Match report by: Joe Smith.
Challenge Team Match – Venue Sudbury GC
Vs Bedfordshire
Sunday 16th June 2024
Middlesex hosted their first Challenge League Match of the 2024 season, with a return one week after the County Championships, to Sudbury Golf Club .
Our opponents were Bedfordshire.
The scene was set on the wonderful but tough Sudbury in a day that was tricky with swirling winds to add to its playing difficulties.
A fascinating and most fantastic match lay ahead…
Morning foursomes
We were led out by close friends Luke Fitzpatrick and Kane Stone .. who sadly would lose on the 17 th hole.
Out second a new pairing of Joe Eastwood and Tayan Wagjani, who sadly would face the same defeat on 17 th green
0-2
Player manager Joe Smith, commented that he was going to bank on experience at the back and played former professional Michael Okon with Andrea Bothma; the two South Africans brought home a much needed.win on the 18th hole ..
That left former European scratch winning champion father and son combo Joe and Rymer Smith to try to level the score at lunch .. and they coolly played the 18th to Win by the same margin 2 up …. on Fathers day too!
2-2 at the interval
Joe smith said at lunch “I called my team in together, in a huddle And said we’re going to go with the very same order .. and straight out of the traps Middlesex went with two super wins by Kane Stone and Luke Fitzpatrick.. by the margin of .. 3&2 and 2&1 respectively..
4-2 Middlesex – (just need 2.5 more points)
Hole 18 would serve Middlesex well next as Tayan Wagjiani hit a super shot to within 6 foot for a one up win .. and Joe Eastwood would hole a 7 footer for a much needed half point.
5.5-2.5
So this left Middlesex needing a point for the win, sadly it would not come in the way of matches 5 and 6 as Andrea Bothma lost on the 17th and Micheal Okon having swung the the big clubs well all day would 3 putt 18 to lose by the smallest margin.
5.5-4.5 – tension mounting
In match 7 and 8 saw the father son pairing of Joe and Rymer at the back and having suffered some low back trouble Rymer seemed the unlikely candidate but he battled though the discomfort and won that much needed point by the way of 4 and 2. The winner by the biggest margin and the only player from both teams to win both points available.
This left just one match out on the course, between Bedfordshire star player Joe Kirby and Joe Smith.
Kirby was 3 up 5 to play but Smith battled back to 1 down .. he said I told my players to focus on on their own scores and not so to much to what was going on around but it was inevitable news was filtered around and I knew it was very close. Down on the 17th green I saw Joe Eastwood up the hill on the 18 the green punch the air then I was punching the air….then I had to watch Michael 3 putt as we’re waiting on the tee.
What mixed emotions I was going through I a hit good shot on 18 but didn’t make the birdie I needed ..but I then finally asked the score and was told I we had won by the the score 6.5 . 5.5 (PHEW)
Well my team had given me a great Father’s Day present.. along with my son Rymer winning two points and partnering me and my sons Aaron and Joe JNR who caddied what more could I ask for …
I would like to extend my thanks to my assistants Gary Gilbert and Phil Scott who where superb.. and to Bedfordshire who conducted themselves fantastically and professionally .. and all at Sudbury golf club for giving their tee times up and hosting us fantastically.
Last and not least to Lee Patterson and Middlesex Golf for its support
Let’s have a go at Essex in a few weeks
Next match is at Wyke Green in July
Final result : 6.5- 5.5
