Page 30 - OO_2018

www it a rap up and over the bank and slam-dunked it to go one up. Goodley’s majestic iron into 16 to two feet for another birdie broke the Epsom pair and one hole later the match sat at 2-2.
Pair three had been as much as three up, but the lead had been whittled away until they came down 18 all square. Edwards smacked it straight down the middle, leaving Kendall a wedge in, which he duly found the front half of the green with. Epsom were just through the back, but putting. Edwards faced an horrific up-and-over curler from 35 feet, but with brilliant judgment knocked it to around the three-foot mark. Kendall holed it, leaving Epsom a very nervy short one to take it down 19. They sank it via the side door and then made a class par into the wind at the first extra hole, which our intrepid pair could not quite match.
We were oh so close, again! Hopefully, a combination of a decent draw, a full complement of players to choose from and some much-needed luck will see us go further in 2019.
Results:
1st rd v Epsom L 2-3: AW Lang & AJ Lightowler W 1up; HCJ Fray & TWE Goodley W 2&1; PR Edwards & WNA Kendall L 19th; JPA Ireson & NH Whalley L 5&4; JMG Eddy & RT Pentecost L 5&4.
2018 MELLIN
By Patrick Fossett (B 65)
With two trophies to defend at West Hill in July in the Burles Plate (over-65) and the Mellin Plate (over-55), we were hoping to go one better this year.
Our performance in the Millard (over-75) has been disappointing in recent years and we thought that a good result was possible this time with Robert Barrell (St A 61) ageing up. He was paired with Noel Stephens (St A 59), but Stephens suffered a pre-match injury and was unable to play.
This left non-playing captain Patrick Fossett quite happy, as he was able to recover Barrell for the Burles.
Thus, the two Davids, Simons (Sn 59) and Aston (St A 55), played together, but despite their best efforts, they were unable to qualify for the matchplay stages.
Peter Burles Salver
First-round opponents Felsted do not generally strike fear into Oundle hearts, but birdies from their top pair at two and seven rocked Robert Barrell and Nick Owles (N 63), who had to produce some of their best golf to finally prevail two up.
The second pair of William King (C 66) and Michael Williams (N 69) found good form in their 4&3 victory, although there was a little controversy when the opposition’s opening drive hit his partner standing at the side of the rough!
In the afternoon both our pairs upped their games and were able to dispose of Cheltenham 5&3 and 6&4 respectively.
In the semi-final against Haileybury, King was replaced by Chris Bartram (C 67), who was making his Burles debut, having previously played a few years ago in the Mellin. He and Mike Williams were renewing a partnership last seen 52 years ago in a different sport when they were the stroke and cox of the School’s second VIII.
The top pair of Owles and Barrell were imperious in getting to the hut at the 12th six up, but on the 13th Barrell, having greened his tee shot, was left 2ft 6in away, needing to hole the
putt to win the match. He realised that he had left his putter at the hut and his hybrid club was not up to the task. A very solid 14th rectified matters, though, and this left us requiring a half from trap two.
Since Bartram and Williams were three up at nine, there was a certain confidence. However, we all know how matchplay can go, especially foursomes, and we were pegged back to all square at 16 due to some very stuffy Haileybury play.
The 17th swung one way and then the other, resulting in a half in par, so could we halve the 18th to take us through to the final?
Two majestic shots left us just short of the green in two and despite the opposition playing miraculous shots from the heather, we were able to get the necessary half.
Saturday’s final against Sherborne proved to be as satisfactory as in many of the past years. The top pair played tight golf and ran out 3&2 winners.
It should be noted that Barrell played 15 short holes in the tournament and ‘only’ greened 14 - a remarkable achievement! The second pair found themselves three up after four holes
and were never really under pressure. This was helped by their opponents’ inability to drive straight and they finished matters after Williams hit a seven iron to six feet on the short 13th to win the hole.
Another good year in the Burles which prolongs our purple patch. Since 2012 we have gone win, win, win, semi, win, plate, win.
GL Mellin Salver
Oundle lost Fred Domellof (Lx 76) from the line-up, but David Beamish (Sc 77) very kindly stepped into the breach and partnered Peter Edwards (Sc 73) in pair two. Michael Beamish (Sc 75) and Duncan Smith (C 71) formed the top pair and Peter Pentecost (St A 73) and Nick Copestick (Ldr 69) were the solid backstop.
The opening game against Felsted produced typical Mellin golf, epitomised by one match at the short fourth, where we hit a cracking tee shot to 12 feet, whilst they hooked on to the fifth tee. Suffice to say, we lost the hole - a classic of the genre! Battle was truly joined and by the time the teams got to the hut, our pairs were three down, two down and five up. The second pair got it back to one down on the 17th tee, but we were unable to rescue that match, losing it 2&1.
So, into the Plate and a title to defend! In the afternoon battle against Bedford we played somewhat better and ran out relatively easy winners.
We repaired to Worplesdon for an excellent dinner with Loretto, with fewer incidents than a year before, and all the
Chris Bartram (C 67), Nick Owles (N 63), Robert Barrell (St A 61) and Michael Williams (N 69), winners of the 2018 Peter Burles Salver
SPORT
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