This was the last match in the Northern Counties League for the South boys. It was played at Southerness Golf Club on Friday 15 August on a cloudy but windless day. The course was in superb condition with firm fast greens – just the perfect combination for good golf. This was the last time most of the boys would play for the Junior team as next year they would be eighteen years old and too old. They all wanted to go out on a high and win their last games.
In the morning foursomes the first pairing of Ross Whyte and Rowan Marchbank went 3 down early on and eventually lost by 6 and 5 to some magical putting by the Durham boys. In the second game Lewis McColm and Ryan Johnston fought manfully and were never up till the eighteenth green winning by 1 hole. Rory Brunton and Angus Bendall also never gave up and were unlucky to lose by 1 hole. In the last game Conor Harkness and Jamie Parker played erratically and were eventually beaten by 3 and 2. So at lunch the South had not got off to the start they wanted and were losing by 3 games to 1.
In the afternoon singles, Angus Bendall got the South team off to a flying start to reduce the deficit by winning his game by 4 and 3. Ross Whyte, who had played very steadily all season, had his first off day and lost by 6 and 5 to a very good Durham youngster but Rory Brunton, in the next game, finished his junior career with a fine victory by 4 and 2. In the fourth game Lewis McColm fought hard despite a wayward driver on occasion to only lose by 2 and 1. Three wins were now required from the last four games on the course and hopes were high in the South camp as all four South boys were members at Southerness. Conor Harkness, also playing his last game, used his knowledge of the greens to win by 3 and 2.but the last three, Rowan Marchbank, Ryan Johnston and Jamie Parker all lost. Durham won the singles by 5 games to 3 and the match by 8 games to 4. Not the result the South team wanted to finish the season but all agreed they were beaten by a better team and the lack of wind on the day.
Results
Morning Foursomes
Ross Whyte and Rowan Marchbank lost to Jack Ainscough and James Wilson by 6 and 5
Lewis McColm and Ryan Johnston beat Ryan Dixon and Cameron Wallace by 1 hole
Rory Brunton and Angus Bendall lost to Thomas Hardbord and Jack Trewitt by 1 hole
Conor Harkness and Jamie Parker lot to Tom Skelton and Rian Lamb by 3 and 1
Foursomes score South 1 Durham 3
Afternoon Singles
Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas) beat Jack Ainscough (Castle Eden) by 4 and 3
Ross Whyte (D & G) lost to James Wilson (Tyneside) by 6 and 5
Rory Brunton (Portpatrick) beat Ryan Dixon (Castle Eden) by 4 and 2
Lewis McColm (Stranraer) lost to Cameron Wallace ( Seaton Carew by 2 and 1
Conor Harkness (D & G) beat Thomas Hardbord (Castle Eden) by 3 and 2
Rowan Marchbank (D & G) lost to Jack Trewitt (Castle Eden) by 4 and 3
Ryan Johnston (D & C) lost to Tom Skelton (Beamish) by 5 and 4
Jamie Parker (Southerness) lost to Rian Lamb (Boldon) by 3 and 1
Singles score South 3 Durham 5
Match Score South 4 Durham 8
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