Inter Regional Championship 23

INTER REGIONAL

championship

05 - 06 September 2023 Worksop Golf Club

Once again, we are indebted to Worksop Golf Club as they hosted the 2023 Inter Regional Championship. In the middle of a mini heatwave the temperatures rose to new heights, presenting additional concerns to the organisers to ensure the safety of all involved in the competition.

With additional measures in place, the committee and the golf club were content that the competition could commence safely and without adjustment to the format. The course was in great condition albeit the greens were not at their usual fast pace, but they were as ever, running true.

A little rain in the preceding few days helped the fairways which now had some give meaning the ball was not able to run for the distances they once had. This coupled with the receptive greens made for a much fairer test than it might have been. That said, and on reflection, scoring across the board was down on 2022; whether that was an effect of the heat, who knows.

With a field of 9 teams, (Cyprus unable to travel) we had 54 players representing their A Teams in this year’s Championship; Northern Ireland (the reigning Champions), Scotland, Wales and both Northern, Midlands, and Southern regions.

The competition format remained the same in time honoured tradition with Greensomes Pairs Stableford in the morning and Singles Stableford in the afternoon, all with relevant handicap allowances. The only change this year was the use of the White Tees for the Greensomes and the Yellows for the singles. This was account of the high temperatures and the potential for fading light for those teeing off last in the afternoon.

An early start accompanied by mild fog and muggy conditions gave the feeling that you could get at the course and score well early on, until the early morning moisture burnt off and the greens sped up. The one saving grace was the greens that were fast in the morning having been freshly cut and rolled, had slowed slightly by midafternoon. All was set for a good day’s competition; it was now left to the teams and players to produce the scores.

It was clear that those with the ability to hit consistently straight shots would score well and this was the case in the morning Greensomes, where some extremely good scores were posted.

Some familiar names started to appear towards the top of the board, WO1 Jon Bulter and Capt Cliff Tweed being but

Roger Brierley - North West

two. As the morning progressed it was clear that scoring was going to be down on last year with only one pair hitting the 40 pts mark. Other notables were: WO2 Jamie Lucas and SSgt Andy Bird from the South East on 39 pts, Runners-Up OCB over Mr Steve Thompson and Mr Simon Ellis from the North East region, Mr Paul Tallon and Mr Paul Nuttall from the North West region, and finally Capt Steve Hickey and Capt Tek Rai from the South West region. The only other score of note was WO2 Geordie Ferandez and Mr Peter Moses on 38 pts from the Wales region.

As for the team scores, after the Greensomes the reigning Champions from Northern Ireland looking for a third straight win, were struggling at the foot of the leaderboard with 97 pts. They definitely had their work cut out if the trophy was to venture back across the water for another year. So, the scene was set with the chasing pack not more than 4 shots behind the early leaders, the North West Region on 109 pts. Wales next up on 105 pts, then North East, South East and South West all on 103 pts, followed by Scotland, Eastern and the West Midlands on 100 pts.

With the temperatures at their height, additional water on board and the match officials doing circuits of the course with extra supplies, the afternoon singles competition set off. As in the morning rounds the scoring remained fairly even with very few players able to hit the heights of previous years. Most likely down to the heat and slow play, owing to the society that had been slipped in front of our leading groups; an issue to be addressed for next year. That said, scoring remained consistent and so the leaderboard changed on receipt and population of each afternoon scorecard.

Given only five scores were to count with the lowest score dropping off, consistency in the collective group would be key to success. Once Northern Ireland’s Capt Cliff Tweed posted a credible 41 pts, they thought they had

made up sufficient ground to reach the top, but any notion was swiftly quashed, as South East Region posted scores in the mid-30s to counter any single spikes across the board.

At the close of play, there were only 3 pts between South East (269 pts) & Eastern and Wales (266 pts) which were decided on count back, then three teams, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the West Midlands, 2 pts back on 264 pts, then North West on 254 pts and finally two teams took a share of last place on 253 pts, North East and South West.

Our thanks, once again, go out to the Worksop committee and all its members for allowing us the use of their course for this year’s event and for their generous hospitality and support. A special mention must go to the Club Captain, Mr Stephen Read, who went out of his way to make us feel so welcome and stayed late into the evening to assist at the prize giving. To Natalie Willis and her catering staff in the hospitality space, and all of the greenkeeping staff for setting the course so well. Finally, a special mention to the General Manager, Mr Simon Booth, for agreeing to retain the Championship for the next five years. We are already looking forward to 2024!

In addition, our thanks to Thales, the AGA headline sponsor, to BT and Comm Spec who continue to provide pro bono IT tech and comms support to the AGA, and to Army Sport. And last, but by no means least, to Keith Seddon the Tournament Director, Chris Bartley Tournament Official, and the Vice Chair Bob Gamble for ensuring the event ran smoothly.

With the Championship secured at Worksop for the next five years, we look forward to returning on Tue 3 and Wed 4 Sep 24 with the usual practice round and Committee match taking place on Tue 3 Sep 24. After this year’s 3:1 defeat, the AGA will embark on better team selection next year.

RESULTS Greensome Pairs (AM) 1st

WO1 John Butler and Mr Bob Cooper (Eastern)

40 pts

2nd

WO2 Jamie Lucas and SSgt Andy Bird (South East)

39 pts OCB

Singles Nett (PM) 1st

Capt Cliff Tweed (Northern Ireland)

41 pts

2nd

WO1 John Butler (Eastern)

40 pts

3rd

Capt Andrew McGuffie (Wales)

37 pts

4th

WO2 Paul Simpson (South East)

36 pts OCB

Regional Team Scores Champions

South East

269 pts

Runners-Up

Eastern

266 pts OCB

3rd

Wales

266 pts

4th

Northern Ireland

264 pts OCB

5th

Scotland

264 pts OCB

6th

West Midlands

264 pts

7th

North West

254 pts

8th

North East

253 pts OCB

9th

South West

253 pts

2023 CHAMPIONS - SOUTH EAST L to R: SSgt Andy Bird, LCpl Cameron Weir, WO2 Paul Simpson, WO2 Matt Priston, WO2 Jamie Lucas, SSgt Craig Butler