April 2007
30 April
Hart remains upbeat
TIVERTON captain
Colin Hart commended his side after they pushed Dawlish Warren to the wire
in their Palairet Trophy practice match on a delightful Sunday afternoon
on the East Devon coast.
The hosts edged home 3½-2½ but an upbeat Hart said: “It was a very
creditable performance to take Dawlish to such a close finish on a course
where the greens were excellent but the fairways sparse – evidence of the
dry spring with tight lies and unpredictable bounces everywhere.”
The lead pairing of Richard Jessop (4) and Jim Bray (4), who had to wear
the skipper’s golf shoes after he left his own at Tiverton, maintained a
tight hold of their game and a birdie on the 14th and a second
shot to 20 feet on the 15th was enough to transform their
long-standing 2 up lead into a deserved 4 and 3 win over Mike Phillips (4)
and Alex Ramsden (5).
Cullompton teenagers Jack Ridge (6) and Ollie Taylor (6)
fell three behind early on to Paul Arpino (4) and Tom Acres (5) and
managed to steady themselves before eventually going down 4 and 3.
Kelvin Woodgate (6) and son Matt Woodgate (7) birdied the 15th
to go one up against Marcus Dove (4) and Ben Harding (6) but they lost 17
and after both sides had a calamitous home hole, they shook hands on a
half.
All the contestants agreed that the result was just in what had been a
high-quality contest, as both pairs dropped only two shots up until then.
Former Winter League champions Mark Sangster (7) and Peter Boax (8) were
all-square after 10 against Chris Magill (4) and Simon Coleman (7) but
lost the next four holes on their way to a 4 and 3 defeat.
Their fortunes were summed up when Sangster thought he had hit his wood
approach to the fringe of the green on the par-5 12th, only to
later find out he was actually aiming towards the 13th flag
rather than the proper target.
Tony Allsopp (6) and Steve Buchanan (11) stormed into a three-hole lead
early on against Paul Nightingale (5) and Dave Cooke (6) but had to hang
on after being brought back to 1 up by the 9th.
In the end they closed out the match 3 and 2 thanks to Buchanan’s brave
five-foot putt for a par on the short 16th.
Late stand-in Andy Brice (8), who confirmed his availability with a 1am
phone call to Hart on Sunday morning, linked up with young Rhys Cruse (12)
once again but they were on the end of a 7 and 6 reverse against Dave
Musgrove (5) and Saleem Khadroo (8).
Hart said: “The team ethic in the Tiverton camp was very evident when all
the finishing players stayed hole-side on the 15th and 16th
to urge their side on in the critical closing matches.”
Steve Hosford
maintained his fine run of form by winning the Amory Cup on Saturday.
He hit a nett 66 to earn a one-shot victory over Steve Carey and Simon
Kelland, and got his handicap cut from 18 to 16 in the process.
Simon Waddington swooped to win the Amory Scratch Cup with a gross 73,
beating Kelland and Richard Jessop by one.
Results:
Division One – 1 Steve Hosford
(84-18=66); 2 Steve Carey (80-13=67); 3 Simon Kelland (74-7=67); 4 Simon
Waddington (73-4=69); 5 Ian Loudon (80-10=70); 6 Mark Griffiths
(86-16=70).
Division Two – 1 Gary Aitchison (88-20=68); 2 Paul Bowler (89-20=69);
3 Alan White (91-21=70); 4 Dave Cottrell (91-21=70); 5 Bob Cumes
(92-20=72); 6 John Hughes (97-25=72).
While
four juniors were involved in the Palairet practice at Dawlish on Sunday,
Tiverton’s other youngsters played a stableford competition for the PCB
Trophy.
Darren Noble, a 54-handicapper playing his first full round, won the cup
with 40 after two bogeys gave him four-pointers on each of the last two
holes.
That meant he won on a countback from Joe Taylor, while Nicola Chilcott
was third with 39.
The
ladies’ President's II team picked up a fine 5-2 win at home to Saunton in
their first match of the season on Monday.
All the Tiverton side received shots and three of them with handicaps over
20 had to play off 20 to comply with competition rules.
There were 2 up victories for Bridget Holland (19) over Janny Russell (14)
and Sheila Marwood (20) against Jackie Aitken (16).
Jill Ford (21) had the biggest win as she overcame Catherine Davey (19) 8
and 7 while Pat Higgins (21) beat Lynn MacKenzie (20) 3 and 2 and Alison
Kelland (22) took out Barbara Wilson (20) 2 and 1.
Rosemary Perry (19) and Sheila Ball (19) were both defeated 3 and 2. The
return match is at Saunton on June 8.
Tiverton racked up a comprehensive 7½-1½ win in their
first mixed greensomes match against Lyme Regis on Sunday.
Results (Tiverton pairs first): 1 Alan and Charlotte Snow beat Roy
and Viv Gill, 5 and 4; 2 David and Bridget Grieve beat Keith and Maureen
Hicks, 4 and 3; 3 John and Judy Phripp halved with Bill Moulton and Jane
Dixon; 4 Joe and Linda Knowles beat A and B Brown, 6 and 4; 5 Roger Persey
and Jane Walton beat A and C Wakeling, 6 and 4; 6 Jim Walton and Tracy
Banbury beat Keith and Jane Broom, 7 and 6; 7 Bryan and Liz Hall beat Tony
and M Slater, 4 and 3; 8 Bob Clayden and Sandra Hart lost to David and
Wendy Canning, 2 and 1; 9 Len and Chris Williams beat David and Sassy Hay,
5 and 3.
29 April
Faldo feat for Jess
YOUNG Tiverton golfer Jessica Bradley
continued her rich vein of form by winning the South West of England and
South Wales section of the Faldo Series.
And the 14-year-old’s performances have not gone unnoticed by Devon ladies, as she has been called up for first team’s inter-county week at
Perranporth, Cornwall, on May 7, 8
and 9.
Jessica won the second round of the scratch section in the prestigious
Nick Faldo-backed tournament thanks to a superb four-over gross 79 at
Royal Porthcawl, near Bridgend.
She will now return to South Wales on August 31 for the regional final at
Newport’s Celtic Manor, home of the 2010 Ryder Cup, after she qualified
third overall with a three-under nett 72.
The Tiverton Golf Club member won the scratch prize on a countback after
having a better inward nine holes than Katherine O'Connor, a
one-handicapper from Tadmarton Heath.
Jessica grabbed three birdies on the trot on 10, 11 and 12 to bring her
back to level par gross, and she then dropped four shots over the last
five holes.
She said she ‘really liked’ the renowned links course at Porthcawl, a
regular venue for top amateur and ladies’ championships.
“I have never seen a course with such deep bunkers, but I managed to miss
them,” said Jessica, a seven-handicapper.
"Having three birdies on the trot was amazing – something I hadn't done
before. I am now looking forward to playing at Celtic Manor in August."
Jessica, who lives at Bishops Nympton and attends South Molton
Community College, used to play
at Portmore, near Barnstaple, before she and her father Steve opted to join Tiverton two years ago.
Her recent victory roll included a
5 and 4 win in the Devon girls versus Devon boys match at
Dawlish Warren. And a fortnight ago she claimed the under-16 girls’
scratch prize in the Devon Junior Spring Meeting at Saunton.
On Friday Jessica put in another strong performance in the Devon Ladies
Championships at East Devon, coming third in the nett competition with an
aggregate of 147.
She followed up a gross 80 in the morning with a five-over 79 in the
afternoon to qualify for the knock-out stages at the weekend.
The teenager beat Teignmouth’s Vicki Holloway 4 and 3 on Saturday morning
before losing 4 and 2 in the quarter-finals to last year’s county
champion, Exeter’s Gill Whitehead.
Jessica said it was a
complete surprise to be named in the county ladies' team when it was
announced at the end of the prizegiving at East Devon.
She said: "I am really looking forward to playing in the team and
representing my county. I am surprised and honoured to be included."
Jessica is now hoping to make the ballot for the Critchley Salver, a
36-hole scratch medal at Sunningdale.
26 April
Anne at it again
ANNE Franklin posted a fine nett 68 to win
the ladies’ LGU Medal at Tiverton on Wednesday and earn a handicap cut
from 33 to 29.
Franklin, who won the April Stableford earlier in the month, qualified for
the Hamilton Cup as she beat nearest challenger Jean Granger by four.
Results: Silver Division
– 1 Phyllida Dunn (90-15=75); 2 Judy Phripp (94-18=76); 3 Jackie Leonard
(92-16=76). Bronze Division One – 1 Tracy Banbury (99-25=74); 2
Trish Bending (99-23=76); 3 Anto Hajduk (105-27=78). Bronze Division
Two – 1 Anne Franklin (101-33=68); 2 Jean Granger (107-35=72); 3
Maureen Williams (105-29=76).
Robin Temple had a day to remember on
Tuesday when he won the Frank Edwards Cup, an event open to all members
aged 70 and over.
Each player earns a point for every year they are over 70 to add to the
stableford points they gain during the round.
Temple, a 26-handicapper, had the best stableford total of 37 on the day
and, with his 10 extra points for his age, won the cup with 47.
Second was Fred Williams with 45 followed by Noel Thomas (11), who also
had 45 but lost on the back nine.
It was also a good day for Stephen Thorpe-Tracey (27), who was the only
player out of the 59 competitors to score a two, winning 24 balls.
Running in tandem with the Frank Edwards Cup was a stableford for veterans
under 70.
It was won by Ted Littlejohns (19) with 34 points followed by Terry
Barwell (13) with 33 and Robert Jowitt (26), also on 33.
At the meal after the competition, the winners of the veterans’ Winter
Foursomes were given their prizes. Noel Thomas (11) and Norman Webber (23)
were victorious over Ramsay Hutchinson (16) and Roger Norton (20) in the
final.
23 April 2007
Rob’s Euro bid- by Jim Bray
ROBERT Mugford qualified for the regional final of
The smooth swinger shot a five-under nett 66 to
clinch the first major competition of the season at Tiverton and will now
represent the club in the Lombard Trophy.
The accountant will partner Tiverton professional
Dave Curl in the South West regional event at Saunton’s East course on July 22,
with the winners landing an all-expenses-paid trip to the grand final in
Eighteen regional champions will head to the
exclusive
Mugford had his handicap cut from 14 to 12 with his
victory at the weekend and was also the leading qualifier of 64 for the
Captain’s Prize summer knock-out tournament, with the cut-off mark set at nett
75.
Tim Durrant had posted a 63 but was ineligible to win
a prize due to Rule 7.
Jim Bray battled his way to a gross 75 to secure the
Captain’s Qualifier Scratch Cup for the third time.
The four-handicapper beat Jason Frost on a countback
thanks to an inward nine of 36 while Richard Jessop missed out after
three-putting the 18th for a 76.
Players are continuing to find scoring difficult due
to the firm greens being unreceptive to approach shots, caused by the recent
warm and dry weather.
Results: Division One – 1 Robert Mugford (80-14=66); 2 Derrick Barrett
(79-9=70); 3 Martin Ellacott (83-13=70); 4 Jason Frost (75-5=70); 5 Jim Bray
(75-4=71); 6 Ian Loudon (81-10=71). Division Two – 1 Tim Durrant
(79-16=63); 2 S Brown (92-24=68); 3 Mike
The sides’ handicaps were very even and five of the
six matches were played off level, with Tiverton giving just one shot in the
other.
Tiverton’s first two pairs raced ahead although Simon
Waddington and Richard Jessop were pulled back from 4 up after the 7th
to only 1 up playing the 15th.
Jessop sank a 20-foot putt to establish a two-hole
lead and they closed the game out on the 17th.
Jason Frost and
With three points in the bag it was anchor pair Andy
Brice and young Rhys Cruse who closed out the overall match with a par on the
16th.
Cruse chipped from the bottom of the green to the
flag on the top tier and Brice rolled a downhill three-footer into the middle
of the cup.
Hart said: “After our heavy loss at Saunton I was
delighted that the team turned the tables in such an emphatic fashion.”
Tiverton continue their preparations with a trip to Dawlish
Warren on Sunday.
Results against Saunton (Tiverton first): 1 Simon Waddington (4) and Richard Jessop
(4) beat Derek Ellis (4) and John Squire (5), 2 and 1; 2 Jason Frost (5) and
Jack Ridge (6) beat Gary Hatch (4) and Stuart Young (6), 6 and 4; 3 Ian
Brierley (6) and Ollie Taylor (6) lost to Colin Macpherson (5) and Steve Braund
(6), 3 and 2; 4 Gerry Franklin (7) and Matt Woodgate (8) beat Andy Ackland (6)
and Phillip Venn (10), 2 and 1; 5 Mark Sangster (7) and Peter Boax (8) lost to
Alan Payne (7) and Steve Suter (10), 2 down; 6 Andy Brice (8) and Rhys Cruse
(12) beat Gary Golembeck (11) and Steve Horn (10), 3 and 2.
The Tiverton juniors had all played in the Palairet
Trophy practice against Saunton in the morning and found difficulty on the
recently hollow-tined greens at Honiton.
Matt Woodgate (8) won the battle of the junior
captains by beating Alex
Woodgate shot a fine nett 69 in the Devon Junior
Spring Meeting at Saunton's West course on Friday and should find his handicap
back down to seven once the card has been returned to Tiverton.
Carol Scott collected the ladies’ Kirkman Dish on
Sunday with a score of +1.
The event featured eight qualifiers from par
competitions held last year and 24-handicapper Scott finished ahead of
runner-up Linda Knowles, who scored -1.
The veterans contest the Frank Edwards Cup on
Tuesday, there is a ladies’ medal on Wednesday, the men play for the Amory Cup
on Saturday and the juniors go for the PCB Trophy on Sunday.
18 April 2007
Chris brings home the Bacon - by Jim Bray
Bacon saw her handicap cut from 21 as she qualified
for the Hamilton Cup while nearest challenger Liz Hall, who had a nett 70, saw
her handicap reduced from 23.
Teenager Hannah Grant produced the lowest gross round
of the 75-strong field, an 80, to win the scratch prize.
Results: Silver Division – 1 Annette Cardwell (89-17=72); 2 Margaret Knowlman
(94-19=75); 3 Kay Beaumont (90-14=76); 4 Hannah Grant (80-3=77). Bronze
Division One – 1 Chris Bacon (88-21=67); 2 Liz (93-23=70); 3 Trish Bending
(97-23=74); 4 Gail Stuckey (95-21=74). Bronze Division Two – 1 Anne
Franklin (110-33=77); 2 Jackie Fuller (106-29=77); 3 Annie Straiton
(112-33=79); 4 Kathleen White
(109-30=79).
Ray Robinson notched 36 points to win the Veterans’
Stableford on Tuesday, beating James Homden and Noel Thomas by one.
The six players to finish on 34 were Neil Macdonald,
Tom Nattrass, Ted Littlejohns, Ian Maclure, Peter Benson and Terry Barwell.
TIVERTON captain Colin Hart believes his Palairet Trophy players are gaining valuable competitive experience despite suffering a second defeat in two outings on Sunday.
The team continued their Palairet practice series with a disappointing 5½-2½ loss at home to Torquay.
"Torquay fielded a strong team and we were receiving a shot or so in seven of the games," said Hart. "On our own patch we would have hoped for a win but it was not to be.
"Torquay stuck at the task better overall than we did and in two matches we finished poorly, having been in front down the closing stretch.
"We arranged these matches for our players to get more experience in this format against top-class opposition.
"The younger players in particular are gaining valuable experience and I am sure this will stand us in good stead when the real thing starts."
The skipper was pleased to welcome vicar Ian Brierley to the team. Brierley was a member at Tiverton many years ago and has recently returned.
"He and Kelvin Woodgate turned in a confident performance to win 4 and 3 and looked in control for most of the match," said Hart.
Andy Brice (8) and young Rhys Cruse (12) were the biggest home winners of the day but their 5 and 3 scoreline did come against past Tivvy captains Derek Aldridge (7) and Neil Carthew (15), who stepped in after Torquay arrived a pair short.
Woodgate (6) and Brierley (6) also saw off Mark Passmore (5) and Richard Crook (5) on the 15th while the half point came from James Lambden (8) and Steve Buchanan (10), who were disappointed not to win after being two up with two to play against Mike Angelos (6) and youngster David Ruth (6).
Red-faced Nathan Whitehouse drove all the way to Torquay before discovering the match was actually at home, and he then left his golf shoes there so had to buy a new pair back at Tiverton before taking to the 1st tee alongside Jim Bray 45 minutes later than planned.
Bray (4) and Whitehouse (5) promptly went three down but recovered before eventually succumbing 2 and 1 to Andy Copping (2) and Martin 'Colgate' Brook (4).
Richard Jessop (4) and Ollie Taylor (6) were defeated 2 and 1 by Jason Brooks (3) and Stuart Storey (4) and Jason Frost (5) and Jack Ridge (6) lost 5 and 3 to Steve Thorne (3) and Johnathon Ruth (6).
Mark Sangster (7) and Matt Woodgate (7) were 4 and 3 losers to Dave Carter (5) and Mark Jeffery (5) while Tony Allsopp (6) and Peter Boax (8) were three up with four to play only to be beaten 1 down by Paul Farmer (6) and Paul Hebdon (6).
Tiverton won 4-2 at Royal North Devon and lost 5½-½ at Saunton in their previous two practice matches, and their next test comes at home to Saunton on Sunday (9.30am).
Hart reiterated his desire for his players to practise their short game, saying: "It will always be the critical difference between winning and losing."
Tiverton team for Saunton match: 1 Simon Waddington (4) and Richard Jessop (4); 2 Jason Frost (5) and Jack Ridge (6); 3 Ian Brierley (6) and Ollie Taylor (6); 4 Gerry Franklin (6) and Matt Woodgate (7); 5 Mark Sangster (7) and Peter Boax (8); 6 Andy Brice (8) and Rhys Cruse (12).
Hele Park professional Chris Gill eagled the 18th to win the Devon PGA Alliance meeting at Tiverton after a three-under 68.
Gill signed for 39 points after driving the 18th green and holing a 10-foot putt for an eagle two.
"I am taking frequent sessions at my local gym and that is helping me gain those valuable extra yards," revealed Gill.
Former Tiverton favourite Barry Austin, now the head pro at Crediton, came second on 38 while home assistant Dave Curl was third on 37.
Gill and amateur partner Neil Vaughan, a member at Hele Park, produced an impressive 43 points between them to take the team prize by one from Curl and Gerry Franklin, with Austin and Mark Dunsford third.
Two pairings claimed the am-am honours with 43 points - Peter Dunstan and Tony Warren from Saunton and Graham Ruth and Shaun Keily from Tavistock.
Mike Angus and his son Russell won the Britton Greensomes after a close-run finish on Saturday.
They scored 39 stableford points to win on a countback from chairman Paul Steele and Richard Jessop, Andy Bolt and Mike Blackmore, and Rosemary Perry and Jo Lloyd-Davies.
Players continued to struggle to score in the men's April Midweek Stableford on Monday, mainly due to the rock-hard greens caused by the recent warm and dry weather.
But Richard Archer didn't mind as he compiled 39 points to win Division Two and finish one ahead of Steve Hosford overall.
Results: Division One - 1 Steve Hosford (38); 2 Jack Ridge (37); 3 Tony Allsopp (37); 4 Dominic Bristow (37); 5 Rhys Cruse (37); 6 Ed Tansey (36). Division Two - 1 Richard Archer (39); 2 Neville Crocker (37); 3 John Phillips (37); 4 Jack Gray (37); 5 Keith Chilcott (36); 6 Harry Seaton (36).
IN the ladies' April Stableford at Tiverton on Wednesday, Anne Franklin scored 39 points to beat Sheila Ball and Marian Stevens by one.
In heading the 64-player field, Franklin earned a handicap reduction from 34 and qualified for the Goodwin Trophy.
Results: Silver Division - 1 Sheila Ball (38); 2 Carolyn Maynard (35); 3 Rosemary Perry (35); 4 Teresa Birchmore (34). Bronze Division One - 1 Marian Stevens (38); 2 Shirley Ward (35); 3 Julie Aldridge (35); 4 Anne Warne (35). Bronze Division Two - 1 Anne Franklin (39); 2 Enid Harding (36); 3 Annie Straiton (35).
John and Judy Phripp shot 37 stableford points to win the mixed Cockman Cup on Easter Monday.
They beat Tony and Karen Allsopp by one point in the foursomes format while there was only one two, recorded by Jim Walton and Tracy Banbury on the 4th.
Tiverton's men went down 6½-3½ in a friendly at Minehead on Saturday.
Tony Playford (15) and Dave Horn (18) were Tiverton's biggest winners of the day with their 7 and 6 defeat of John Littlewood (11) and David Coles (14).
Nick Conabeare (12) and Billy Shepherd (16) beat Ben Gliddon (12) and G Truman (14) 2 and 1 and Keith Britton (17) and Dave Ashworth (18) were 3 and 2 winners over Graham Latham (8) and Derek Stevens (16), while Derek Reed (7) and Danny McArdle (13) halved with Tom McGann (9) and John Perkins (13).
The men have their April Midweek Stableford on Monday while the veterans have a stableford and a match against Enmore on Tuesday and a game at East Devon on Wednesday.
The ladies are also in action on Wednesday with their Spring Meeting while they have a match against Oake Manor on Thursday.
TEAM captain Mike Hurley is confident Tiverton’s veterans can overturn a first-leg deficit to knock Saunton out of the Emerton-Court Trophy.
Tiverton’s hopes hang in the balance following a narrow 3-2 loss in their second-round, first-leg tie on the North Devon coast on Wednesday.
Skipper Hurley said he was pleased with the way Tiverton played in the links conditions, which as usual were tricky to cope with.
He said: “I think two points from the match is a very good result and we would hope to make up the difference at Tiverton, when some of our other players are available.”
As expected, Tiverton’s first Emerton-Court match of the season proved to be a keenly fought contest.
They now have to wait until Monday, April 30 for the return leg to see if home advantage can help them to erase the deficit.
Hurley (10) and Ed Tansey (9) registered the most comfortable win of the day with a 5 and 4 success. The victory was based on a fine outward nine holes when they were two under par gross, before closing out one under. They claimed three birdies in a row, from which their opponents never recovered.
The second win came from the experienced number one pair of Gerry Franklin (6) and John Phripp (9).
They were four up after five but a series of birdies from their opponents midway through the round brought the sides level. The Tiverton pair managed to gain a slight lead and clung on for a deserved 1 up win.
The strong pairing of Derrick Barrett (9) and Rod Wiltshire (9) lost their unbeaten run in the competition 3 and 2. They recovered from a four-hole deficit by the 13th and got back to one before conceding.
Another gritty performance came from Roger Tucker (11) and David Jack (15). Playing in the final game, they took an early lead and held it until the 15th before eventually losing 2 and 1.
It was particularly hard on Jack, who arrived at Saunton expecting to play as a reserve only to be drafted into the side following the late withdrawal of Peter Stuckey through injury.
The biggest margin of defeat fell to David Neilson (12) and David Holland (13), who lost 6 and 5 to a Saunton pair just too hot to handle. They were four down after five but stayed in the match until losing on the 13th.
Tiverton’s ladies were knocked out of the Mail on Sunday tournament following a 3½-1½ loss at home to East Devon on Friday.
Sue Norris (2 up) was the only winner and Jo Lloyd-Davies halved, but there were defeats for Charlotte Snow (4 and 2), Carolyn Maynard (2 and 1) and Val Walker (3 and 2).
Beryl Walters struck a nett 74 to win the ladies’ April Medal on Wednesday and qualify for the Hamilton Cup. She finished one ahead of Hannah Grant and Linda Knowles.
Results: Silver Division – 1 Hannah Grant (77-3=74); 2 Charlotte Snow (89-13=76); 3 Rosemary Perry (95-19=76). Bronze Division One – 1 Linda Knowles (96-22=74); 2 Irene Byng (97-22=75); 3 Alison Kelland (96-21=75); 4 Joan Reed (99-23=76). Bronze Division Two – 1 Beryl Walters (104-31=73); 2 Jean Granger (113-35=78); 3 Annie Mills (115-33=82).
Tiverton’s Palairet Trophy side continue their series of friendlies with a home match against Torquay next Sunday (midday), but a number of players are missing.
Tiverton team: 1 Jim Bray (4) and Nathan Whitehouse (5); 2 Richard Jessop (4) and Ollie Taylor (6); 3 Jason Frost (5) and Jack Ridge (6); 4 Kelvin Woodgate (6) and Ian Brierley (6); 5 Mark Sangster (7) and Matt Woodgate (7); 6 Tony Allsopp (7) and Peter Boax (8); 7 James Lambden (8) and Steve Buchanan (10); 8 Andy Brice (8) and Rhys Cruse (12).
The veterans play a friendly at Staddon Heights, Plymouth, on Tuesday, the ladies have a stableford on Wednesday and an away match at East Devon on Friday while the Britton Greensomes is on Saturday.
Palairet into perspective - By Jim Bray
CAPTAIN Colin Hart admitted it was a tough day at the office after Tiverton's 5½-½ defeat at a windy Saunton in a Palairet Trophy practice on Saturday.Tiverton won 4-2 at Royal North Devon last weekend but were brought back to earth by a convincing loss on Saunton's West course.
"Our team battled gamely but the normal local knowledge home advantage was magnified by a strong and persistent north westerly," the skipper said.
"The Saunton team mastered the difficult conditions better than us and all credit to them for their strong performance."
Former professionals Simon Waddington (4) and Richard Jessop (4) were the only two to gain a half thanks to their draw against Derek Ellis (4) and Neil Addington (5).
Nathan Whitehouse (5) and Jack Ridge (6) went down 4 and 3 against Gary Hatch (4) and Luke Front (7) while Kelvin Woodgate (6) and Ben Wessely (6) were defeated 3 and 2 by Steve White (5) and Billy Miles (8).
Bob Tye (6) and Tony Allsopp (7) lost 1 down to Colin MacPherson (5) and Steve Horn (10), Gerry Franklin (6) and Matthew Woodgate (7) were beaten 6 and 4 by Alan Payne (7) and Steve Suter (10) while Ollie Taylor (6) and James Lambden (8) were on the end of a 4 and 2 reverse against Stuart Young (6) and Luke Squire (12).
Hart said: "Of course we want to win all our matches but even in a loss we are still achieving our objective of practising foursomes golf on a variety of courses against strong opposition and learning from it.
"There were three games that we always had a good chance of winning but strong finishes from Saunton turned a dormie two into a half, a 1 up with three to play into a loss and a good chance to get back to one on 15 into still 2 down.
"Putting was particularly difficult and in the end, as ever, was the telling difference between winning and losing. The experience will be invaluable, particularly for the younger players."
Tiverton continue their Palairet preparations with a home match against Torquay on Sunday, April 15 and entertain Saunton on Sunday, April 22 (midday).
Outsiders John Phillips and Ray McIntosh won the men's Winter Foursomes by beating Palairet Trophy players Kelvin and Matthew Woodgate 4 and 2 in the final on Sunday.
Phillips and McIntosh won on the 16th with a conceded short putt for a five nett four.
The higher handicappers went ahead on the 1st with a gross five to the Woodgates' six and were never behind.
They were pulled back to all square on the 5th with a concession after Woodgate junior drove to the edge of the green, but by the turn Phillips and McIntosh were two up and increased the lead to three on the 10th.
The Woodgates, from Wellington, rallied to pull it back to one on the 12th but Phillips' short game on 13, 14, 15 and 16 made the difference.
Club captain and referee Colin Hart said: "Kelvin and Matt hit some terrific shots but couldn't deliver from around and on the green.
"The effects of a hard day in the Palairet practice at Saunton the day before may have caught up with them as the type of short game shots they were having to play there were very different from that required on Sunday."
Mark Sangster and Peter Boax moved through to the next round of the Daily Mail Foursomes tournament by virtue of a 1 up victory against their opponents from Crediton on Sunday.
The Tiverton duo went 1 down after 16 but won the 17th with a five to a six and just missed a birdie on the 18th, although a par turned out to be enough.
Ollie Taylor won the first junior competition of the season by landing the Easter Trophy on Sunday.
The 17-year-old scored 33 stableford points off his handicap of six, including a two on the 4th and a birdie three on the 18th after driving the green from the temporary tee.
Rhys Cruse (12) and Nicola Chilcott (45) shared second place with 32 points. Nicola even scored a two nett nought with her two shots on the 4th.
Tiverton produced a creditable half in their mixed match played in very testing conditions at East Devon on Sunday.
Alan (10) and Charlotte Snow (13) went down 4 and 3 against John Pulman (6) and Edna Devetta (18) while Adrian (10) and Kaye Beaumont (14) lost 4 and 2 to East Devon's captain Derek (15) and Elspeth Hunt (12).
Derek Reed (7) and Jane Walton (21) started the turnaround with a 2 and 1 victory over Chris (10) and Wendy Greetham (19).
Joe (8) and Linda Knowles (22) halved with John Vanstone (14) and Barbara Mellor (16) before Gavin (8) and Carol Scott (24) beat Tony (13) and Barbara Holden (18) 4 and 3 and Roger (18) and Sue Persey (14) saw off Des (18) and Penny Mathews (13) 5 and 3.
Tiverton match captain Chris Cardwell (15) and wife Annette (17) were defeated 3 and 2 by John (18) and Jaquie Lee (18) but Tony (7) and Karen Allsopp (36) were 4 and 3 victors over David (23) and Diana Brittain (13).
Jim Walton (19) and Tracy Banbury (25) finished 2 up on Colin (16) and Myra Metcalf (23) while Richard (13) and Amanda Moyes (32) secured the overall draw with their half against Dennis (21) and Jean (34) Law.
There is plenty more mixed golf coming up at Tiverton, including the Cockman Cup on Easter Monday, a home match with Lyme Regis on Sunday, April 29 and the return against East Devon on Sunday, May 6.
There are some changes to the veterans' Emerton-Court line-up for Wednesday's first-leg tie at Saunton (12.45pm).
Pairings: 1 Gerry Franklin (6) and John Phripp (9); 2 Derrick Barrett (9) and Rod Wiltshire (10); 3 Ed Tansey (9) and Mike Hurley (10); 4 Peter Stuckey (11) and Roger Tucker (11); 5 David Neilson (12) and David Holland (13).
Playing reserves: Lewis Woodgate (14) and David Jack (15).
The veterans play a friendly at Honiton on Tuesday, the ladies have a medal on Wednesday and the men tackle two away matches at Stinchcombe and Minehead this weekend.