CAGU Seniors got their 2024 season off to a successful start in the annual 3-way match against Essex & Suffolk Seniors. On a bright and breezy day at the Gog’s Wandlebury course with the Captain looking on from the buggy, Kevin Diss got us off to a very solid start securing his match v Essex. Terry Ryan, who was in great form all day, followed this by winning both his matches.
New to the seniors’ squad Andrew Compton had a particularly good start winning his match v Essex and Paul Izzard, playing very solidly all day, secured both his matches in fine style. Despite playing some really good golf Peter Allen, Kevin Hayes and Graham Goodman could not quite get over the line in their matches. After six matches things were very tight in both matches, however, we knew we had good strength at the back which proved to be the case. Steve Hedges got an exceptionally good victory against Suffolk and just failed to get a half on the last in his Essex game.
Richard Beecroft found himself in the middle of two extremely tight matches which both went to the last hole, but he secured a valuable half point against Suffolk. CAGU legend Neil Hughes, who is still playing some great golf, was too strong for both his opponents to secure both points. Doug Bottomley, who has been in great form for the County seniors since he has joined us, just carried on his usual demolition golf winning both matches by big margins. Finally it was left to Keith Moore to secure our last point of the day with a fine victory in his match v Suffolk.
All in all an excellent start for the team with the final results being a 6-6 tie v Essex and an excellent 7 1/2 – 4 1/2 victory over Suffolk, but more importantly, the golf was of a very good standard even among those who didn’t quite manage to secure a point, which is very encouraging. We can hopefully take this to our next match v Bedfordshire for the Rhea Trophy.