On Sunday 25 June 2018 the South team travelled to Cockermouth for the return match against Cumbria. A lovely summer’s day with a light breeze had enveloped the foothills of the Lake District and the course was like concrete and the greens similar and bumpy. A day where the team which made the fewer mistakes would come out on top.
Notwithstanding, the boys were looking forward to the challenge and covered in sun-tan lotion and carrying plenty of drinking water set forth to climb the first hill.
Sam Mitchell played the first tee shot of the morning foursomes and partnered by Kaleb Johnston (both Portpatrick) had trouble around and on the greens. This was their undoing and they lost by 4 & 3. Taylor Kerr (Thornhill) and Callum McMillan (Kirkcudbright) took their time to get used to the conditions but won three holes from the fifteenth to win 3 & 1
The poor condition of the greens also affected Glen Irvine (D&G) and Ciaran Howat (D&C). They made more mistakes than their opponents and lost 4 & 3. Corey Brown (D&C) and David Sharp (D&C) battled all the way and after halving the first three holes were still all square after seven, eleven and fifteen but lost sixteen and seventeen to lose by 2 & 1.
The score at lunchtime was Cumbria 3 games, South 1 game.
Sam Mitchell got the South off to a great start in the afternoon singles with three birdies on the back nine to win 5 & 4. Kaleb Johnston was also playing well and was 1 up after ten holes when an unfortunate accident put paid to his chances. When lining up his second shot to the eleventh green he was hit on the back of the head by a tee shot from the blind eleventh tee. After picking himself up he decided to continue. A South official walked with him for his final eight holes but unfortunately he lost by one hole on the eighteenth green. He was taken to A & E at Dumfries and declared fit to travel home to Stranraer.
The other games did not seem to matter but for the record, Taylor Kerr who was one up after nine went on to win by two holes. Callum McMillan also played well to halve his game but Glen Irvine never got the feel of the greens and after being two down after the opening nine holes lost by 4 & 3.
Ciaran Howat had a ding-dong battle but never gave up and finished at the eighteenth one up. Corey Brown showed his fighting qualities and gained a well earned halved game but David Sharp, who played well from tee to green never mastered the greens and lost 5 & 4.
The single matches were halved 4 games each and the final result was a win for Cumbria by 7 games to 5 games.
Individual Scores
Morning Foursomes
Sam Mitchell and Kaleb Johnston (both Portpatrick) lost to Scott Sharpe (Seascale) and Robbie Cullen (Carlisle) by 4 & 3
Taylor Kerr (Thornhill) and Callum McMillan (Kirkcudbright) beat Dominic Barron (Kendal) and Jamie Sowerby (Appleby) by 3 & 1
Glen Irvine (D & G) and Ciaran Howat (D & C) lost to Liam Mason (Sedbergh) and Tom McNeil (Carlisle) by 4 & 3
David Sharp and Corey Brown (both D & C) lost to Travis Little (Carlisle) and Lewis Ransley (Eden) by 2 & 1
Foursomes Score: South 1 game Cumbria 3 games
Afternoon Singles
Sam Mitchell beat Scott Sharpe by 5 & 4
Kaleb Johnston lost to Robbie Cullen by 1 hole
Taylor Kerr beat Dominic Barron by 2 holes
Callum McMillan halved with Jamie Sowerby
Glen Irvine lost to Liam Mason by 4 & 3
Ciaran Howat beat Tom McNeil by 1 hole
Corey Brown halved with Lewis Ransley
David Sharp lost to Travis Little by 5 & 4
Singles Score: South 4 games Cumbria 4 games
Match Score: South 5 games Cumbria 7 games
The picture shows the South team before play. Back Row: Corey Brown, Sam Mitchell, Ciaran Howat, David Sharp. Front Row: Kaleb Johnston, Taylor Kerr, Callum McMillan and Glen Irvine