Yorkshire and Kent underlined their champion credentials with fine victories on a blustery and tricky day for scoring at Rothley Park.
Yorkshire fought back from a shock in the morning foursomes against Wiltshire to run out 5.5-3.5 winners in the contest against the first time qualifiers.
Kent’s match against Warwickshire was also highly entertaining – the south east champions enjoying the same margin of victory after edging it in both the foursomes and singles sessions.
Yorkshire v Wiltshire
Yorkshire’s Andy King admitted that it’s far less stressful trying to win trophies as a player than it is as a captain after a rollercoaster day in the field against Wiltshire.
By the close of play, Yorkshire had secured an excellent 5.5-3.5 win against the south west champions.
However, they had to come from behind after losing the morning foursomes session 2-1 and for captain King – a winner of this event as a player in 2017 and 2019 – it was a day when he experienced a wide range of emotions.
He said: “I prefer to play – it’s hard as a captain, I’ve found!
“It’s hard to watch. It’s like football when you’re sat in the stand – why didn’t he do this, or that.
“It sounds dead easy.
“I’m obviously delighted to get back into the game having lost the foursomes this morning.
“There’s a lot of experience in our team – players who have been it, seen it, done it and I never felt we’d get beaten, but it did get close.”
This was a genuine David v Goliath clash – and the underdog made a fine start in the foursomes.
Having led by three holes with four to play, Mark Snape and Mike White held their nerve to par the 18th and win by a single hole against Richard Jones and Steve Cain. It was a historic first point for Wiltshire in this event.
The second foursomes match was just as tight. Jeremy Tomlinson and Colin Edwards were two down through five holes against Andy Woodhead and Dave Sanby, but rallied to lead by one hole through 11.
By the 15th, the Wiltshire pair were trailing again, but won both 16th and 17th to hold a lead and held their nerve to half the 18th and put another point on the board.
Yorkshire’s only point from the morning session was delivered courtesy of Stephen East and Ian Backhouse beating Al Paterson and Simon Dymoke on the 17th.
Perhaps stung by the prospect of being on the end of a shock, Yorkshire were quick out the traps in the afternoon singles and were soon up in all six games.
Jones was too hot for White to handle as he raced to a 5&4 win.
Richard Norton – rested in the morning – then converted his good play into a win against Snape on the 16th.
Stephen East put a fourth point on the slate for Yorkshire with a 4&3 win over Edwards.
The match outcome hung on the outcome of the final three singles games on the course.
Tomlinson staged a remarkable comeback in his game against Ian Clarke by winning five holes in a row from the 13th and turning a deficit of four holes into a one hole advantage playing the last.
A steady par was enough to see the Marlborough golfer over the line and give his team fresh hope.
However, that hope was extinguished when Ian Backhouse won his match on the penultimate hole to help Yorkshire past the magic figure of five points.
A honourable half between Steve Cain and Al Paterson was achieved when the latter – four down at the turn – completed another fightback to win the 18th and earn half a point for Wiltshire.
It was a fitting way for a battling Wiltshire team to sign off their first ever match at the Senior Men’s County Finals
Yorkshire, though, march on to day two content with the victory.
King added: “The team has done what was required and we’ve given ourselves a chance and I hope the players keep playing as they are and we’ll see come Thursday.”
Warwickshire v Kent
Kent’s bid for a seventh title got off to a flying start with a hard-fought win against a strong Warwickshire side.
Victory in both morning and afternoon sessions provided Peter Lightfoot’s lads with the perfect start to the three day round robin event.
Kent last won this title back in 2013, but on the evidence of day one, Lightfoot and his team will be tough to beat in the 2022 edition.
After securing the two points for a match win, Lightfoot said: “I’m very pleased as Warwickshire are a very good team, there’s no doubt about it.
“Some of the morning scores didn’t look close but there was only the odd putt in it at crucial times.
“This is my first year as captain so I don’t know much about the past pedigree, but I do know there’s a good team spirit and that helps.” Kent’s Peter Lightfoot.
“It’s interesting because we got to this final and we’re in another regional final next week so everyone thinks Lightfoot’s doing a good job, but it’s down to the players knuckling down and leading the way.
“I have players who have experience in playing in a lot of open events and that is significant when they come under pressure in an event like this.”
Danny Holmes and Mark Haffenden put the first point on the board with a 4&3 triumph over Stephen Creed and Ken Spencer.
Bob Florence and Martin Farbrace’s margin of victory over Karl Smith and Tim Cooley was even greater. The Kent pair winning 6&5.
Warwickshire retained hope going into the afternoon singles thanks to a 4&3 win for Warren Bladon (pictured below) and Tony Allen.
For spells, in the afternoon as the wind whipped up and skies darkened it did appear as if Warwickshire might edge it. Creed won his match in a boost for Warwickshire.
But slowly Kent took control and the match involving Richard Tomlin and Bladon provide pivotal.
The match was all-square with two to go but a par secured Tomlin a win on 17 and a pair of pars on the final hole ensured Kent claimed the precious win.
Other winners in the singles for Kent were Danny Holmes and Bob Florence with Tony Allen winning for Warwickshire and the game between Cooley and Phil Judge ending in a half.
Wednesday’s Order of Play
Yorkshire v Warwickshire
Kent v Wiltshire
