Boys secure English Counties title in thrilling comeback

The progess of our Boys team in recent years has been significant. Inaugural Northern Counties League winners and back-to-back Four Counties Junior Tournament winners were very satisfying pre-cursors to winning our first Northern Counties Boys Qualifying for 25 years. This took us to Elsham Golf Club in North Lincolnshire for the English Boys County Finals, the pinnacle of boy’s county golf which we last won in 1998 at Delamere Forest.

Four teams qualified for the finals from the England Golf regions: us, Cambridgeshire, Wiltshire and Hertfordshire.

We began our quest for the title against Cambridgeshire. A 3-nil foursomes lead set us up for a commanding 7.5 – 1.5 win.

Things were not so simple on day two against Wiltshire. We came up against a determined and skilful team who held us to a score of 3 each in the singles. The afternoon saw Cheshire winning the foursomes 3-nil to secure a 6-3 win.

With ourselves and Hertfordshire meeting on the third day with two wins apiece, it set the scene for a shoot-out to decide the title. We had to win the match to claim the title because Herts had secured one more game point and a draw would therefore have given them the title on countback.

At lunch we found ourselves trailing 2-1, Maxi Moore and Matty Griffiths securing our sole point, and therefore needing to win at least the first singles match to have a realistic chance of securing the trophy.

Spencer led the way and was soon ahead, as was Cole, giving much encouragement to the Cheshire supporters. Herts were commanding games 3 and 4 with some tremendous scoring, so our youngsters at the back of the field were required to win to back up points secured in the first two singles. They did not disappoint. James Clark, just 14 years old, played magnificent golf which included a run of birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie and he closed out a 6&4 win with a sublime chip.

Meanwhile, Ellis Courtnell was well up in his match with some quite superb golf. Coming to the 15th dormie 4 up, and with his opponent stone dead for a par 4, he faced a 65 foot shot from just off the edge of the green. He nonchalantly hit a beautiful low chip with a lob wedge across the slick green which trickled down to a few inches from the hole to send the assembled Cheshire players, officials and supporters into raptures.

A brilliant and thoroughly deserved win for Cheshire that will be remembered for many years. Everyone who has been involved with Cheshire Golf, past and present, can be rightly proud of this success.

The team:

Cole Self (Ringway) Captain
Spencer Davies (Wallasey)
Matty Griffiths (Lymm)
Maxi Moore (Sandiway)
James Clark (Sandiway)
Ellis Courtnell (Ringway)
Josh Hockenhull-Wood (Prestbury)