Midland South County Week 2019

Midland South County Week 2019 was held at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.

County Matches 2019 started with some jet setting !

Captain, Laura Webb, flew back to the UK on the Sunday from sunny Switzerland, while President, Margaret Berriman, flew in the same day from not so sunny Belfast.

Everyone else, apart from rookie Freya Burns who had one more A-Level to sit on Monday morning, just drove up from home !

With the new condensed format, getting straight out of the blocks on the first morning is even more important. Our first match was against the hosts, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire’s rookie pairing of Sally Collier and Jules Tarr battled valiantly, holding their nerves to pip their opponents on the 17th hole. However, Oxfordshire’s local knowledge finally proved too much and we ended up being seemingly soundly beaten 4 games to 1.

The afternoon match v Northamptonshire proved more fruitful with a 3.5 game to 1.5 game win. Tarr, this time paired with L Webb, again securing a foursomes win. There were wins also for Izzy Holmes and Julia Warke, and a half for the foursomes pairing of Becky Webb and Emily Savage.

Tuesday morning was crunch time with our match against Buckinghamshire. Following our victory over them last year they were out for revenge, and in the end only Holmes could secure a game from them as the team went down 4 to 1. Mornings did not seem to agree with the Berkshire girls !

After lunch the team again bounced back with a very close fought match against Worcestershire and Herefordshire, which ended in a win 3 games to 2, with 4 of the 5 games going the distance. Tarr and Burns, each paired with experienced campaigners, held on in their respective foursome matches to secure wins. B Webb fought back magnificently from dormy 4 down, only to just miss a birdie putt on the 18th that would have squared the match. Holmes then completed a great event for her with her 3rd singles win out of 4 played. Unfortunately for Berkshire this was her last game as she was heading off the next morning for a well earned post A-level holiday with friends.

So to our final match versus Warwickshire on Wednesday. The team again played their hearts out, but it proved to be another disappointing morning with the pairing of B Webb and Sheree Dove-Wilde securing our half point in a 4.5 to 0.5 defeat.

Special congratulations to Izzy Holmes who won 3 of her 4 single matches. Also to rookies Sally Collier, Freya Burns and Jules Tarr who all got Foursomes wins, (although Jules did have 3 different partners to help her achieve her 3 !)

So to the final standings. Buckinghamshire won and will again go forward to County Finals in September to represent our region.

Berkshire ended up in 5th position, having the same match points as Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, but losing out on individual games won.

Laura Webb
BCLGA Captain

Post Script

Very many thanks to all the volunteer caddies and those who came to watch, the team really appreciated your support.

Thanks also for all the Good Luck Wishes received which decorated our table in the Club House. If we did not win on the course we certainly won in the club house with the biggest Card on the table ! ( EHL J )

Particular thanks to Margaret Berriman and Charlie Keenan (2nd Team Captain) who really did all the hard work behind the scenes for me making my life so much easier.

Finally a huge thanks to all the players. Win or lose they are a great group of girls and I am proud of how they represented Berkshire both on and off the course.

Next year we will be in Northamptonshire from 15th to 17th June., so block your diaries.

I am already looking forward to it !

COUNTY WEEK MATCHES