Golf club make history
Thursday, 29th July 1999.
REPEATED bursts of applause echoed round the fairways of Woodbridge Golf Club as Haverhill's Hambro Cup team relentlessly drove on to victory in Suffolk's premier inter-club competition.
Four holes up at lunch against the hot favourites for the title, Stoke-by-Nayland, Haverhill added a further three in the second period of play to lift the cup for the first time in their 23-year history - 14 years after their only final appearance which resulted in a runner-up spot to Gorleston.
All four foursomes pairs played steadily throughout the day operating as a team, poised for any movement from the opposition, which just did not materialise.
One article in the Press supposedly hung the Couples Road squad's chances of success round the shoulders of leading golfer David Quinney, but no mention was made of his seven friends.
Quinney and partner, greenkeeper Alan Carter, a seasoned Hambro player, took the sting out of the Nayland attack finishing the day four holes up over Kieron Browne and Andrew Tokley.
Paul Houchen and Haverhill's youngest performer, junior Robert Scott, again produced a fine effort defeating Anthony Kirwan and Mark Chamberlain in both sessions by two and one, which was rounded off with a birdie three at the 36th hole of the day.
Newly-crowned club champion Kevin Robinson and partner Robert Tatum did not have the best of mornings against Iain Younger and Simon Dainty going down by one hole, but the tide had to turn after the local pair's incredible half at the 18th hole. Robert's drive settled five feet above the ground in a gorse bush and after taking a penalty drop Kevin's approach shot from deep rough, where he was unsighted, found the green leaving a routine putt. Now the adrenalin was flowing it was all systems go for the anchor pair who came off the final green in the early evening four holes up.
Both Derek Thomas and Gerry Scott refused to be intimidated by the occasion and their plan was to play a natural game.
Nothing spectacular just percentage golf within their own capabilities. Holding Kieron Canham and Jaimie Moul to all square at lunch it was only in the closing holes they lost their way going down by three holes. Considering Gerry was Derek's third partner this year, who came in as a last minute substitute, he gave a solid sterling performance.
There were one or two sniffles by the 18th green as Hambro Captain Spencer Tatum accepted the cup from Stuart Goodman of the SGU at the end of a magical day.
At home, the domestic event, the CAB Edwards Greensome Cup went ahead with a lot smaller than normal field and was captured by Ian Storey and Stuart Halls (67) as Bev and Gary Fox (68) took second place on the countback from Dave Nichols and Steve Nichols. The previous day's mixed match against the visitors Waldringfield Heath, ended all square. It was a 4BBB format as four holes were won, four lost and two halved. Often seen practicing, this has finally paid off for Paul Tebbutt, who got into the end of year final for the IFF Challenge Cup with his two-shot mid-week win in the qualifying heat. In second spot was Scott Palmer (65) who was followed by Jim Thomson, one of five competitors on 66.
Four holes up at lunch against the hot favourites for the title, Stoke-by-Nayland, Haverhill added a further three in the second period of play to lift the cup for the first time in their 23-year history - 14 years after their only final appearance which resulted in a runner-up spot to Gorleston.
All four foursomes pairs played steadily throughout the day operating as a team, poised for any movement from the opposition, which just did not materialise.
One article in the Press supposedly hung the Couples Road squad's chances of success round the shoulders of leading golfer David Quinney, but no mention was made of his seven friends.
Quinney and partner, greenkeeper Alan Carter, a seasoned Hambro player, took the sting out of the Nayland attack finishing the day four holes up over Kieron Browne and Andrew Tokley.
Paul Houchen and Haverhill's youngest performer, junior Robert Scott, again produced a fine effort defeating Anthony Kirwan and Mark Chamberlain in both sessions by two and one, which was rounded off with a birdie three at the 36th hole of the day.
Newly-crowned club champion Kevin Robinson and partner Robert Tatum did not have the best of mornings against Iain Younger and Simon Dainty going down by one hole, but the tide had to turn after the local pair's incredible half at the 18th hole. Robert's drive settled five feet above the ground in a gorse bush and after taking a penalty drop Kevin's approach shot from deep rough, where he was unsighted, found the green leaving a routine putt. Now the adrenalin was flowing it was all systems go for the anchor pair who came off the final green in the early evening four holes up.
Both Derek Thomas and Gerry Scott refused to be intimidated by the occasion and their plan was to play a natural game.
Nothing spectacular just percentage golf within their own capabilities. Holding Kieron Canham and Jaimie Moul to all square at lunch it was only in the closing holes they lost their way going down by three holes. Considering Gerry was Derek's third partner this year, who came in as a last minute substitute, he gave a solid sterling performance.
There were one or two sniffles by the 18th green as Hambro Captain Spencer Tatum accepted the cup from Stuart Goodman of the SGU at the end of a magical day.
At home, the domestic event, the CAB Edwards Greensome Cup went ahead with a lot smaller than normal field and was captured by Ian Storey and Stuart Halls (67) as Bev and Gary Fox (68) took second place on the countback from Dave Nichols and Steve Nichols. The previous day's mixed match against the visitors Waldringfield Heath, ended all square. It was a 4BBB format as four holes were won, four lost and two halved. Often seen practicing, this has finally paid off for Paul Tebbutt, who got into the end of year final for the IFF Challenge Cup with his two-shot mid-week win in the qualifying heat. In second spot was Scott Palmer (65) who was followed by Jim Thomson, one of five competitors on 66.
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