Devon Features

Devon v Gloucester & Somerset

Monday 30th March 2009
Royal North Devon Golf Club

RESULTS
Devon names first

Foursomes

Sean Mason/Gary Milne bt Ed Goodwin/Jon Goymer 4&3

Iain Parker/Ashley Moon lost George Ryall/David Haines 1 hole

Barry Austin/Andy Norman bt Russ Berry/Andrew March 1hole

Neil Holman/Paul Hendriksen bt Kevin Pitts/Giuseppe Licata 2&1

Dave Curl/Duncan Arnold lost Steve Ritchie/ Trevor Jones 3&1

Foursomes Devon 3 v 2 G&S

Singles

Sean Mason bt George Ryall 1hole
Ashley Moon bt Trevor Jones 2&1
Gary Milne bt Andrew March 5&4
Barry Austin lost to David Haines 2&1
Iain Parker bt Ed Goodwin 3&2
Andy Norman bt Jon Goymer 1hole
Paul Hendriksen halved with Kevin Pitts
Neil Holman lost to Giuseppe Licata 4&2
Dave Curl lost to Russell Berry 3&2
Duncan Arnold bt Steve Ritchie 6&5

Singles Devon 6.5 v 2.5 G&S

Final Result
Devon 9.5 v 5.5 Gloucester & Somerset

Captains Jon Goymer & Andy Norman

The Victorious Devon Team

The winning putt from Andy Norman

Devon County PGA came out on top, in a great first match against the combined forces of the Gloucester and Somerset PGA , in what is hoped will become an annual fixture in the golfing calendar.

The matches were played at the historic links of Westward Ho! The club allowed the match to be played from the championship West of England Tee`s and this stretched the course to 7000yds. The weather could not have been better, with only light winds all day, the golf course was in great condition for this early in the season, with the greens putting at about 10 on the stimp metre. The pins as usual at RND were set in very testing positions, and this placed a premium on accurate iron play and good short game skills.

In the morning Foursomes matches Devon just managed to come out on top, with a lead of 3 matches to 2. Mason and Milne combined superbly to win 4&3 in a low scoring game they were 3 under par when they won, great foursomes golf. Parker and Moon lost on the last to the vastly experienced Ryall and Haines in a high quality game. Austin and team Captain Norman won their match on the last to even things up, and with Holman and Hendriksen winning 2&1 Devon were assured an important morning lead.

Both team Captains put their `big guns` out at the top of the order, in the hope of securing the vital early points, but it was Devon who struck first, in a very tight opening match Sean Mason won both the 17th and 18th to just edge out Seniors Tour star George Ryall.

Ashley Moon then beat one of the most promising players in the West Country, 2008 Welsh Professionals Champion Trevor Jones by 2&1. Moon loves the team format and after losing his first match ever for Devon in the morning, was determined to come out on top.

The `in form` Gary Milne who loves links golf was 4 under par when he beat Andrew March by 5&4, he commented " It was great to be out there playing for the County again, and being part of a team, it is the first team matchplay golf I have played since the 1980`s!"

Barry Austin lost to David Haines and Barry was perhaps a little `drained` after his efforts last week in securing the coveted Devon No.1 spot.

Home Club professional Iain Parker beat `big hitting` Ed Goodwin by 3&2 in a match which hinged on a couple of crucial putts. Parker commented " We knew this was going to be a tough match and I think all the guy`s felt we would have to be on top of our games today, home advantage was important, but we are all so pleased with the win."

Devon Captain Andy Norman had the honour of `holing the winning` putt in his match against Jon Goymer and his crucial birdie on the long 17th made all the difference. Norman said "The match has been a great experience for me, and I will remember the great team spirit and atmosphere for a long time, it is quite nerve racking being Captain, but fortunately the team made it easy for me, with the great early singles wins."

Paul Hendriksen halved his match against Kevin Pitts, and G&S players beat both Neil Holman and David Curl.

One of the stories of the day though was the great win by Duncan Arnold, he had come in as a replacement as a couple of players were unable to make the date, and he showed that Devon really do have great `strength in depth.` He had a huge scare on the morning as he lost his car keys and his clubs were in the car, thinking quickly he jumped in his wife`s car and headed to his shop for an early morning raid of the second hand bin. He assembled a makeshift set from trade ins and demo woods and rushed to North Devon, arriving just in time for a quick breakfast.

His morning foursomes were a trial run for the `new` clubs, and after lunch he was in unstoppable form, winning his match by the biggest margin of any player 6&5. He commented " What a scare, my wife rang me just after the match was over, to give me the good news that she had found my car keys in her coat pocket!!" With a young family like Dunc`s we all know how adaptable you have to be, but not when you are about to represent your County for the first time! Well played Duncan.

The matches were played in a very competitive spirit, but among good friends, the best part of these matches is the friendships formed and the knowledge passed around amongst the Pro`s. Everybody was pleased to be part of something which, over the next seasons, could grow to become one of the best days golf in the West Country.

Both Captains thanked Royal North Devon for hosting the event and looked forward to the return match in a year`s time on Gloucester and Somerset territory.