After the excitement of last month’s Trubody Trophy, the next competition for the Senior Men and Ladies’ Sections was “The Match”. The joint Sections’ version of a Ryder Cup session.

This is always a hotly contested match of Four Ball Better Ball Matchplay with the Ladies determined to win the Shield and the Seniors equally determined to keep it in their hands.

This year, nine pairs from each Section played, not only battling each other but also the weather, which, early on was windy and wet but then changed into warm sunshine.

There were two “Nearest the Pin” competitions for each Section too, just to add a bit of interest on the way around the Duchy course. These were won by Jackie Willcox and Mel Field.

The first three games resulted in a draw, which raised the Ladies’ hopes but these were dashed when the next two games were won by the Seniors. The Ladies won and drew two more games, but the damage had been done, the final games went to the Seniors.

Everyone gathered on the Clubhouse patio to hear the final result which amounted to a win for the Seniors by six games to three. Seniors’ Captain, Alan Skivington, accepted The Match Shield on behalf of the Seniors and thanked the Ladies for their spirited and valiant efforts in the games which had been played in a great atmosphere of competitive spirit and camaraderie.

The last competition of the Ladies calendar is the AGM Salver, a qualifying Stableford. Following on from her success in the recent Committee Cup, rookie Lesley Mannion carded 35 points to take third place, beaten on countback by Pauline Young to second place.

The winner of the Salver by one point was Jackie Willcox, whose score of 36 points included pars at the long par 5 13th and 18th holes.

Jane Ball