Surrey boys keep title at
English county finals

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Surrey retained the title with a comprehensive victory over Warwickshire while Cornwall were left with the wooden spoon as the Boys County Finals concluded on yet another day of ravaging winds at Royal North Devon.
Having already overcome Lancashire and Cornwall in the annual round-robin tournament, Surrey kept the title firmly in their grasp by crushing Warwickshire 9-0. With four internationals in their seven-man squad, Surrey possessed too much fire power for their rivals, a fact underlined by just a half point dropped from nine foursomes and four more surrendered in the singles.
“It was all about seven good players and a good coach,” said Surrey captain Terry Casey. “We knew we had the players to do it but it is all about performing on the day. In the end the standard of golf was exemplary. Today was the toughest conditions and they all went out and performed as we know they can.
“The conditions suited us because only the best players could cope as it was a case of controlling the ball. I don’t want to single out anybody because this is a great team.”
With the three morning foursomes already in their pockets, Surrey only needed two wins from the six singles but they were behind in virtually every one in the early stages. The general consensus was that it was extremely tough to play golf with the balls frequently oscillating on the greens.
But Surrey’s demise was premature and they slowly turned every match round with amazing skill and regularity. Tom Berry battled back from one down through six holes to win 4 and 2 over Phil Wastell while Josh White completed a 4 and 3 win over Tom Ibbertson, again after trailing early on.
Gary King played superbly, coming back from two down through four holes to beat Michael McCormack 6 and 5 while Jake Shepherd was one down with four to play but won the 15th and 17th to get home by one hole.
Max Williams also came up trumps by 3 and 2 over Jamie Carney and the final word was left to Stiggy Hodgson in his final match as a Surrey junior. He was two down to Will Bailey after seven but finished the contest a 4 and 2 winner on the 16th green.
Lancashire, champions in 2006, had the edge over Cornwall after the foursomes and they extended their lead when James Wilson wrapped up a 3 and 2 win over Billy Downing having never been down.
Cornwall hit back through Conor Wilson, who was always in front against Paul Howard before winning 3 and 2 but Scott Fitzgerald and Jack Brooks then sealed Lancashire’s victory. Fitzgerald was behind early on to Alex Glover but won three holes in four from the 10th to clinch a 2 and 1 success while Brooks was five up after seven holes against Tom Fox but the Cornish lad bounced back, winning four successive holes, then got back on terms at the 16th.
But Brooks birdied the 17th and held on for a narrow win. Aaron Stephens added to Cornwall’s tally by beating Anthony Stirling 2 and 1 but Lancashire had the final say when Tom Stuart edged a close encounter with Alan Lieske on the final green.
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