This year Wilmslow was the venue for the Northern Counties Senior Qualifying tournament. We last won this event in 2010, ending an era of total dominance in English Senior Golf.
Durham and Yorkshire, having between them won the last five renewals of the event, came to Wilmslow as favourites. Cheshire, with 4 losses out of 5 in the seniors Northern Counties league, were hoping for some inspiration from home advantage on a course they know extremely well.
The format of the event is 36 hole aggregate strokeplay. Teams have six players each, and the worst of each team’s six scores in the morning and in the afternoon are discarded. Discared scores only come into play to decide a tie.
Our team comprised:
Gareth Bradley (Bramhall)
Guy Hindle (Warrington)
Paul Knight (Eastham Lodge)
Richard Stockdale (Vale Royal Abbey)
Martyn Grimley (Ringway)
Mike Wallwork (Ringway)
Team manager: Martin Keates (Prestbury)
We got off to an excellent start, with Gareth Bradley round in 70 (-2) despite a six on the opening hole, and Guy Hindle also completing a very tidy 70. Backed up with 73 from Paul Knight, 76 from Richard Stockdale (who started with a seven!) and Martyn Grimley, at lunch we had a 10 stroke lead, which in this format is nothing like as positive as it sounds.
The anticipated fightback from Yorkshire and Durham soon materialised. Even with Gareth Bradley adding a 74 and Guy Hindle a 75, by mid-session, there was a three-way tie at the top. Martyn Grimley fired an excellent 75 to put the pressure on , and Paul Knight played a delicate pitch from thick rough to the right of the 36th hole to secure a par for an afternoon total of 75 which all but secured us the win.
With Durham having faded over the closing holes, this left Yorkshire’s final player needing an eagle on the last hole to tie and win on countback, but he needed four to get to the edge of the green and then proceeded to three-putt from 20 feet. Cheshire had won!
We go to the English County Seniors Finals at Harrogate GC in early October where we’ll be looking for our first title since 2008.
Martin Keates commented: “I would like to thank each and every one of the players (and their caddies) for doing themselves and Cheshire proud yesterday. Even though we struggled for points in the league this season, we never doubted that we had the quality to win the Big Six – and so it proved!
I would also like to thank The Wilmslow Golf Club for presenting us with such a great course. All the players across the seven counties represented were very complementary of the very fair and enjoyable test and the quality of the greens.
Last, but not least, I would also like to thank the Captain of Wilmslow, Andrew Henshall for all his support of the team in the lead up to yesterday’s narrow win – it made the difference.”
Huge thanks must go to the Northern Counties for another impeccably run event and to the hosts Wilmslow Golf Club who presented a beautiful course and provided first class service. They were an absolute credit to Cheshire and several visiting players said these were the best greens they’d played on this year. Praise indeed! It was also good to see Andrew Henshall, Wilmslow Captain and Cheshire Boys team captain, now recovering from a recent bout of ill health.
Well done team and good luck at Harrogate. Dare we dream of adding a second national title this year following the Boys team success in August??
Image (top) left to right, Martin Keates, Gareth Bradley, Mike Wallwork, Richard Stockdale, Paul Knight, Martyn Grimley, Guy Hindle
Copy & images: Cheshire Golf
