Devon Features

Devon v Cornwall

Monday 24th October 2007
Yelverton Golf Club

S Mason/P Hendriksen def R Sadler/G Lenaghan 3/2
R Goodey / B Austin def N Rogers / P Turpin 6/5
C Strange / A Norman def N Williams / M Rowe 2/1
A Moon / I Parker def S Richards / M Arrowsmith 2/1
N Cook/James Langmead def M Edmunds/T Pitts 7/6

Foursomes: Devon 5, Cornwall 0

The Victorious Devon Team

S Mason def R Sadler 1up, B Austin halved G Lenaghan,R Goodey def P Turpin 4/3,
P Hendriksen def N Rogers 6/5, A Norman lost to S Richards 3/2,
C Strange def M Arrowsmith 1up, A Moon halved N Williams, J Langmead lost to M Rowe 5/4,
I Parker def T Pitts 3/2, N Cook halved M Edmunds

Singles: Devon 6.5, Cornwall 3.5

Total: Devon 11.5, Cornwall 3.5

DEVON DISPLAY STRENGTH IN DEPTH!!

The annual match between teams from Devon and Cornwall was played on Monday 22nd at Yelverton Golf Club. The golf course was in great shape with the greens running fast and very true, Yelverton is always a favourite venue for the Devon Pro`s and the team included several player`s who regularly play well at the moorland course. These included Barry Austin from Downes Crediton who a few years ago set a remarkable course record of 11 under par 60.

After last years heartbreaking defeat for Cornwall, which went down to the last putT on the last green at Perranporth, the visitors were desperate to win, and fielded a strong team. It is 2001 since they last held the trophy, since then Devon have dominated the event.

With five morning foursomes and ten afternoon singles, players set out at a `chilly` 8 am for the first matches, Devon`s pairings which Captain Ashley Moon, Okehampton worked out the week before, played superbly and all matches quickly swung their way.

Two matches resulted in heavy defeats for Cornwall, with the formidable pairing of Barry Austin and Robin Goodey crushing Nick Rodgers and Paul Turpin 6 and 5, the other big win was by Nick Cook, Elfordleigh and James Langmead, Stover who hammered Malcolm Edmunds and Tony Pitts 7 and 6.

The other three matches were closer, but Devon closed out each game, all finished before the 18th tee. Ashley Moon and Iain Parker RND beat Mark Arrowsmith and Scott Richards 2 and 1, The strong pairing of Sean Mason, Teign Valley and Paul Hendriksen, Fingle Glen beat Richard Sadler and Gary Lenihan 3 and 2, and finally Cliff Strange, Torquay and Andy Norman, Wollacombe and Illfracombe, closed out a great morning for Devon, with a 2 and 1 win against Nick Williams and Mark Rowe.

The golf from all the Devon foursomes pairings was of the highest order and a combined score in relation to par in all five matches was 21 under .

Cornwall were shell shocked, and understandably deflated after going into lunch 5-0 down.

The afternoon singles again went Devon`s way, with Devon only needing 3 points for victory it fell to West Region player of the year Sean Mason to hole the winning putt. Sean won a tight match against Cornwall`s leading player Richard Sadler 1 up, with two points already in the bag from earlier victories by Robin Goodey and Paul Hendricksen, Devon again held the bragging rights in Westcountry Pro golf!!

With the match decided, the other players on the course were playing for personal pride, and again Devon showed how strong a line up they had.

Barry Austin halved his match with Trevose`s Gary Lenihan, Andy Norman lost 3 and 2 to Scott Richards, and Cliff Strange won on the last against Mark Arrowsmith. Devon Captain Ashley Moon halved a tight match with St Enodoc`s experienced Nick Williams , Nick holing a 43 ft putt on the last green to deny Moon a win, James Langmead lost 5 and 4 to Mark Rowe from Carlyon Bay.

Iain Parker was delighted to win his singles against Tony Pitts, and secure full points on the day, as last year he had lost both matches to the same player. RND Head Pro, Parker had taken some good humoured banter from his Devon team mates this season, as he was the only player last year not to gain any points. He was understandably pleased to shed his nickname of `Pointless Parker`

In the final game Nick Cook halved his match with the experienced Malcolm Edmunds. All round this had been a great afternoon display, and the feeling among Devon players was that if the match had been closer, they could have stepped up another gear.

The final match result was 11.5 to 3.5 to Devon, the largest winning margin ever, and as the Cornwall players pondered the result at the after match dinner, they must have wondered if the will ever get their hands on the beautiful crystal trophy again.

The result again highlighted the strength and depth of Pro golf in Devon.

Devon PGA Captain thanked everybody at Yelverton for hosting the match , particularly head greenkeeper Steve Evans who has produced one of the best conditioned natural moorland courses in England. He also looked forward to next years match and hoped Devon could keep up this sort of form when they cross the Tamer to defend the trophy.