winning team is a truly fantastic achievement - something I would love to replicate next year when we host in Devon!

All of this would not be possible without the dedication and support of the parents and supporters - we had a squad of 10 players but a team of over 35 over the fews days helping in many ways - from storing our trollies to replenishing our supplies - the girls couldn't have achieved what they did without you.

My special thanks go to:

Pam St Leger (DevonGolf Vice President) in her first experience of the Girls' Inter-Counties for her work as starter and supporting the girls, especially with the supply of doughnuts! Paul Cloke for his continued support for the girls and coming down to watch (and for coming back on the 2nd day as it was so good!). Jon Axford (DevonGolf Girls' County Coach) - Jon has only been working with the girls for 1 season but he has just been fantastic in raising their games, preparing them and helping them bond as a team. His calm and considered attitude and approach really did fire the girls up after that first morning loss, changing the game for them and moving forward in the competition. Vicky Holloway (Women's 2nd Team Manager) thanks for all your help, too much to list here! I certainly couldn’t have done it without you - having your experience is vital - especially when coming up with some alternative approaches to team selections. Wendy & Rosie thanks for all your help and support for the girls and for keeping me sane in the evenings and ensuring I had a well earned glass of something in my hand whilst making those tough team choices.

The amazing Devon team spirit cannot be put into words - we were by far the loudest on the tee every match, showing our support for each other. Each girl was there for the other, the camaraderie and fun between the matches was amazing and we were complemented numerous times by our opponents on our attitude and approach to the game whether we won or lost - we did so with respect. It's a great example of the way golf forges great character and helps form great friendships that we hope last a lifetime.

It really is a privilege to manage these girls and see them progress on and off the course so from me to all the girls thank you for the opportunity - it really is worth all the ’time to relax’ warnings on my smart watch!!

If you are reading this and know of any girls that would like the chance to be a part of this please do get in touch. The Development Squad is set up for girls with handicaps 24 and above, please contact Brian Newman juniordevelopment@devongolf.org.uk. For those girls under 24, please contact me, girlsmanager@devongolf.org.uk.

Hannah Stephens
Girls' Team Manager

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