The Newark Cup Results
Gloucestershire Newarks win by 2 points and keep the cup !
The second edition of the Newark Cup took place on a wet and cold weekend over 28th/29th April at Tylney Park Golf Club in Hampshire. Despite the adverse conditions all the golfers arrived in fine fettle in Rotherwick and quickly the mood in the clubhouse became competitive. With the final nutritionist advised bacon sandwiches and coffees on board the two teams headed to the first tee.
After a quick management decision the singles orders were reversed to allow one of the buggies to deliver the all important par 3 nearest the pin flags. This meant a quick scramble for the last Glos pairing who were warming up on the range, some onlookers mentioned early gamesmanship but that was quickly forgotten as the first tee shots sailed down the fairway.
The Newark Cup 2018 was off and running. The opening holes showcased the skills on both teams amongst a smattering of duffs, pulls and slices as each hole was hotly contested. Neither team stamped their authority on the front 6 as the course played long and the weather wasn’t conducive to low scoring.
In the first match Ian and Dave E started to assert their dominance through the middle of the course and found themselves significantly ahead at the turn. Mark and Andy tried to hit back but couldn’t find the form they needed to stop the game ending on the 13th. A fine first point in a pasting from Hants saw them take an early lead in the competition and leave Mark pointless in his Newark career.
The next group was getting tasty as one of Glos 2017 winning pairings looked to even it up. After taking an early lead Rob and Ade managed to keep Steve and Derek at bay with some great driving coupled with an exhibitionist display of the aways team short game. The Glos pair shut the door again and again on Steve and Derek who finally succumbed on the 16th to give the away team their first point and level the scoreboard leaving Steve pointless in his Newark career.
With the scoreboard evened up group 3 became crucial for momentum for both teams. Ian and Ben started well but couldn’t break down Brian and Tony’s resistance. The game edged both ways until Ian started bringing the big guns out. Having played well on the front 5, Ian started to unleash his famous 7 iron, known & respected throughout Gloucestershire, outdriving his playing companions and making a mockery out of even the longest holes. An unfortunate knee injury for Tony left Brian (undefeated to this point in his Newark career) fighting to turn the tide but he couldn’t stop the match also finishing on the 16th giving Glos a 1 pt lead in the clubhouse.
The last match was critical for both teams as Hants looked to end the day on even par whilst Glos looked to press home their early advantage. News from the course reported Glos being 4 up with 5 to play as the players awaited the last games result. Nick (pointless Hants team member from 2017) and Richie looked to see out the final holes but that wasn’t the message Dave S wanted to send to both teams on his debut. Utilising all the experience and course management gained over the years, the Hants final pairing, with a combined age of over 150, fought back valiantly (and undoubtedly benefitted from on-course advice from Team Captain Pete bringing the total sum of nouse and guile on course in the final Hants group to over 230 years – when you look at it like that Nick and Rich had no hope) to get to 1 down going down the 18th. As the pressure increased Nicks drive found trouble leaving it up to Richie to see the game out. A mistimed drive put Richie behind the tree leaving him with 2 options, use his shot and play safe to attack the green for 3 and make an easy 5 or go for it and hit a fade 140 yards around the tree over the green side bunkers and hope to hold on the green. Richie went for it and caught the ball sweetly making a perfect connection sending the ball straight out of bounds and almost into the next village. With Dave and Costas both struggling to find position Richie was still in it and reloaded to try and rescue something out of the hole. Unfortunately the next shot followed exactly the same trajectory and arrow like direction of the first leaving both Glos players out of the hole and Hants with the win to even up the match.
The day ended 2.5 – 1.5 in favour of the Glos team, a turn around on last years spanking in the doubles, and leaving it wide open for Singles Sunday. The teams headed over to the New Inn to discuss the days important matters, share stories from the rounds as well eat, drink and be merry. The home teams quiz guru Ian G once again prepared a cunning and difficult quiz taxing the knowledge of both teams which was contested as equally competitively as the golf. The Glos team took the quiz for the second year running prompting the end of Doubles Day as the wives came to collect their respective golfers and tuck them safely in bed (the Glos team had to tuck themselves in) to prepare for the all important final day.
Singles Sunday
As the players arrived at breakfast the big news was the change of pairings decided the night before. With old rivalries being restored, Newark Cup honour at stake and the need for a buggy new pairings were formulated to add an extra dimension to the cup. The early talk was round the Pointless Partnership – Mark vs Steve. After 3 matches both players were looking to earn their first point for their teams and it was shaping to be a tasty match up. They would be partnered in group 3 by Richie and Brian with Richie looking to get even after losing out to Brian in the doubles in 2017.
Leading group 1 out was Nick, basking in the light of his first half point snatched from certain victory the day before, against Tony who, after some late night therapy sessions, was trying to manage his injured knee and make a winning start to his Newark Singles career. Adrian & Dave E completed the first group with Dave E up against one of the Glos all stars and one of only 3 players to have a perfect record before Singles Sunday.
Glos started fast with both Adrian and Nick taking an early lead they would never relinquish. After some great golf from both, and with Nick just edging the contest, Tony’s valiant battle was ended as his knee proved a deciding factor in their match giving Nick his first full Newark Cup point. Adrian proved his MVP status once again and took an assured lead into the back 9 finishing the match on the 15th to beat Dave E 4&3. The 2 wins gave the Glos team a perfect start and extended the lead to 4.5 – 1.5 as the drama unfolded behind them in the field.
The second group provided some great drama for the gathered crowds as two very different matches unfolded. Costas took off like a rocket, tearing the course apart to lead Andy 4 up after the front 9 and leaving the Glos player looking for some answers. The 2nd pairing was a very cagey affair full of great golf with holes only being halved in par as each player looked for something special to win the hole. Ian edged the front 9 going out 1 up and looking to extend his lead to maintain his credentials as one of the 3 perfect players (and the only one left on the Hants team). Ians deadly accuracy and consistent short game proved too much for Ben who lost on the 15th giving Hants their first point on Singles Sunday (it’s since been made known that the hcp committee are reviewing Ians position and he may have some serious questions to answer). Against the back drop of Hants first point Andy was fighting back for the away team. After being 5 down after 10 Andy had recovered to 2 down with 2 to play. A stunning up and down out the green side bunker at 17 left him 1 down walking to the 18th. As both players teed off Costas put his drive into the deep stuff which was never to be seen again. Andy managed his way down the 18th (and will be giving lessons to Richie this summer) to win the last and get his team a hard earned 1/2 point. Costas had been involved in both the great comebacks of the weekend and enjoyed both sides of the result making him one of only two undefeated Hants players in the 2018 Cup.
Despite this comeback from Andy the scoreboard had started to lean in Hants favour as they cut Glos lead to 5 – 3. The next game could be crucial as the away team only needed 1 more point to retain the cup.
The third group, and home to the Pointless Partnership, was close fought with all the players delighting the crowds. The battle to win their first Newark point was leading to some good quality golf with Mark edging the opening exchanges going 1 up. Steve fought back and played the back nine 3 over par gross to win 3&2 ending the match with a Newark point at the fourth time of asking leaving Mark to languish as the only pointless player remaining. This meant that Hants had halved the deficit and were now within 1 point. With the game hanging on a knifes edge Richie and Brian exchanged holes until the back 9 when Brian showed his Newark pedigree and increased the pressure. Richie couldn’t recover the ground and they ended up shaking hands on the 17th putting another point on Hants scorecard and evening the cup 5-5 with one more group to come in.
The final group was a strong quartet all looking to give their team the all important next point. Ian continued the devastating form from Saturday letting his 7 iron lead the charge and take the game to Derek. Derek couldn’t conjure his international form from the French tour and ended up shaking hands on the 13th putting Glos 6-5 up and therefore retaining the trophy. The final game between Robbie, with a Newark perfect record of 3 in 3 so far, took on rookie Hants player Dave S looking to build on his part in the great comeback in the doubles. Robbie played his normal assured game untroubled by his anchor role on the team and led through the front 9. Dave S took some key holes but couldn’t stop Robbie from extending his perfect record and taking the final point on the 15th to win the Newark Cup 2018.
Singles Sunday had finished 4.5 – 3.5 in the away teams favour and ending the match 7-5. The Newark Cup 2018 was heading back down the M4 to Gloucestershire after a hard fought weekend enjoyed by all. A big thank you to Tylney Park for hosting the Cup, the warm welcome and the spot on food, the organisers (Mum and Dad), Ian for the quiz, all the players and the New Inn for hosting us on Saturday night.
P.S. Player rankings below for those interested – I can see some tasty pairings already coming together for the 2019 Cup……..
Spiffy Smiffy 