FINAL SENIORS' CHANNEL LEAGUE MATCH OF THE SEASON v SOMERSET

Going to the final Seniors' Channel League game of the season against Somerset at Mendip Springs Golf Club, the DevonGolf Seniors' team knew they could not successfully defend their title - that had already been decided when Glamorgan defeated Dorset, leaving both on 6 match points when Devon could only reach 5½.  Nonetheless, the Devon side wanted to finish on a high - and so they did!

In the morning's Greensomes Paul Newcombe (East Devon) and Dave Eva (Thurlestone) led off with a dominant 4-3 win over the home cub pairing of Neil Holbrook and Rob Chandler. The two games behind remained close throughout the morning, both ending in halves. Chris Audin (Warren) and Andy Rich (Stover) were playing the Saltford duo or Jon Cowgill and Kevin Taylor. Tim Aggett (Warren) and Colin Papworth (Teignmouth) were playing Burnham & Berrow's Simon Rudd and Allan Pilkington (Long Sutton). 

Devon dominated the remaining two matches, winning both 4-2. First Rick Osborne (Churston) & Andy Clark (Honiton) defeated the Burnham duo of Andy Fisher & Alan Todd. Tony Allsopp (Tiverton) and Tim Jones (Warren) beat another same club pairing from Clevedon - Mike Hanley & John Vickerstaff.

At lunch DevonGolf had 4 points, 3 wins and no losses - a near ideal start. 

As throughout the season, Team Manager Aggett led the singles against Fisher and halved a high-quality match. Audin dominated Chandler in the second game to win on the 14th. Meanwhile, Newcombe and Cowgill played out another hard fought half. Cowgill's up and down for a half on the 17th was sensational. Both then missed the 18th green and produced equally high=quality chips to halve in par.

Eva had ploughed into a big lead against Hanley but the Clevedon man produced a fantastic fight-back and was still alive going up the last and was looking in a good position when Eva missed the green. Another excellent chip from Eva secured the par and when Hanley missed for birdie it meant Eva had won 1-up.

Having beaten Pilkington heavily, Clark was next to appear and walked up to the group gathered around the 17th. He was in time to see Rich gain his point with a sound 3-1 victory over Rudd, winning both 16 and 17 to close out the match.

The lower middle order belonged to Somerset. Todd defeated Papworth and Vickerstaff beat Allsopp, both on the 17th. Taylor and Jones played out another good match to a half. It was left to Osborne toproduce Devon's final individual point of the season, again winning on the 17th over the home man Holbrook.

The DevonGolf Seniors' team finished their season with a resounding 10½-4½ win, the strength and depth of the squad shone through. The full season return of 5 wins, a halved match and the single loss away to Dorset left the side just ½ point adrift of the top 2. Whilst there might have been some agonising over individual points here and there, which might have made a difference, the truth is it was another phenomenal season from the Seniors' squad. The positive is 24½ points in the for and against columns - testimony to the quality of play over the course of the campaign.

In view of the weather experienced on the practice day at Mendip Spring, the course on match day was nothing short of remarkable. The consideration and care extended to the team by the club over the two days was of the highest class and they have our sincere thanks.

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