This Is Guernsey

By Gareth Le Prevost

Channel Islands 6.5, Hampshire 5.5
THE Channel Islands are making a pleasing habit of overcoming Hampshire’s best.

At L’Ancresse yesterday, Garry McFarlane kept his nerve magnificently down the 18th to defeat Mark Burgess in the last match on the course and ensure victory for the home side by the slenderest of margins.

Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Golf Union president Keith Maplesden allowed himself a wry, knowing grin when he was reminded that Hants have yet to win this match after three attempts.

But he was then quick to emphasise the importance of the annual fixture.

‘The key thing is that we in the mainland have dropped our friendlies against our counties and put this match in their place. We have done that for two reasons – firstly it is far more competitive and, secondly, it helps foster relationships within the union,’ he said.

‘The golf is of a very high standard and the competitiveness can be seen in the results, which is just what we need for our players at the start of the season.’

And the Hampshire players have quite a big carrot dangling in front of them this summer, namely to try go one step further in their main competition.

‘For two years running, we have been to the English counties finals. We were third two years ago at Cleveland and then second last year at Notts,’ Maplesden said.

From mid-morning yesterday it was obvious that the overall match was set for a tense finale in the singles, with Saturday’s foursomes having been shared two wins apiece.

Arguably the best player on show, Ryan Henley, had secured the visitors the first point of the morning with a comfortable 5 and 4 win over Paul Le Chevalier in the second match out.

However, the eighth and final rubber, which saw Martin Young beat Richard Ramskill 3 and 2 having gone out in 31, was the only other not to reach the 17th.

All the others had plenty of drama and entertainment.

First out, Gavin O’Neill had done exceedingly well to build a three-hole lead after 14 on Neil Raymond, but he three putted the 15th before Raymond claimed 16 with a birdie to narrow the gap to one.

However, the Jerseyman regained his focus and claimed the CI’s first point of the day on 17.

Jamie Blondel, too, let an early lead slip away midway through the round and was all square with Mark Bell on the 16th tee.

The L’Ancresse man displayed all his matchplay pedigree over the next couple of holes, though, to earn a well deserved 2 and 1 victory to put the hosts ahead 4-3 overall.

That lead was short lived once more as Hampshire captain Andy Bow edged out Christy McLaughlin by one hole to level things with four matches remaining.

But with McFarlane and Young both looking good at that point, it was the fifth and sixth rubbers that were to prove vital.

In the first of those, Guernsey star Bobby Eggo and young Chris Reed were never far apart, but when the home player missed an opportunity to level on the 16th green, where he could only match his opponent’s bogey, many spectators were concerned that it was not going to be his day.

Eggo’s majestic response was a trademark birdie-birdie finish to salvage a crucial half with Reed following him in for a two at the last.

Right behind them, reigning CI junior champion Sam Crennan showed maturity beyond his years in overcoming an out-of-bounds drive up 17 to hole a four-footer for victory on the last against Toby Burden and all eyes were now on McFarlane v. Burgess.

The CI champion had so nearly sewn up the match on the 16th where he collapsed to the floor in disbelief when his birdie putt somehow failed to drop, but he still went to the 17th dormy which meant that the CI could not lose overall.

The big-hitting Burgess was not done yet, though, and much to the disappointment of the home supporters, he took the match to the 18th.

The Hampshire man left his tee shot well short of the pin on the putting surface before McFarlane hit a cracker over the flag to within 12ft.

Burgess raced his birdie attempt past the cup and once he had seen his opponent trundle his putt down the hill next to the hole, the congratulatory handshake came.

It meant that McFarlane and Blondel had both contributed maximum points to the cause having combined the previous afternoon for a hard-earned victory over Raymond and Burgess in the foursomes.

The other CI pair to taste success on Saturday were the all-Jersey combination of Le Chevalier and Ramskill, who were comfortable winners over Bell and Reed.Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Golf Union: Unbeaten run continues

Article posted on 6th April, 2009 - 2.29pm