Wiltshire Victorious on Day 1 of South West Week

Balmy temperatures, a cooling zephyr of a breeze, relaxing sounds of the waves gently lapping on the beach - everything was perfect for a stress free day one of the 2021 South West Week as Wiltshire took on Somerset at the fabulous Burnham and Berrow Golf Club. How different things actually were!

Although the home team were favourites, with 4 Burnham players in their 8-man starting line up, Wiltshire stalwarts Garry Slade (Bowood) and Tom Law (Broome Manor) delivered the first two points in the singles with solid performances. Unfortunately, the Somerset middle-order fired spectacularly well and Dom Seaman (Marlborough), Johnny Grace (Cumberwell park), Nick Korynevsky (Cumberwell Park) and Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) all went down to narrow defeats. Joe Retford (Cumberwell Park) on his return from the USA steadied the ship with a re-assuring 'boring' victory, and it was left to Max Drayton (Wrag Barn) to roll in a four footer on 18 to give Wiltshire a vital half point to end the morning with a narrow 1 point deficit.

With the afternoon Foursomes being worth 1.5 points each Wiltshire needed to win at least 2 and halve one of the four matches to gain a famous victory. Slade and Retford went out quickly and established a lead that they never relinquished, although the 1 up victory did not reflect the quality of their play. Loughrey and Seaman battled throughout, but a fast finishing Somerset pair, both Burnham members, proved just too strong. The anchor pair of Law and Drayton played magnificently and secured a 4 & 3 win having never been headed, so all eyes turned to the third match, Korynevsky and and Grace against Phil White and Ollie Brimfield (both Burnham). One down for most of the match the Wiltshire pair drew level on 17 with a fabulous birdie, and it was left to the 18th hole to determine the result.

And so, with the sun setting in the west, and the match on the line, Nick Korynevsky had a 15-foot put to halve their match and give wiltshire the overall win...and, nervelessly, he did just that. After the match was concluded, victorious Captain Ali James was delighted and said 'What an incredibly exciting start to the week! The lads played really well, never gave up and deserved the win. Its always a tough match against Somerset and as usual was played in the best of spirits'.

Huge thanks to our friends from Somerset for a great game played in the best of spirits, and to the staff and members of Burnham and Berrow Golf Club for presenting the course in wonderful condition, and giving us such a warm welcome. It all starts again at 09:00 tomorrow morning when Wiltshire take on Devon, today's conquerers of Cornwall . Come on you Tractor Boys!

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