This year’s annual match between the Captain, the Chairman and their respective teams travelled to the sunny south of Spain over 4 days and 4 different courses. Day one saw the teams go head-to-head in the first of a series of three, fourball better ball match plays rounds this time on the New course at the famous San Roque Golf Club. Day one proved to be a successful day for the Captain, Martin Botha and his team with convincing wins in three of the four matches. The Captain lead by example with his partner Frank Reed beating the Chairman, Michael Elysee, and his partner for the day, Philip Gregory 6 & 5. In match two, a strong pairing of Mo Carruthers & Stuart Owens came up against what turned out to be two of the Chairman’s star players, Sally Smith & Lars Christofferson, who ran out the 4 & 3 victors to level the day one scores. However, in the final two matches of the day, Andrew Bacon & Kevin Langston beat Quintin Heaney & Chris Poil 6 & 5 and Sam Oliver & Patrick Riley beat Alan Carruthers & James Absalom 6 & 4 to bring home the points for the Captain and end day one 3-1 in favour of the Captain.
Day two saw the group return to San Roque, this time playing the fabulous Old Course. On a warm and breezy day, the matches were much closer, match one saw another top performance from the Chairmans teams, Sally Smith, this time partnered by Quintin Heaney, Sally held her nerve after a 40ft bomb from the Captain, sinking her own 10ft putt on the 18th green to win their match 1up. Match two, and another one of the Chairman’s star duo helping to bring home a point, Lars Christofferson paired with the Chairman himself nailing a 4 & 2 victory over Sam Oliver & Andrew Bacon. Thankfully for Captain Martin, the remaining two matches went in his favour with 3 & 2 victories for Stuart Owens & Frank Reed over Alan Carruthers & Philip Gregory and Mo Carruthers & Kevin Langston over James Absalom & Chris Poil respectively. So, 2-2 for the session and 5-3 overall to the Captain after day two.
On day three the group travelled to the stunning and rather unique, La Zagaleta. Another close session with the teams taking two matches a piece. Chairman Michael this time leading by example with his second point of the week beating Mo Carruthers and Andrew Bacon 2 up with his partner Quintin Heaney. Captain Martin also getting his second point of the week with a convincing 4 & 3 victory over Alan Carruthers & Lars Christofferson. Sam Oliver & Stuart Owens turned an early 2 down deficit to beat Philip Gregory & Chris Poil 4 & 3 and in the final match, Frank Reed & Patrick Riley lost to James Absalom & Sally Smith 2 down. Once again meaning the session was a tie and the Captain’s team kept their noses in front overall, 7-5.
The final day was held at the impressive La Reserva Golf Club where just over month earlier some of the world’s best professional female golfers had competed in the Aramco Team Series, so it was fitting that both of our Wisley ladies played some outstanding golf, with Mo winning her match against Chris Poil 2 up. Sally would have given Nelly Korda a run for her money the way she played her first 12 holes, which saw her go 3up against big hitting Kevin. However, Kevin was able to claw back Sally’s lead and sneak a win on the last green to end her 100% record for the week! The rest of the session went in the Captain’s favour, starting with the second Captain v Chairmans head-to-head of the week, this time without the back up of playing partners, Martin once again the victor beating Michael 4 & 2. Victory for Lars on the last green against Sam, halved matches for Patrick vs James & Andrew vs Alan were not enough to shift the balance as a big victory for Frank against Quintin and Stuart narrowly getting the better of Philip took the points tally for the week beyond reach and a 13 -7 victory for the Captain!
Kind regards,
Sam Oliver
Membership Director