Mixed Age Boys draw at Disley
Monday 24th August saw some of the most promising young players from Cheshire and Lancashire arrive at Disley Golf Club for the Annual Mixed age match featuring 4 each from the Under 16s, Under 15s and Under 14s squads.
Disley was bathed in sunshine and there were glorious views from many parts of this great course high up in the hills away from the Cheshire Plain.
The morning foursomes started will with Cheshire winning 3 of the first four matches but sadly Lancashire came back strongly with their Under 14 players and we had an interesting lunchtime situation of a tie at 3:3
The afternoon started with some great golf being played by most of the Cheshire Boys, Jack Walker used his new putter to sink a long putt on the 18th green and secure a birdie to halve his match. Austin O’Connor was unlucky to lose to a birdie on the last, but Tom McCann finished his opponent off on the short downhill 16th to win 4&2.
This left the match still tied at 4.5:4.5. The next match saw Jasper Hughes lose and this was followed by Max Gilsenan getting a win on the 18thto tie his match, and then the reigning Under 16s and Under 18s Boys Championship winner Shane Clayton finished his match on the 18th winning 1 up and leaving the match tied again at 6:6
Austin Eastwood then finished his match with a win on the last green and Jeremy Ju won 2&1 to put things back in the home side’s favour. However, defeats for George Bull and Aidan Lam meant it was down to young Harvey Eastwood, and James Priest to decide this engrossing contest which was then tied at 8:8.
James went down the 18th and won 1 up, whilst Harvey was so unlucky to see his opponent end his chance of a half with a finally taken putt for a birdie, which was cheered on by all the Lancashire Boys and their officials and parents. One couldn’t help but feel sorry for young Harvey in his first match but he played really well and is definitely one for the future following on from his brother Austin who is going to progress into the Under 18s squad next year with a few of the other boys playing today.
However, as coach Peter Barber put it at the finish the whole team should be very proud of their performances and with 7 of the 12 singles matches going to the 18th green, a final result of 9:9 was a fair outcome. Team Manager Andrew Henshall thanked all the boys and their parents many of whom came to support and without whose help the boys would never get to all the events and matches they play in.
Report by Andrew Henshall
