2 August 2024

NWMGA Team Match - Week 12 Pike Home

After last weeks matches the league table could not be much closer, with Whitefield on 49.5 - Stand and Pike on 48.5 and ourselves on 48 - so 1.5 points between the top 4 as we moved into week 12 with 3 games to go. Whitefield played at Ellesmere on Tuesday and surprisingly only came away with 2.5 points in a 5.5 - 2.5 defeat, putting them on 52 points. We where up next in our home game to Pike, who sat 0.5 in front of us, and earlier in the league had handed out our worst away defeat of the season 6.5 - 1.5, which was still fresh in my mind, and Revenge was required for 1) For us to equal or better that result and 2) Make a statement of intent and deflate our rivals league aspirations. So the scene was set on a lovely evening, with the course as firm as it has been all year, and home advantage when the course is like that is massive, could we cash in on all the above, sit down and let me begin......................................................................

Match / Player Report

Josh Carr

Josh had the honour of leading the team into battle against a tough opponent, but he was receiving 4 shots and after shooting a sub par round at weekend, was in good form. In all honesty after hitting the Green in 1 on the 1st (which due to the firmness of the course, was not easy) he never looked back and went on to Win 3 n 2 - Finding his feet in the Club and a great asset to the NWMGA team👏👏👏👏👏👏

Dave Flanagan

Flanny entered this week with his 100% record still intact, and wanted to extend that this week to 8 and 0. He was giving his opponent 2 shots and after being 1 down after 3, he soon turned that around and after 5 he was 1 up. News came in from 'Mozzer' (who was out on the course in the Pro's Comp) that Flanny was 5 up after 12, finishing his opponent off on 14 with a Brilliant 6 n 4 Victory - So the Ginger Express keeps going and moves to the Top of the OOM table - You can take the lad out of Heywood, but you cant take Heywood out of the lad - Serial Winner and what a debut season its been for you👏👏👏👏👏👏

Markham Bullard

Morecambe made it difficult to drop him after his well fought Halve away at Whitefield last week. He received 1 shot in his game, which proved to be a tight game and nobody took control of it, until the final few holes. Morecambe was 1 down after 12 and then turned the screw to be Dormie 3 up stood on 16 and he never looked back as he won 3 n 2 - Keep going Pal, you have been another great asset to the NWMGA team 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Gaz Hall

'Capt' Gaz was giving 2 shots to his opponent and even though starting badly, and getting it back, it was not going to be his night as he eventually lost 4 n 3. Nobody was more annoyed than Gaz at his defeat, and he will deal with that - but as all Team / Squad members should, he immediately turned his attention to how the team where doing in general.

Colin Stephenson

Cosmo was under pressure this week, knowing defeat would mean the dreaded 🪓 for next weeks away game at Rochdale, and after a bit of grief from others (Which he does not invite, being the shrinking violet that he is - Quiet and unassuming 🤔🤔🤔) he set about righting the wrongs of his last 2 defeats. By the time he reached the 4th Tee, it was not going well and his world was in turmoil, 2 down and facing a hole he had to give the only shot on - not happy at all, which is not a good sign, and i did turn around and say to Mark Howarth / John Eaton on the 1st Tee - we will do well to get a point out of cosmo tonight. All the doubt was well and truly smashed, just like his opponent as Cosmo Booked his seat at the Rochdale Table for next week with a fine 4 n 3 Victory, well done and thanks for justifying your selection. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Andy Hall

Andy played in a Scratch and in what proved to be a very up and down game, started off really well and was 2 up after 3 - only to be 1 down after 10. It didn't get much better for him on the next few holes as he ended up going 4 down with 5 to play. Now what was to unfold was either the over confidence of Andy's opponent, or the sheer guts, determination and Guile of Andy to fight back, I will opt for the latter as Andy won 4 of the last 5 holes to snatch a Halve from the Jaws of Defeat - Fantastic come back Pal 👏👏👏👏👏

Si Daniels

Si entered a Game against the big Hitting, Left Handed Ex Member Dan Morgan, who these days is off + 2, which gave Si an amazing 6 shots - From which I would expect the Big Lad to win 2 games never mind 1. When I say big hitting I mean putting it 40 yards short of the 4th Green ------ Off the Tee!! Hitting 3 iron up and over the Hill on 11, but the game of Golf is all about 'How Many' and not 'How Far' - Hence Si taking the game 4 n 3 👏👏👏👏👏

Gaz Clarke

Gaz made a Welcome return to the team for only his second game of the season, due mainly to 40 holidays and the odd working day. Paired up on the day against Pike's Captain Paul Cuthbert and getting 2 shots. I picked Gaz in the low side this week even though his handicap of 9.1 warrants playing in the High side, but due to a couple of lads being unavailable and me not wanting to play, Gaz was brought in and he returned the faith I have in him by winning 4 n 3 👏👏👏👏👏

Vice Captain - Kevin Speight

Personal Thanks to this Guy for making sure we have eaten for the last 2 Home games - His tireless unselfish attitude over those games will see him Rewarded in Heaven - Unfortunately for Kev, this is as near as he will get to the team, by being added to the Above list - 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Well a Fantastic Result in the end with a 6.5 - 1.5 Victory and avenging our worst away defeat of the season, and puts us back on top of the table for at least the next 24 hours (See the attached link below in this report - Add to the table the fact that Stand lost 2 - 6 to Prestwich at home last night Thursday 1st) and stand need to get 6.5 points at home tonight to knock us off Top Spot, as they face Prestwich at Home tonight. There are some telling fixtures coming up, but its best we concentrate on our games, as there is nothing we can do about the other Fixtures. Our Job now to get the lads (who get picked) motivated for the task ahead and end up 0.5 points in front of the runners up.

For anybody outside the Squad reading this your support will be welcome from 4.30 - 5.30 on the first tee, and on the course thereafter - Anybody in the Squad would also be welcome to give their support as well.

Just a little side note from my recent trip up to Silloth last weekend - Whilst our 4 ball stood on the first tee, we where greeted by a Scotsman in Full Regalia who was starter for the day. He began by welcoming us all to Silloth and wished us all Luck for the Round ahead. After 5 minutes of the best starters speech I have ever had the pleasure to listen to, he finished by saying "The Rough here is Bad and very punishing, but whilst you may find your ball, heed these words, play the shot you should play and not the one you want to play" - Words of wisdom indeed, which in translation meant 'Hit a Wedge, Not a 6 Iron'

Enjoy the Week ahead in your Golfing World - and Good luck in the Vic + Vets Board this weekend, and maybe if you venture into any rough, take the above on board!

Kex