W.U.G.C. Captains’ Reports 2009
County Captain
Report from Rod Armstrong – 1st Team
The Friendly matches at the start of the season, which to some extent were used to try out new players, had been encouraging against Leicestershire & Gloucestershire. After the friendly matches the Team lost its best player Matthew Feavyour. Nevertheless, the season started well with two wins against Nott's & S&H taking us top of the league.
After a poor middle section suffering losses against Derbyshire & Staffordshire, the season ended with the team’s best result when we halved against the already crowned champions, Warkwickshire at Olton. The Team finished runners up in the league which was a great achievement, and the best result for a number of years.
We have definitely raised the bar, the future looks far brighter, and there were a lot of positives to take from the season. In particular, the developing skills of some of the younger players such as Chris Nugent, Rumayne Stevens, Rudi Hercik, Jake Larden, Tom Warbrick, Matthew Tweddell, and Craig Richardson, who have progressed through the junior ranks and are all great prospects.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players, and all Worcestershire clubs for hosting all the league matches, and also I would like to thank the Executive for their continued support.
Looking forward to the 2010 season with 3 home matches I'm very optimistic.
___________________
Worcestershire County 2nd Team
Report from Darren Smith
The county squad assembled many times in the run up to the 1st Midland League match in June. Results in the 2 friendlies against Leicestershire and Gloucestershire were not great, but with experimental teams being used, hopes were still high for the coming season.
The 1st league game was a home match against Nottinghamshire played at Moseley G.C. A very strong Worcestershire side were victorious 12 - 6, with Anthony Hill (Fulford Heath) and Darren Smith (Kings Norton) taking maximum points.
Next up was a trip to Shropshire and Herefordshire at The Wrekin G.C. The perfectly manicured course saw Worcestershire put in another strong performance and gain an 11 1/2 - 5 1/2 win. Notables were a Worcestershire debut for Ed Kennedy (Evesham), and a return to the county ranks for Jon Hems (Kings Norton) after a 10 year break in the pro ranks.
The 3rd match was a home fixture at Kings Norton G.C. against Derbyshire, who had also won both of their opening fixtures. An enthralling day of golf saw the match come down to the last 2 pairs in the singles with Worcestershire needing a win and a half to secure the spoils. Worcestershire’s last 2 players were up to the task and the team won by the narrowest 1 point margin, 9 1/2 - 8 1/2.
A trip to Branston G.C. was next to play Staffordshire. The match was all square after the foursomes following a 50 foot downhill birdie putt was holed by Chris Lojko (Wharton Park - partnered by Rumayne Stevens, Halesowen) which won them their match. Disastrously for Worcestershire, Simon O'Dell (Moseley) had to retire injured after 9 holes of his singles match. This was the deciding factor which led to Worcestershire going down 9 1/2 - 8 1/2.
The last match of 2009 was against Warwickshire at Stourbridge G.C. Warkwickshire needed just 5 matches of the 18 to secure the league title, whereas Worcestershire could still pip them with an unlikely 14 - 4 victory. It was 3-3 after the foursomes and although it was looking like a tight match the Warkwickshire team played powerfully in the singles coming out 12 - 6 victors. Congratulations to 16 year old Rob Aldred (Hagley) who superbly won both of his matches on his debut for the men’s team.
I would like thank all the golf clubs for their generosity in letting the county teams use their courses as well as all the supporters who have given up their time to come and support the team throughout the year. Congratulations to Warwickshire who securely won the league with 5 wins out of 5.
We are all looking forward to the 2010 season with some very fast improving young talent coming through the junior ranks.
_________________________
Worcestershire County Seniors
Report from Brian Morris
Not the best season we’ve ever had having lost 5 and only winning 4 matches, although it has to be said that the opposition is getting stronger each year due mostly to the interest being shown by younger seniors with low category one handicaps. A total of 24 players have played for the County Seniors this year, with new comers Chris Lowry of Blackwell Golf Club and Steve Carpenter of Hagley Golf Club making their debut. With new blood appearing every year, 2010 will see the Worcestershire County Seniors squad increase in size to 30 plus making it difficult to promise everyone a game. Therefore, the entry level for new players will remain at a handicap of 5 and below for the year 2010.
Vic Pailin of Fullford Heath was our most successful player winning more matches and therefore more points than any one else by some way and winning the Boulton Shield. Congratulations Vic.
Midland Seniors Spring Meeting May 22nd at Kedleston Park
Worcestershire players who finished in the top 20 were Brian Swain-Stourbridge / Willie Kerr-Redditch / Peter Swinburne – Kings Norton (finished 3rd place in the team prizes)/ Brian Morris – Wharton Park / Steve Wilkins – Moseley /
On the 18th June at Fulford Heath Golf Club Dave Glover (Droitwitch Golf Club) and Vic Pailin (Fullford Heath Golf Club) won the WUGC Seniors foursomes for the Wharrad Jugs with a score of 2 over par. Runners up where Willie Kerr (Redditch) & Brian Morris (Wharton Park).
In the Midland Seniors Championships played at Ingestre Park on Thursday 23rd July. Congratulations to Chris Lowry (Blackwell G.C.) who finished an excellent 3rd his first year as a senior. Brian Morris (Wharton Park G.C.) won best 70s plus.
On the 23rd of September at Kidderminster Golf Club County President Pete Adams won the Worcestershire County Senior Championship with a gross score of 74. Brian Cooper won the best nett.
On the 24th September at Wharton Park Golf Club M. O’Donnell (Redditch Golf Club) and K. Price (Droitwitch Golf Club) won the inaugural Seniors Betterball Stroke play with a nett score of 60, from a field of 30 pairs. With Dave Glover and Vic Pailin shooting the best gross of 69. We hope to see entries increase to 60 pairs or more in 2010 and so build on what was a very successful opener.
The County Seniors Matchplay Finals played at Stourbridge G.C. was won by Will Painter (Kidderminster G. C.) who beat Willie Kerr (Redditch) in a close match.
The County Sixes played at Stanton on the Wold Golf Club, was won by Staffordshire with Derbyshire runners up. Worcestershire finished well back in the pack.
My thanks go to Golf Clubs & Members for their hospitality at Wharton Park, North Worc’s, Fullford Heath, Kings Norton, Hagley and Redditch who also provided the venue for the inaugural MGU match West Midlands v’s East Midlands held in May.
The year ended on a sad note with the death of David Glover who was a great servant to the County Teams for many years. He will be sadly missed.
My final thanks goes to all the players, our County Secretary and the County Executive for their continued help and encouragement.
Worcestershire County Juniors
Report from Brian Peplow
We are pleased to record we have had an excellent season at all levels U14 , U16 and U18’s.
The U18 ‘s in their league won two , halved one and lost one match.
We won our first league match against Warwickshire 8-7 at Kings Norton so it was a great start to the season. Interestingly, in the last three years these matches with Warwickshire have all finished 8-7 so there is very little between these two teams at U18 level.
In May, we entered the 10 Counties Midland Qualifier at Maxstoke Park Golf Club. Six boys represented our County playing 36 holes stroke-play against the best from the other nine West Midland Counties. Worcestershire had the best aggregate score and did our County proud. It was a great day out for our many supporters, parents and players.
This success meant that we were to compete in The National Finals at Whittington Heath in August, representing the Midlands Region. Our opponents were Surrey, Gloucestershire and Lancashire. This involved a practice day and three days of tough competition against, probably, the best U18 players in England . The matches comprised three foursomes in the morning and six singles in the afternoon, nine games in all, each day. Despite losing all three matches on the middle day we narrowly lost to Surrey, the eventual winners, 5-4. There was just a whisker between the teams having halved the foursomes and losing the singles on the 17th green 31/2 to 1 1/2 . Although the whole team were a credit to the County, outstanding performances were given by Chris Nugent (Fulford Heath) winning four of his six games and 16yr old Rob Aldred (Hagley) who won three of his five games .
Rob Aldred, our U16 Captain, has won three Junior Opens and The Nick Faldo series. He also travelled to Brazil with Sir Nick Faldo at the end of October. Rob managed to finish third in his age group playing against some of the best players from around the world. Rob led the U16 team with distinction and in his best team event against Leicestershire at Market Harborough , we won the match with three U14’s in the side so the future looks to be very promising.
Overall Junior Successes
U18 Championship. 56 boys entered at Fulford Heath G.C.
Craig Richardson ( Kidderminster) won in a three hole play off against Ben Myatt Of Redditch.
U16 Champion : Ben Myatt
U15 Championship 24 Boys entered
Winner - Matt Vigurs (Gaudet Luce)
U14 Champion : Ben Robinson (Blackwell)
County Championship at Kidderminster
Won by Matt Tweddell (Blackwell)
Chris Nugent ( Fulford Heath) broke two course records, one at his home club Fulford Heath and at Kidderminster in the County Team Championship. Chris also represented Wales abroad and in the Home Internationals with distinction.
In 2010 we lose Matt Tweddell, Chris Nugent, Craig Richardson and Rumayne Stevens from the Junior ranks. They have all successfully moved up to represent the County in the First and Second teams. Next year’s Junior Captain will be Tom Warbrick of Kings Norton and the Vice Captain will be Josh Carpenter from Cleobury Mortimer.
The under 16 Captain will be Henry James of Kidderminster Golf Club.
In 2010, I would like to increase the funding for coaching because I do believe we have a Junior section we can be proud of and, of course, it is where the future lies. The standard of amateur golf is increasing year on year and I would like Worcestershire to be able to compete with the best as well as giving our young, talented golfers the opportunity to reach their full potential. A new County Coach is being appointed and with everything in place I think you can tell I am ambitious and very optimistic.
I appeal to all clubs to bring to my attention boys of any age who are making progress who are not at present on my radar.
I would like thank all our clubs who have provided facilities for our Junior Matches and coaching in 2009 and to all those who have supported the matches with their presence.
|
