DEVON MEN FIRST TEAM LOSE TO A STRONG SOMERSET TEAM AWAY IN THE CHANNEL LEAGUE

The Devon Men’s First Team began their 2023 Channel League campaign with two April fixtures, the first away to Somerset on 2nd April.

Devon travelled to Burnham & Berrow as a late venue change was needed following heavy storms that breached the sea wall, limiting Weston-Super-Mare Golf Club to sixteen holes. We thank Somerset Golf Union and Burnham & Berrow Golf Club for accommodating the fixture at such late notice, the compromise being that the foursomes would be two loops of 9-holes around the Channel Course, with the singles played over the Championship Course in the afternoon.

Two loops around the Channel Course were not enough to separate matches 1&2 as both finished all square. These matches had for some time been favouring Somerset, particularly in match 2, but a fightback from Saunton pair Jon Sutherland and Stan White saw them scrape a well-earned half.

Match 3 saw Jay Scott and Peter Howell play excellent and relatively error free foursomes golf which gave them a 1-up lead on the driveable short 18th hole. Pete’s drive found the hollow short and right of the green, steeply below the surface and in an old divot. With Somerset chipping first to 5 feet, Jay needed to produce a brilliant escape to secure a full point. A fully committed pitch shot landed softly and rolled up to 2 feet. Somerset converted but Pete calmly followed suit to secure a winning birdie on the last.

Matches 4 and 5 were down early against some very solid foursomes play from experienced Somerset pairings. Scott Pym, playing his first match alongside Ryan Acres, holed some good late putts to take the match to the 18th, but another Somerset birdie on the last confirmed a 2-hole win.

Match 5 was the only match to not play the full 18 holes, with hugely experienced local stalwart Justin Lane steering Somerset to a comfortable 6-5 win. It was 3-2 to Somerset at lunch and all to play for in the afternoon's singles.

Singles play was in 4 balls and the early holes favoured Somerset in almost all groups on the course. Playing from the green tees, some fine putting saw Somerset record birdies early on to give them commanding leads. Saunton’s Sutherland and White left themselves a lot to do on as they turned for home. White fell early to a confident looking Huxley Howell. Sutherland was winning on the back 9 to draw level on the 16th. It was all square going down the last and seemed destined for ½ point when a Somerset birdie from 30 feet on the 18th secured them a full point.

Exeter’s Peter Howell was up in his match against the hugely experienced local member Phil White. This match continued to be a high-quality affair and Pete’s fine play saw him leave Burnham with 2 points and full of confidence after two fine wins over White.

The middle order behind were up against it with Somerset’s highly ranked youngster Freddie Turnell showing great form, particularly on the greens, to dispatch Pym 5-3.

Another player having a fine day on the greens was Somerset’s Craig Adams playing Jack Jeffery. Craig dropped a number of long putts, with a 40-footer on 11, particularly important with Jack only 10 feet away. Jeffery rallied but ran out of holes, going down 3-2.

Lewis Beer, back from a training spell in Spain, was dealing less well with the chilly wind coming off the Bristol Channel and was beaten by the always impressive striking of Andrew Isaacs.

This early blitz in the singles meant the result was over before we got to the tail but there were competitive games going on and lots of good golf.

Jay Scott looked in control of all parts of his game as he comfortably won comfortable 4-3. Ryan Acres in match 9 was looking favourable but an error free back 9 from Josh Stancer gave Somerset a deserved 3-1 win.

Big hitting Archie Christophers was involved in an entertaining tussle with local veteran Justin Lane. Some typical straight hitting and short game magic gave Lane a comfortable lead which he retained for most of the match. It was the putter that came alive at the death for Archie with birdies at 15, 16 and 17, winning all 3 holes and the match was all square on the last. A well-played last hole secured a par and when the Somerset putt for a half slipped by, Archie had completed an impressive comeback to win 1 up.

As the light was fading, two more big hitters approached the 18th all square. Local lad Stan Richardson boomed a drive to the end of the fairway and was flicking in a wedge. Leigh Jones was too straight off the tee, in a crater between the 1st and the 18th holes. It was a blind approach and muddy ball skewered Jones’ approach quickly offline and rattled bushes beyond the course perimeter. It was another win for Somerset to complete a 7-3 singles and a 10-5 result overall.

Click here for full match results

Thanks again to Burnham & Berrow, Mark Wait and Somerset Golf Union for the quick turnaround of venue and the hospitality throughout.

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