Laurence Graham hits another fine drive, this time down the 11th, while watched by Gary Le Page. (Pictures by Adrian Miller, 0803163)

MATT DE LA MARE proved a more than adequate replacement for Danny Blondel as he partnered Laurence Graham junior to another Noel Shield golfing success.

Graham has won the prestigious inter-club foursomes competition alongside Blondel twice in the past, but the latter could not compete this year as he was playing in Aland.

‘I was playing solely because Danny was away at the Island Games,’ said de la Mare, who was once an assistant professional at La Grande Mare and now plays off three.

‘It was basically the first competition for me since being back in the game and my first competition win since my junior days.

‘To be fair, though, Laurence did not miss a fairway all week. He played really well throughout.’

The new partnership did it the hard way, with each of their matches reaching at least the 17th hole.

‘Every game we had was very close,’ de la Mare said.

‘The semi-final against Tony Blondel and Neil Mechem was a particularly tough match. Tony chips and putts like a low single-figure handicap.’