CHESHIRE HAVE THE LOOK OF CHAMPIONS - 6th Oct 2005

Cheshire threw down the gauntlet to their three rivals on the opening day of the inaugural English Seniors County Finals at Minchinhampton by completing a clean sweep of the seven matches against Somerset.

In the other match, Kent beat Northamptonshire 5-2 after, like Cheshire, taking both morning foursomes.

On paper, Cheshire looked pre-match favourites with their trio of senior internationals led by English and European seniors champion Roy Smethurst. But it is one thing to look good on paper and another to underline it on the course.

However, the north region champions did just that to appear to be champions in the making although no one in their camp is taking anything for granted, least of all their captain, Roger Fielding.

“Yes, it was a good win but there is a long way to go,” he said. “The boys played some great golf today but success brings it own problems as I now have two guys I left out of this afternoon’s singles who were superb in the morning foursomes.”

His rival skippers would like such problems not to mention the wealth of experience at his disposal.

That was under lined by Smethurst, who recovered from a shaky foursomes performance, which Cheshire took 2-0, to win the top singles 5 and 4 against Welsh seniors cap John Whitcutt. It took a while for the Crewe man to wear down his opponent but once he got his nose in front there was only one way the match was going to go. In perfect weather, Smethurst didn’t drop a shot, reaching the turn in one under to be two up and he finished it off with further birdies at the 13th and 14th.

Another Welsh senior cap, Philip Jones, strengthened Cheshire’s grip but he had to dig deep to beat John Smith 2 and 1.Jones led the contest on four occasions only to be pegged back and they were all square with three to play. But Jones wrapped it up with winning pars at the 16th and 17th .

Bob Walker was always in charge of the bottom match against Jim Scott, winning 5 and 3 but Somerset looked like salvaging something from the other two singles. Both went to the final green but Cheshire held sway here again with Rolfe Furmston (pictured) and George Payne securing narrow victories.

After securing the foursomes, both by 3 and 1, Kent marched a step nearer overall victory when David Jamieson took six of the opening seven holes against John MacCallum on his way to a 6 and 5 success.

However, Northants made a spirited fight of it, not least through Brian O’Connell and skipper Martin Harris. O’Connell won the first two holes, the first with a birdie-three, against Ian Mason and although he was pegged back, further wins at the sixth, seventh and ninth put the Northants man four up at the turn. It was a lead he was never to lose and the end came at the 17th with a 3 and 1 victory.

Harris was conceded the opening hole by Chris Buckley only to lose the fourth. However, the Northants man then won four of the next five holes, two with birdies, to turn four up and he eventually ran out a 4 and 3 winner.

However, Kent were not to be denied and they took both bottom games comfortably through Chris Reynolds and England cap Howard Moxon.

In tomorrow’s (Wednesday) matches, Cheshire will play Northamptonshire while Kent meet Somerset.

Related Links

• http://www.englishgolfunion.org

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