The annual match for the Solway Trophy between the South of Scotland and Cumbria was played this year on Sunday 9 April at Powfoot Golf Course. On a cold, breezy day, with the course in super condition, the two twelve man teams set off to enjoy a friendly day of golf on the links.
In the morning foursomes, Liam Johnston (D&C) and Chris Corbett (D&G) against Kieran Waters (Carlisle) and Will Bowe (Workington) got the South team off to a good start winning on the last green by two holes. In the second match Andrew Kerr (Crichton) and Martin McNae (Lochmaben) were well beaten by John Longcake (Silloth) and John Carr (Silloth) by 4 & 3.
Ian Thomson (Powfoot) and Liam Carruthers (Powfoot) fought bravely round their home course to gain a halved match against Darren Whitfield (Penrith) and Mike Parker (Penrith). Ian Reid (D&G) and Clark Riddick (Southerness) combined well to beat Martin Hand (Eden) and Jonathon Crosby (Workington) by 3 & 2.
In a very closely fought game which went to the last green Neil Hamilton (Powfoot) and Mike Grunwell (D&G) halved with Richard Mewse (Workington) and Ryan Pearson (Workington). In the last game Douglas Boreland (Southerness) and Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) were narrowly beaten by Chris Thursby (Carlisle) and Lee Sturrock (Brampton) by 2 & 1.
At lunch honours were even at 3 games all with everything to play for in the afternoon singles.
The South was led off in the afternoon singles by Liam Johnston, safely returned from his winter victory in the African Amateur Strokeplay Championship in South Africa. He got off to the perfect start with four birdies in the first six holes to be four up on Kieran Walters. Although he lost holes 11 and 12 he was in no danger of being beaten and coasted to victory by 3 &2
The next three games were all close fought matches and went to the last green. Chris Corbett halved with Will Bowe, Andrew Kerr was unlucky to lose to John Longcake by one hole and Martin McNae beat John Carr by two holes
In the fifth game Iain Thomson was well beaten by Darren Whitfield 4 &3 but the next three games resulted in home victories. Liam Carruthers beat Mike Parker by 2 & 1, Ian Reid beat Martin Hand 4 & 3 and Clark Riddick overcame Jonathon Crosby by 5 & 4. Neil Hamilton lost to Richard Mewse by 3 & 1 and it was left to the always reliable Mike Grunwell to secure victory for the South with a win over Ryan Pearson by 5 & 4.
In the last two matches Douglas Boreland, making his debut for the South, halved his game with Chris Thursby and seventeen year old Nathan Watson lost by 5 & 4 to Lee Sturrock. South won the singles by 7 games to 5 and the match by 10 games to 8 to reclaim the Solway Trophy.
Individual Results
Morning Foursomes
Liam Johnston (D&C) and Chris Corbett (D&G) beat Kieron Waters (Carlisle) and Will Bowe (Workington) by 2 holes
Andrew Kerr (Crichton) and Martin McNae (Lochmaben) lost to John Longcake (Silloth) and John Carr (Silloth) by 4 & 3
Iain Thomson (Powfoot) and Liam Carruthers (Powfoot) halved with Darren Whitfield (Penrith) and Mike Parker (Penrith)
Ian Reid (D&G) and Clark Riddick (Southerness) beat Martin Hand (Eden) and Jonathon Crosby (Workington) by 3 & 2
Neil Hamilton (Powfoot) and Michael Grunwell (D&G) halved with Richard Mewse (Workington) and Ryan Pearson (Workington)
Douglas Boreland (Southerness) and Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) lost to Chris Thursby (Carlisle) and Lee Sturrock (Brampton) by 2 & 1
Foursomes Score: South 3 Cumbria 3
Afternoon Singles
Liam Johnston beat Kieron Waters by 3 & 2
Chris Corbett halved with Will Bowe
Andrew Kerr lost to John Longcake by 1 hole
Martin McNae beat John Carr by 2 holes
Iain Thomson lost to Darren Whitfield by 4 & 3
Liam Carruthers beat Mike Parker by 2 & 1
Ian Reid beat Martin Hand by 4 & 3
Clark Riddick beat Jonathon Crosby by 4 & 3
Neil Hamilton lost to Richard Mewse by 3 & 1
Mike Grunwell (D&G) beat Ryan Pearson by 5 & 4
Douglas Boreland halved with Chris Thursby
Nathan Watson lost to Lee Sturrock by 5 & 4
Singles Results: South 7 Cumbria 5
Match Result South 10 Cumbria 8