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English men's county title race is blown wide open by Lincolnshire and Somerset victories
 The
title race at the English Men’s County Championship was blown wide open
today when both Lincolnshire and Somerset won their matches at Wychwood
Park in Cheshire.
They
join yesterday’s winners, Hampshire and Lancashire, on two points
apiece – with one day’s play left in the round robin tournament.
The
eventual outcome is likely to be decided on countback, so all four
counties will be on a mission to win as many games as possible in
tomorrow’s deciders.
Somerset and Lincolnshire will face each other in the top match, while Lancashire will play Hampshire.
“This
is great for county golf,” said Lincolnshire captain Steve Brattan,
whose team beat Hampshire 6-3 on a perfect autumn day.
Somerset captain
Justin Lane echoed him after his side defeated Lancashire 5-4: “This is
great for the event, there’s nothing worse than having a dead rubber.”
Both teams
came out determined to make an impact in the foursomes, having each lost
all three games on the first day. Today, Somerset managed to win two,
but Lincolnshire were still on the back foot after they only secured one
point from the morning’s play.
Brattan
remarked: “They fought in the foursomes but it went the wrong way at
the wrong time.
"But their performance was outstanding in the singles and
it’s all down to the ability of the players and their grit and
determination.”
The
Lincolnshire side started well, got ahead early and stayed there.
England international Ashton Turner was taken to the last by Tom Robson
but held on to his narrow advantage to win one up. Further down the
order his team-mates were in control and the points steadily followed
from boy international Billy Spooner, Adam Wainwright, Nick Watson and
Sam Whittaker, who completed the scoreline when he defeated Hampshire’s
anchorman Scott Gregory. Watson won both his matches today for
Lincolnshire.
“After
yesterday, it’s a great feeling to be in this position and still going
forward,” said Brattan, who added: “We have got to get the foursomes
right tomorrow!”
Somerset,
meanwhile, made a quick start with their two foursomes wins and their
lead proved critical when the singles were shared three apiece.
“Yesterday
I think the lads were a bit anxious, only one of them has played in
this event before,” said Lane. “But they realised they are as good as
the other counties and they performed beautifully today. They came out
of the blocks very hot and just kept going.”
His
players had to withstand some spectacular play from Lancashire. In the
foursomes Sean Towndrow holed the second shot on the eighth for a
winning eagle and in the afternoon Ian Kenwright holed his approach to
the 15th for another eagle two.
However,
Matt Turner kept his nerve to beat Kenwright on the last while Josh
Hilleard and Will Poole (image © Leaderboard Photography) both won on
the 17th. Hilleard and Poole both had a 100 per cent winning record
today.
Today’s
results prompted the teams and their supporters to assess a range of
permutations and possibilities from tomorrow’s matches.
At the moment,
three teams – Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Hampshire – have all amassed
9½ game points, while Somerset have 7½.
Hampshire
captain Steve Williams summed up: “All four counties can win and all we
can do is our best and hope that’s good enough. We will try and pick up
every point – but all four counties are saying the same!”
Click here for full scores
Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193 |
Labels: COUNTY NEWS
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Saturday, September 26, 2015
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