English senior men's county finals

Cheshire and Kent resume winning ways

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Cheshire and Kent got back to winning ways on day two of the English Seniors County Finals at Ferndown to stay on course for yet another title but Dorset are still in the hunt despite going down to Cheshire.
After facing each other and battling out an opening day tie, Cheshire and Kent each completed emphatic wins so the outcome after the third round of matches could be decided on games won.
After a delayed start due to several greens being flooded after overnight rain, two tees were used and Cheshire got off to a flier from the ninth, taking all three morning foursomes against day one winners Dorset, which left then requiring just two-and-a-half points from the six singles.
But it wasn’t easy to achieve. Dorset battled back to take the top two singles through John Smith and John Gordon, who pulled off a remarkable 5 and 4 victory over top international Roy Smethurst.
Starting at the ninth, Gordon won the 12th, 15th and 16th, all with birdies, while another at the first plus a concession at the second saw the tussle end on the fourth. But Cheshire weren’t to be denied and with seniors cap Phil Slater winning 5 and 3 and George Payne 5 and 4, plus a half from Ron Harrison they got over the line.
Slater made a blistering start against Brian Medlam, winning the ninth, tenth and 11th to go 3-up. He then lost the 17th but won the first, second and fifth, with a birdie, to get home 5 and 3. However, there was a sting in the tail when Campbell Boal fought back for Dorset with a 6 and 5 victory over Ian McGurn.
Kent were made to fight by Northants in the foursomes, each game being decided by 1 hole, two in Kent’s favour. But Kent took command in the singles with major wins for Sam Smale, Ricky Moore and Howard Moxon.
Smale was another to make a fast start against Andrew MacDonald, the Kent man winning the third, fifth, sixth only for MacDonald to take the eighth and tenth. But Smale found his feet again to win the 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th all with pars, for a 5 and 3 success.
Chris Reynolds found himself 3 down to Richard Cole after 12 holes but won the 13th, 14th and 15th as well as the last with a par, Reynolds getting home by 1 hole.
Chris Hurst was involved in a remarkable encounter with Northants Brian O'Connell. Hurst was 4 down with four to play but hit back to halve the game with a couple of birdies.