Guilford Trophy Final
Played at Littlestone Saturday 20th September 2009.
This year’s final of the Guilford Trophy was contested at Littlestone on a fine Saturday with virtually no wind by Canterbury and Royal Cinque Ports. Both sides had earned their place in these finals by winning their semi-finals away from home at Littlestone and Ashford respectively. Special mention to Canterbury who had in fact been drawn away in every round.
The morning foursomes finished all square at 2 all, after some exciting golf from all parts of the links.
The breeze began to blow as the 8 singles went off in the afternoon. They were all fairly tight matches with the exception of Cinque Ports Ian Mason who won 5 up as did Canterbury’s Richard Davies.
After 6 of these singles matches the tie was all square, with just 2 matches still playing. With most of the other players now following these matches, the pressure was on, and as the matches went through the 15th Mike Bidewell was 2 down to Cinque Port’s Howard Moxon and Toby Cozens was 3 down to Canterbury’s Colin Gellatly. Toby managed to win 1 hole back and lost 2 down, which meant all was now on Howard and Mike. The long par 4 16th proved to be the deciding hole with Mike in deep rough to the right of the green and Howard through the green, both in two. Howard managed to make the green with his third shot, where Mike took two to move his ball from the jungle, allowing Howard to win the game.
This left the scores tied at 6 all with Cinque Ports winning by 1 hole on a count back.
Royal Cinque Ports now represent The Guilford Trophy Clubs in the Mid Kent Cup at Chislehurst on 19th April 2009 against either Rochester and Cobham or Knowle Park, who contest the final for The Perman Shield on the 5th October 2009 at Royal Blackheath.
Congratulations to both teams for the not just the high standard of golf but the spirit in which all the matches were played.
John G Young
Hon Sec Guilford Trophy. |
