10/06/2025
Leslie Wood through to Quarter Finals !
8Th June 2025. The Essex vs Thorpe Hall GC.
“Oh Bomber, what have you done?!” was one of the more publishable thoughts I had once it was confirmed David Cornwell had dropped to 5.8 and out of eligibility for Leslie Wood. However, where I initially saw problems, I realised it was opportunities for others, and we have some pretty good “others” at The Essex!
I think a bigger issue was that I had already picked my pairings and the chance to pair Dom Irwin and Stephen Johnson to create the Miami Vice inspired Dom Johnson team had please me. (I know its Don Johnson but for the purposes of the joke I thought it worked quite well!!)
So back to the drawing board. Who is going to go out there and take on Thorpe Hall?
With Laurence Parr also unavailable due to a poorly planned holiday, there were definitely some new faces to bring in, and Vice captain Adrian Baines and I went with the following:
Simon Longman & Dom Irwin
Jon Halls & Joe Mason
Jose Gutierrez & Tim Green
Stephen Johnson & Mick Seely
Scott Lodge & Craig Reid
Even with three new faces and four new pairings I know we are strong in the Foursomes so Aidie and I were confident we could start strong. I really think a big part of this strength comes from the team spirit running through the club at the moment. Everyone is comfortable playing with anyone and I probably could of picked names out of a hat and been happy with the pairings.
The wind was up as the matches got underway and the 1st tee shot was straight into the teeth of it. Not that this fazed our boys. Thorpe Hall on the other hand seemed to be showing nerves early with several finding water right and trees left. It was also reassuring when we got to the fourth green to see Simon Longman stiff his approach to about 3 feet, Dom making the birdie putt to move one up.
More good news followed. Catbus and Joe, one up through four holes. Our forces veterans of Seely and Johnson two up as were Craig and Scott! Only Tim and Jose were down but not out, Tim finding the adjustment from playing Sunningdale green speed to the Essex a bit of a challenge.
We catch up with groups on the 7th and not much has changed. Jose has put Tim in the green side bunker. I tricky shot, but nothing Tim hasn’t dealt with before. Just splash it out, give yourselves a putt. Unfortunately, Tim took a rather more aggressive approach, blade metslightly higher on the equator of the ball than intended, and Jose watched with a forlorn look as his Pro V1 went for a swim! 2 down.
As a have repeatedly mentioned in previous reports, this team is built on the support of everyone. Players, caddies, sponsors, supporters, and rarely have I seen a caddy do his job with more enthusiasm than when required to clear the green of an obstruction as Kevin Long! On the bag for Jonno he sprang into action on the 7th. With Mick applying the pressure and hitting the green, their opponent was chipping from the side of the green but hindered by both a tree and about 20 geese in the way. I wish I could give it justice, but watching a grown man running and clapping to get the green cleared was a wonderful sight and had to be included. Thanks Kev! The bonus being the chip from the Thorpe Hall player that followed hit a tree,didn’t make the green, and the hole was conceded putting Jonno and Mick 3 up!
By the 9th things are still progressing nicely. 3 up in match one, 4 up in match two, Tim and Jose had steadied themselves but were still 2 down. Mick proving he is still a sniper binned a 25 foot birdie to move 3 up in match four and flying in their Leslie Wood debuts Craig and Scott were playing superb. Against a pair who had combined handicaps six shots lower than ours they were deservedly 5up!
Into the back nine and big leads started turning into points. Dom and Si closed theirs out 2&1, Joe and Catbus finishing in style with a birdie on 15 for a 5&3 win. Tim and Jose battled back to A/S by 12 but were unable to hold off their opponents and eventually fell to a 3&1 loss. However, there was more good news with the Military combo of Mick, Jonno, and caddy Kev marching across the line 5&4, but probably the two proudest players on the course were our debutants Lodgey and Reidy. Both had been admittedly nervous before going out but never showed it and dovetailed wonderfully for a 5&4 win.
4 -1!!!!
As we are “enjoying” the Ham egg and chips I’m told, Thorpe Hall are still pretty confident going into the singles having overturned a 4-1 deficit in the last round and a 3-2 deficit in the 1st round. Yeah, but they haven’t played us before!
My next job is a simple one. Write the ten names of my team and exchange it with the opposition captain to establish the singles order. Looking at who likes to play where I ordered them and sat admiring my work. Perfect. I get a tap on the shoulder, “Can I see the order Cap?”. “Of course you can Mick.” I sit back still basking in the morning score line. “Erm, I’m not in the team?” As it turned out I had omitted Mick name from the team sheet and we were going out to bat with 9 men! Thankfully, the other side did not have their list ready either so a quick rewrite and Mick was back in at number 5!
Once again reinforcing the message, this is not over yet. I expect these matches will be tight…. I didn’t realise how tight they would be.
As usual, Jonno goes out 1st and to be honest we hardly saw him for dust! A/S through 4, 1 down through 7 and then next time we found him was going up 13. “I’m 4 over par, 1 under from the 7th and we are bloody all square!” we were told. Some quality golf in that group. We asked about staying to watch but were told quite forcefully “GO!” and pointed off in the direction of “somewhere else”. Disobeying orders, we hung around to see an excellent 2 putt from the back of the green to the front, for par, taking him 1 up.
The rest of the matches were incredibly close. Dom appeared to be pulling away at 3 up through 7 but then stumbled to be 1 down at 15 and then A/S after 16.
As other matches went past the 9th we were up in 2, down in 2 and A/S in 2, so it was still all to play for, Craig fighting to make a half after going in the water with his tee shot in typical, never give in attitude, to remain A/S.
Simon Longman was as usual one of the matches I mark down as a win before it goes out and he was not disappointing me. 2 up through 12 but as we wait on the 13th fairway near the green he looks to be dropping behind the pond. He plays a solid 3rd shot 20 yrds short of the green but it looks a bit bleak as his opponent is on the fairway and playing into the green for two. The next few moments go into slow motion. His opponent pulls his 2nd into the hazard left of the green. Most people will take a drop and chip on for 4 but no, for some reason he plays it backwards 25 yrds short of the green. Both players chip on in four and have chances for bogey. Admittedly it was a tricky pin but 1st putts are raced past the hole, as are both 2ndputts and the hole is halved in sevens. Look on the bright side STILL 2 up!
As expected, hours before anyone else was nearly finished, I get word Johnson has secure his win 3&2 but with other matches so tight we need every win or half we can secure.
Sitting next to the 15th tee matches start to come past with some tense looking faces. The strain is real! Joe walks off 16th green 2up, Dom A/S. Catbus arrives on 15th tee 2 down and looking worried. The next I see is his opponent on the front of the 16th green in two and Catbus still 100 yards from the pin playing his third. Nevertheless, never count out our lads. Under pressure he feathers in a beautiful wedge that pitches pin high and takes on hop and spins to a stop 4 feet from the hole. His opponent leaves his 1st putt 6 foot short and then misses the follow up. Catbus steps up and rolls in his par and halves the deficit to 1 down!
Mick next and he is taking care of business. 2 up two to play, followed by Mr Longman, also 2 up. Not long later news filters through; Simon has won 3&1. Is it time to relax? Nope. I’mupdated that Joe has lipped out on the last two holes and finished A/S and Jose has gone down 5&4. We still need one and a half points.
I then get a phone call that I’m required to assist with a ruling on the 18th. I arrive to find a ball under the fir trees to the left of the fairway in pine straw and next to a rabbit scrape. Initially I do not know who’s ball it is and say that I don’t think it is entitled to a drop as it is next to the scrape and not in it. It then becomes clear it’s not our ball and is the young lad that is playing Dom. The opposition captain tries to insist they should get a drop but I point out if they do then they are dropping further into the trees anyway. To his credit, Dom’s opponent takes the grown up approach and says, “It’s just a game of golf. Let’s just play it.” Andpunches out.
From the side of the 18th fairway I am able to see what turns out to be the deciding moments. Dom plays out a 1 up win and with Mick on the tee 1 up, as long as he doesn’t keel over, we have the required points! Thankfully, he did not as this match report might have had a slightly more sombre note otherwise!
Not knowing we had the points Catbus was 1down playing the last. Like a boss he wins the hole to secure a half. Tim Green also in the dark over the result asked “Hows it going?” “We need you mate” I say. “Oh S*” was his reply, but hiding his nerves well he plays the final hole in par and get another half point.
The last results to come in were from Craig and Lodgey. Both had played in what was some of the most high pressure situation golf they had ever done and performed superbly. Craig securing a half match and Lodgey taking his match all the way to the 17th but eventually losing 2&1.
A final result of 9.5 – 5.5 against another of the pre tournament favourites!
The golf bar was buzzing after and it was a pleasure to tell these lads, players, caddies and everyone that supports us that this was the best day I’ve had at the club so far. This was a really hard slog and I’m very proud of all their performances and they should be of themselves.
Special mention going to the rookies. Tim getting and half in the afternoon singles, Lodgeyand Craig who look like they could become a solid pair in the future getting a full point in the morning and Craig going undefeated in the day with another half point in the afternoon.
Brilliant stuff guys. I have been refreshing the Essex Union Golf website for two days hoping to see who we play in the Quarter finals but as yet the draw is not made. Lets just say, who ever we play, we will give them a great match.
