Boys Miracle at Hobson to Beat Durham Boys
The day was overcast, cool and with a strong wind blowing for our encounter with Durham Boys at Hobson GC near Stanley. The course is set on top of the Durham hills and was in good condition and we were welcomed very warmly by Michael Hoy, Clubhouse steward, staff and members.
First out in the foursomes was our strong pairing of Harry Richmond and Zac against Durham’s strongest Roan and Oliver. This we knew was going to be a tough battle and it most certainly was! The game was tied for virtually most of the round with pars and a couple of birdies, we witnessed some great golf and a birdie from the Durham pair on sixteen secured the win 1Up. Another tough game followed with Harry Phillips and Archie going 2Up after four but letting it slip with a couple of bogeys to be 1Down at the turn. Durham capitalised on their run to be 3Up after fourteen, alas to lose the next two holes and with an eagle from us, a tied game! Our Captain, Will and Oscar played good golf for the front nine to 2Up at the turn, but with bogeys on the next three were 1Down. The game went back and forth with them being tied after seventeen, so all on the last and sadly with a poor drive finished behind a tree and chip out producing a bogey six they lost 1Down. Sam and Jack struggled on the front nine to be 1Down after nine holes but pulled it back to 1Up after thirteen and then a birdie on seventeen for the Durham lads secured a 1Up victory. In our final game we had the Ganton boys of Seth and George who took control of their game after two and went out in 2Up where they went birdie, par, par, birdie to win 6&5.
Lunch score: Durham 3.5 – Yorkshire 1.5.
Not the start we were expecting, but after a discussion at lunch with the boys they were determined to pull this round so off we went in the singles!
The two Harry’s were up against Roan and Evan who were on top form again in the afternoon and went on to win both their games. Zac was tied after nine and continued to play steady golf to win 3&1. Archie took control of his game after 5 holes and he won 3&2. Jack unfortunately had met with their star player of the day who went round in about 5 under to beat him 6&5. At that stage Durham had a total of 6.5 points and only required 1.5 to secure a win! Will had a battle with Oscar Hancill and his game went up eighteen and with a terrific birdie four to a par he won 1Up. Another game going up eighteen tied was Oscar and with a solid par to a bogey six he won 1Up. Sam took control at the turn going out 1Up and was 2Up after twelve and a good par on seventeen secured a 3&1 win.
The match now stood at Durham 6.5 – Yorkshire 6.5 with two games left to finish, the Ganton boys!
Seth was 3Up after fourteen, so all looked good, however Andre Bethapudi came back at him with two birdies, but a poor drive down seventeen by Andre secured a win for Seth with the match ending in a win to Yorkshire or tied match depending on the outcome of the last game. In the final game of George he took control after three holes and was 2Up after fifteen, but a birdie on sixteen from Harry Sheen reduced it to 1Up, both parred the seventeenth so a win for Yorkshire had been secured! Down eighteen they went! George played out of the fairway bunker on eighteen to put it next to a tree which impeded his swing and he played a superb shot on to the fringe of the green to two putt and secure his 1Up win.
So final score Durham 6.5 – Yorkshire 8.5
This was a tremendous win for Team Yorkshire! They fought all the way in the afternoon, never giving up even when down to pull off a great win on Durham soil. Craig and I are so proud of all the team.
Philip
