ENGLAND AMATEURS TOO STRONG
FOR SPAIN WITH 16-8 VICTORY
AT ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST

England gained revenge for the drubbing they suffered in Madrid two years ago when they beat Spain 16-8 at Royal Ashdown Forest in East Sussex at the weekend.
Beginning the second and final day just a point ahead, England dropped only half a point in the foursomes which meant they required just 2½ points for outright victory. They were supplied in the top three matches by Gary Wolstenholme, Jamie Moul and John Parry with the vital point.
Not that the day was without its problems, especially after lunch. The afternoon didn’t start well with heavy rain flooding several greens, delaying the start by 15 minutes. Even when it did get underway the rain returned and, with only the Wolstenholme/Vicente match on the course, play was suspended for a further half an hour.
There was a danger that the singles might have to be abandoned, but fortunately the weather improved, the water drained swiftly away and the match resumed only for Wolstenholme to underline his value to England by romping away with the top contest.
After winning the opening five holes against Gonzalo Vicente, the England veteran comfortably completed a 6 and 5 victory. Moul was in sparkling form, running in six front-nine birdies to be out in 30 strokes and thereby five-up. He also won the 10th but was content to cross the winning line five holes ahead for his fourth win in as many matches.
Despite falling behind at the second hole, Parry showed his mettle with an eagle 3 at the fifth to draw level and after taking the lead for the first time at the long eighth, another eagle-three at the tenth saw the Yorkshireman two-up. In the end it was fitting that Parry, this year's Spanish Amateur champion, should see England home with a birdie-three at the 15th. It completed a successful couple of days for Parry who dropped only half a point in his four outings.
Gary Boyd also enjoyed a happy match and took a 100 per cent record into his match with Lluis Garcia del Moral, the conqueror of Wolstenholme 24 hours earlier. The two youngsters were locked in a superb battle in which Boyd led three times by a single hole only for the Spaniard to battle back, including a 45-foot chip-in for eagle at the long 12th.
Boyd made few mistakes but one at the par four 17th looked like proving costly as del Moral edged in front for the first time. But despite finding his ball on a down slope at the back of the 18th green, Boyd chipped in for a birdie-three which del Moral couldn’t match so the pair finished up with a sporting half.
Further victories came from David Horsey and Paul Waring, both sporting 100 per cent records, as England completed a successful weekend.