MEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 - BAKER REIGNS SUPREME

DEVONGOLF MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 4 rounds of matchplay

Eliot Baker at only 20-years-old confirmed his immense promise with a 10th-placed finish in the Lytham Trophy last month and he went into the extended tournament as defending champion. Last year the DevonGolf Championship had only two rounds of knockout matches and that was doubled for this year extended over 3 days..

Eliot qualifed from the stroke play in second (therefore seeded 2 in the matchplay draw) and then won 5&4 three times and was then never behind as he beat Exeter’s Peter Howell by one hole in the final.

Eliot was one up stood on the 18th tee but a poor drive did open things up for Howell, who led the 36-hole stroke play qualifier with two rounds of 70.

“I said to myself walking off 18, just guarantee the par,” said Baker.

“I just wanted to make sure I forced something from him and if he made a birdie… fair play, we’ll just go back to the first.”

No extra holes were required as Baker gouged his second out of the rough to just off the green while Howell hit an excellent approach and had 15 feet left for birdie. The Tiverton star then pitched to four feet and watched on as his opponent could not convert before knocking in his par putt for the championship.

Earlier in the match Baker went two up at the par five 11th where he was close in two and Howell just missed with his 15-foot birdie attempt. Peter did well to avoid going three down at the next, holing a 13-footer for par and then he halved the gap on 14, draining a 35-foot birdie effort. It got better for Howell at 15 where he levelled the match after firing his approach to inside three feet and both finalists managed excellent up-and-down pars at 16.

There was then a huge moment at 17 where Howell missed his four-footer for par and the champion converted from slighty closer in before the next was halved.

In the morning Baker was in full flow against the experienced Ben Sclater (Warren), birdieing three, four and five to take himself four up. He finished with six birdies in 14 holes while his final opponent beat Saunton’s Stan White in the other semi-final.

Qualifying scores (par 71)
1) Peter Howell (Exeter) 70, 70, 140 (-2)
2) Eliot Baker (Tiverton) 70, 72, 142 (Ev)
3) Lewis Beer (Exeter) 70, 76, 146 (+4)
4) Stanley White (Saunton) 77, 70, 147 (+5)
5) Daniel Rosevear (Thurlestone) 73, 74, 147 (+5)
6) Peter Lawrence (Woodbury Park) 75, 73, 148 (+6)
7) Toby White (Thurlestone) 74, 74, 148 (+6)
8) Kieran Dixon (Yelverton) 76, 74, 150 (+8)
9) Andrew Norman (Saunton) 74, 76, 150 (+8)
10) Kieran Heywood (Teignmouth) 73, 77, 150 (+8)
11) Benjamin Sclater (Warren) 73, 77, 150 (+8)
12) Jack Jeffery (Exeter) 75, 76, 151 (+9)
13) Chris McGill (Warren) 73, 78, 151 (+9)
14) Mark Harrington (Yelverton) 78, 74, 152 (+10)
15) David Baldwin (Woodbury Park) 77, 75, 152 (+10)
16) Jay Scott (Tiverton) 76, 76, 152 (+10)*
17) Sam Williams (Warren) 71, 81, 152 (+10)
* Did not play in the matchplay
 

Matchplay – first round
Dan Rosevear (Thurlestone) beat Jack Jeffery (Exeter) 1 hole
Stan White (Saunton) beat Chris McGill (Warren) 1 hole
Peter Lawrence (Woodbury Park) lost to Ben Sclater (Warren) 3&2
Lewis Beer (Exeter) lost to Mark Harrington (Yelverton) 3&2
Toby White (Thurlestone) beat Keiran Heywood (Teignmouth) 4&3
Eliot Baker (Tiverton) beat David Baldwin (Woodbury) 5&4
Kieran Dixon (Yelverton) beat Andrew Norman (Saunton) 2&1
Peter Howell (Exeter) beat Sam Williams (Warren) 6&4

Quarter-finals
Dan Rosevear lost to Stan White 19th hole
Ben Sclater beat Mark Harrington 4&3
Toby White lost to Eliot Baker 5&4
Kieran Dixon lost to Peter Howell 5&4

Semi-finals
Ben Sclater lost to Eliot Baker 5&4
Stan White lost to Peter Howell 2&1

Final
Eliot Baker beat Peter Howell 1 hole

In the Wish Slater Salver the morning's play saw David Baldwin beat Lewis Beer. 'Beware the injured golfer' is often said and it rang true here. David had badly sprained his ankle the day before and most thought he wouldn't be fit to play the semi-final. However, in spite of a very swollen and sore ankle, Peter beat Lewis 3&2. Two members from the Warren made up the second semi-final which saw Chris McGill play Sam Williams. Chris McGill came out on top beating Sam 4&3.

The final was between David and Chris and the winner of the Wish Slater Salver is David Baldwin (Woodbury Park) beating Chris McGill (Warren) by 2 holes. Chris led for most of the final but an unlucky break on the 15th hole saw Chris surrender his narrow 1 up lead to David moving back to all square on the 16th. Two solid pars on the tricky 16th hole ramped up the pressure which was telling on the 17th as Chris missed the par 3 17th green in regulation and was unable to get up and down giving David the lead up the 18th. Chris was unable to turn the tide and David was able to win the last and secure a 2 up victory. David Baldwin won the Wish Slater Salver for the first time.

Peter Howell defended the Gold Medal he won back in 2022 with an impressive 140 (2 x rounds of 70).

Pam St Leger, DevonGolf President, presented the prizes and thanked Yelverton Golf Club for such amazing support from staff and members. It's a big ask to give up your course for 4 days, as Yelverton members have, but very much appreciated by the 84 golfers who played the sweeping fairways and fast greens. Huge thanks to Club Captain John Chapman, Lady Captain Anne Ashley and their Vice Captains. The immaculate golf course is down to the hard work of Head Greenkeeper Garry Foster and his team of Tony, Carl, Pat and Steve. Inside the clubhouse Head Chef Tim and the bar staff of James, Nancy Lisha, Alicia and Rylee worked tirelessly to feed a lot of hungry players in a hurry to go out and play again - and always with smiles. Final thanks to Head Pro Adam Frayne and his team and to Lance, the Club Manager, who met our every request and then went the extra mile without being asked. Yelverton Golf Club, you were terrific!

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