On a very wet and sleety morning on Sunday 12 April 2015 the teams from South of Scotland and Cumbria arrived at Southerness Golf Club for their annual match. Both teams had selected some well established players and some younger debutants and a very even and friendly contest appeared to be the order of the day. The rain and sleet was relentless and the morning foursomes start was first delayed for half an hour and then an hour before they were abandoned completely. With the weather forecast to clear up in the afternoon the teams took an early lunch and with the rain relenting slightly the afternoon singles commenced at noon. After half an hour the rain stopped, the wind eased, the waterproofs came off and the Solway coast was bathed in beautiful sunshine.
After nine holes South were narrowly ahead in 6 matches, behind in four with two matches all square. David Brodie (Wigtown & Bladnoch) and Will Bowe (Workington) were having a great battle in the top match. David sank his second shot at the eighth only for Will to reply at the tenth by holing from out of a greenside bunker. The game went to the seventeenth green with Will winning 2 and 1. In the second match teenager Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick) was 2 down at the turn against veteran John Longcake (Silloth) but fought back with three birdies in the last four holes to win by one hole. Honours were still even after three games when Clark Riddick (Southerness) halved with Kieran Waters (Carlisle). The middle order of the South team proved to be the engine room and after nine games the South held a slender lead of 5 games to 4. The tenth game was halved and it fell to Jamie Telfer (Wigtown & Bladnoch) in the second last game to secure victory for the South by winning 2 and 1 against Martin Hand (Eden). This was a great team effort and result for South of Scotland – their first win since 2005 – and one which was truly deserved. All the players thoroughly enjoyed their day and were glad they did not go home at 10.00 am but trusted the weather forecast.
Results
David Brodie (Wigtown & Bladnoch) lost to Will Bowe (Workington) by 2 and 1
Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick) beat John Longcake (Silloth) by 1 hole
Clark Riddick (Southerness) halved with Kieran Waters (Carlisle)
Michael Grunwell (Powfoot) beat Ryan Pearson (Workington) by 5 and 4
Iain Thomson (Powfoot) lost to Nicky Bell (Eden) by 3 and 2
Conor Bennewith (Newton Stewart) halved with James Atkinson (Kendal)
Chris Corbett (D&G) beat Andrew Wolstencroft (Carlisle) by 7 and 5
Neil Hamilton (Powfoot) beat William Postlewaite (Carlisle) by 2 and 1
David King (Southerness) lost to Craig Morrow (Seascale) by 5 and 4
Ross Murray (Southerness) halved with Thomas Forster (Eden)
Jamie Telfer (Wigtown & Bladnoch) beat Martin Hand (Eden) by 2 and 1
Colin Hamilton (Stranraer) lost to Mike Jack (Carlisle) by 3 and 2
Match Result South 6½ games Cumbria 5½ games
The picture shows the victorious South team. Back row from the left: David Brodie, Neil Hamilton, Mike Grunwell, Jamie Telfer, Colin Hamilton and Matthew McCulloch.
Front row: Duncan Moore (President), Clark Riddick, Iain Thomson, Conor Bennewith and Chris Corbett.
Missing: Ross Murray and David King.