Results
Results of the National Championships
Michael Anderson won the Championship by one single shot. He left it till the 72nd last hole from Mark Forrest who almost caught him. The match was played at difficult course Wychwood Park. The weather was fine with plenty of strong wind. The Order of Merit have been updated to reflect the results. The rest of the players struggled with their scores especially from a few holes especially the 6th Par 5 with ponds, streams and narrow fairway.
Past Champions:
North
South
National Championship
England v Scotland Biennial Match report below
10TH BIANNUAL GOLF TROPHY MATCH
SCOTLAND VERSUS ENGLAND 2007 AT CARDRONA, PEBBLES, SCOTLAND on 3rd to 5th AUGUST 2007
Teams
Scotland –
1 - Ross Speirs (CONGU Handicap 5) Cowal GC
2- Ian Kennedy (6) Broomieknowe GC
3- Mark Lothian (7) Banchory GC
4- Michael Tweedie (8) Dunbar GC
5- Gerry Hughes (9) Cathkins Braes GC
6 - Scott Ritchie (12) Dunfermline GC / Archerfield Links
7- Craig Rayment (12) Cawder GC
8- John Creane (13) Cathkin Braes GC
9- Kenneth Henderson (14) East Kilbride GC
10- Ian Galloway (16) Dalziel Park GC
Captain - David Wilson
England
Martin Anderson (6) Kilnwick Percy GC
Mark Forrest (5) Fishwick GC
Michael Roberts (5) Knole Park GC
Jonathan Slack (6) Astbury GC
Jason Albutt (4) Little Lakes GC
Robin Calvert (12) Stressholme GC
David Hugil (12) Stressholme GC
K Wilkinson (8) – Captain (Driotwich GC)
Kevin Whalley (12) Mill Green GC
Paul Wilson (16) – Wychwood Park GC
The England and Scottish team set off for the above venue from all corners of Great Britain, via car, plane and taxi.
The hotel and golf course was an excellent choice providing 1st class facilities and accommodation in a surrounding of natural beauty that deserved to stage the 10th, bi-annual Scotland v England match.
Friday A.M
England got off to a stunning start at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Course in the borders. 1st time players David Hugil, Jason Roberts, Robin Calvert and Paul Wilson were all given a start in the morning foursomes, with only Jonathan Slack and Paul Wilson loosing to the very strong pairing of Gerry Hughes and John Creane. May be Paul was displaying a little first time nerves, but better things were to come. The other English first timers excelled and showed some good quality golf to overcome a spirited Scotland team and take an early 3, 1, lead into the afternoon.
Friday P.M
Time for the Captain to get involved, because of the need to play at least three matches each, it was time to rotate the squad with Paul Wilson rested and the unlucky David Hugil being asked to make way, despite an impressive opening round.
The first two England better ball pairings came in with a victory and with England's strongest pairings bringing up the rear, it looked like a very solid opening day, however Gerry Hughes and John Creane battled hard and won a memorable match on the 18th, with John Creane getting up and down from the sand and Gerry Hughes throwing his cap so high in the air in celebration that it is still up there, "wonderful stuff", but, still more excitement to come. Ross Speirs playing with Craig Rayment, produced some sparkling golf to record a wonderful victory for Scotland to leave the afternoon score at 2-2.
Saturday A.M
Foursomes again this morning with the weather remaining friendly, Kevin Whalley and Keith Wilkinson got things off to a good start for England recording a 2 & 1 win against the strong opposition of Mark Lothian and Mike Tweedie. The new comers David Hugil and Robin Calvert lost on the 18th, but it was a very creditable performance against one of Scotland's strongest pairings of, Ross Speirs and Iain Kennedy. Again England had two strong paring bringing up the rear, however, this time, probably feeling they had something to prove for their previous afternoon performance, they won both their matches, with Mark Forrest and Jonathan Slack proving to be an inspired partnership wining 5 & 4 allowing England another 3-1 morning session.
Saturday P.M
Kevin Whalley and Keith Wilkinson took the chance for a well earned break. England fielded four very strong pairings and with the weather remaining perfect for golf, each paring brought home a point, with notable performances from Martin Anderson and Paul Wilson and Michael Roberts and Jason Albutt, producing an afternoon score of England 4 Scotland 0 and an aggregate score of Scotland 4 England 12.
Sunday Singles
One of the challenges of this competition is playing a lot of round in a short period of time, blisters were taking their toll and despite the call for tubs of Vaseline, the blisters forced the withdrawal of Gerry Hughes and John Creane, this left Keith Wilkinson and Mark Forrest on the bench with each player earning a half for their team. This left England needing only a half point to retain the trophy, which was soon brought home by Robin Calvert, signing off a very good rookie performance by winning 8 & 7, other debutants David Hugil (6 & 5) and Paul Wilson (3 & 1), added two more points, the dependable Martin Anderson (5 & 3) and Jason Albutt (halving) completing the scoring for England, leaving the singles score, Scotland 3 ½, England 4 ½, this, together with the half points for the withdrawn games, made the final score, Scotland 8 ½, England 17 ½,.
Final Results Scotland 8 ½ England 17 ½
As captain, I should like to thank the entire team for their performance and togetherness on and off the course.
Credit must go to the Scotland team for their sportsmanship and generosity in allowing Mark Forrest the use of a buggy throughout the match, to protect his broken toe. I though that David Wilson (Scotland Captain) and the entire Scotland team were a credit to their country, for the way in which they battled hard for every point, with their never say die attitude and the graceful way in which they applauded an English Victory.
The golf is important, but more important is lasting friendship and the spirit of the game. I feel, this is safe in the hands of both teams that played in this competition.
Thanks to Cardrona Pebbles for their welcome and a beautifully prepared course (even though some of the walks between greens and tees were longer than a par 6), with special thank to "Tony" who worked so hard behind the bar and serving food.
Thanks to David Wilson and Kevin Whalley for their organisational skills and support throughout the match, which gave me the confidence to make the hard choices but enjoy the experience of receiving the trophy as the winning captain.
Many thanks to the following sponsors – English Golf Union £1,000, Knowledge Solutions UK Ltd £500, Wynchwood Park GC £250, also other sponsors and professionals for their generous support. Special thanks also to MacDonald Cardrona Hotel and Golf Club for the reduction in hotel and green fees costs.
Keith Wilkinson -Captain
