YIDU - SUGC v EAST RIDING

The stage was set on President Jeff Roden’s home course of Hickleton for the critical match against the early YIDU leaders, East Riding, which might determine the overall result of the senior league season. An overcast sky with mizzling rain and increasing wind, parched fairways, cut and ironed greens – all presented challenges. The opening pair of Palmowski/Wilson was quickly 2 down at the 4th, 4 down at the 7th but whittled away the score line to be 1 down at the 12th, and finished all square. Balance was restored with sound wins (3&2 and 3&1) by the pairings of Tasker/King and Harrison/Smith. The Perry brothers had a tough (losing) match, but youngsters Clarke/Sowerby all-squared their match, with a final win by Moon/Sullivan (3&1) producing a healthy overall foursome score of 8 – 4 points.

And so to the challenge of the singles. One has to wonder why that challenge always seems to be writ large in the last third of courses, especially as here, in the words of captain Neil, the wind had strengthened to ‘brutal force’. At the 13th tee 3 of our top order players were 2 down with similar scoring for 3 of our lower order. The omens looked grim, but as the wind rose, so did the quality of their play. Jack Wilson turned the deficit into 1up, Jim Tasker 2up and Nick King A/S; Ollie Sullivan into 1up, Jordan Perry, after being 4 down at the 7th, into A/S and Dominic Moon 3&1. Meantime, Luke Palmowski had eased from A/S to a 3&1 win, Jamie Harrison, always in front, to 2&1, Oliver Smith 6&5, Brandon Perry 6&4 and Conor Clarke staved off a late rally from his opponent to win 2&1. Special mention should be made of Ollie Sullivan, our latest junior recruit, who being 2 down on the 13th tee eagled the severely uphill 490 yard hole, par-ed the 14th ‘the most difficult hole on the course’ (Hickleton website), and birdied the 15th to win his match 1up – what a debut!

Conclusion? Our team players proved fit for any challenge, whether that be the course/greens, the weather/wind or their opponents, thus securing the critical win by 28 – 8 points. Onwards now to the last match against the Harrogate Union at Ripon City on 2 September, when the challenge to win the YIDU senior league this year without losing a match is in our own hands!

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