Our third League Match of the year took place at Donnington Grove on 26th June. We led by 1 point after the morning foursomes and in a very exciting series of singles just managed to get home, winning the match 6½-5½. We now lead the League but do not play our last match until 28th August. A nervous wait..........................
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At Colne Valley in Essex on 21st June the Seniors finished third out of the 11 Counties taking part in this first verison of the EGU County Championship. Play is limited to 18 holes with the best 5 from 6 counting. Kent won by 10 shots from Essex with BB&O just one shot further back.
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| The Team at Colne Valley |
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The County had an excellent win against Middlesex in the second League Match of the year. Leading 3-1 after the morning foursomes, the majority of some close games in the singles eventually went in our favour and we came out winning 7½-4½ to lead the League.
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| The Team at Highgate |
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The Juniors held off a strong challenge from Bedfordshire to just squeeze home 8-7 in this match played at The Springs on Sunday 19th June.
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David Gregory & Stephen Bruton from Chesham & Ley Hill took the Handicap Foursomes by three shots from Ellesborough & Frilford Heath.
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| Chesham & Ley Hill |
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Matt Briggs and David Addison from Donnington Grove recorded two excellent scores of 72 & 70 to win the Scratch Foursomes by 10 clear shots from East Berkshire & Gerrards Cross.
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| Donnington Grove |
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The Seniors had a very disappointing result at Aldenham on 13th June. With 5 games going to the last hole we were unable to turn any of these into wins and lost the match by just one point.
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| The Team at Aldenham |
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Tom Lawson (Ellesborough), defending Champion, produced two stunning rounds of 67 to spreadeagle the field on the final day of the Championship. He finished 12 shots clear of Kevin Freeman (Stoke Park) and Darren Walton (Woburn).
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| Tom Lawson - Amateur Champion |
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The Under 16 side continued their winning ways with another good result at Abbey Hill GC on 5th June. A close series of foursomes saw the sides go into lunch all square. The singles were a different matter, with the home side losing just two of the 11 games to record an 11½-5½ win.
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The Colts had a fine win over Hertfordshire at Brocket Hall on 4th June. A clean sweep in the morning foursomes should have ensured a comfortable win. However, despite the final result being 8-4 there were times when it seemed we would not cross the finish line. We now lead the North of the Thames League.
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A very disappointing result at Bedfordshire GC on 3rd June saw us finish in 10th place overall. Essex, once again, won the title by just one shot from Hampshire with Kent another shot further back.
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| The Team at the County Qualifying |
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The Boys Under 16 side had two excellent wins over Sussex and Middlesex at Haywards Heath on 30th May.
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The County played Warwickshire on 29th May at The Wychwood in North Oxfordshire. An excellent all round performance saw the team reverse last year''s result with a 10-5 win.
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Martin Woodbridge (Frilford Heath) won the Trophy from local player Nick Hills at a very windy Donnington Grove on Saturday 28th May. 12 spaces were also available for the County Championship at Stoke Park on 10th/11th June.
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| Martin Woodbridge (Frilford Heath) |
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The first League match of the year, against Hertfordshire, took place at The Lambourne Club on 22nd May. As usual the standard of golf was high from all the players and we managed a good lead from the morning foursomes after winning the first three games. The top four singles games in the afternoon went in our favour 3-1 and with a halved match guaranteed, it was left to Ashley Walton (Frilford Heath) to formally win the match after his 4/3 victory. Finally we came out winning 7½-4½ and our next match is against Middlesex at Highgate on 19th June.
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| The Team at The Lambourne |
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The Seniors Team opened the defence of their English Golf Union South Eastern Group League title with a win against Middlesex at Sonning GC on Monday 16th May. A solid performance from the top 7 players ensured the win quite early on and with just two defeats we went on to win 7½-2½. Our next match is against Hertfordshire on 13th June at Aldenham.
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The Colts Team opened the season with a fine win against Middlesex at Temple GC on Saturday 14th May. We halved the foursomes and a much better performance followed in the afternoon and with just two defeats we went on to win quite comfortably 7½-4½. Our next match is against Hertfordshire on 4th June at Brocket Hall.
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| The Team at Temple |
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The Club gained revenge after last year's heavy defeat with a good win against the County Team. Leading 3-1 after the foursomes, they continued in fine form and came out winning 8-4
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David Lane (Goring & Streatley) won his 7th BB&O Seniors' Championship at Denham after another excellent 71.
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| David Lane (Goring & Streatley) |
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The County played Dorset round the Blue Course at Frilford Heath on Sunday 1st May. A very close match, played in glorious conditions, eventually went in favour of the visitors 9-6
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A couple of changes to the Fixture list this year. Firstly the Colts Championship at Wokefield Park will now be on Monday 8th August and the Boddington Trophy at Mentmore on Monday 12th September. Apologies if this messes up anyone's previous arrangements.
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The County put out a strong side to take advantage of an opportunity to practice on the course that will host the EGU SE County Qualifying in July. The Club put up a valiant fight but eventually lost out to the County's strength in depth
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A close match between some excellent players on Sunday 10th April at Woodcote Park resulted in Surrey taking the match by 9-6. Shot of the day was Matthew Briggs left handed effort from 100 yards to 25 feet on the 13th. Kevin Freeman enjoyed a win over Adam Gee, an England Elite Squad member. Birdie, par, birdie finish by Gee was bettered by Kevin with eagle, birdie, eagle to take the game 1up. Good stuff!
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| The Team at Woodcote Park |
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The Boys got off to a great start to the season with a win over Bedfordshire on 7th April. They must have been inspired playing between rounds of the Europro Tour Final Qualifying taking place on the same course.
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| The Team at The Bedfordshire |
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Matthew Hawkes (Royal Ascot) beat Carl Norman (Sand Martins) at the frist play off hole after the two had tied on 151 for the 36 holes at Bearwood Lakes on 6th April. Carl was delighted to win both the Under 16 Title and the Handicap event which he won by 8 shots.
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| Matthew Hawkes (Royal Ascot) |
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| Carl Norman (Sand Martins) |
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A near full strength Hampshire team just got the better of the County side at West Berkshire on Sunday 3rd April. It was a good lesson for some of the younger players to experience the standards set at 1st team level. The Captain was pleased to see Steve Barwick (East Berkshire) back after a years break from County golf.
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| The Team at West Berkshire |
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After trailing by 4 points at lunchtime, the Colts staged a great fightback in the afternoon singles, to draw the match against the Club on Saturday 2nd April
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David Lane (Goring & Streatley) took over the Presidency from Tim Clutterbuck (Beaconsfield) on Wednesday 30th March. With some 40 years as a BB&O player, David has represented the County over 200 times and been County Champion on 4 occasions.
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| Tim Clutterbuck congratulates David Lane |
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Jeff Hazelgrove & Joe Dunne (Captain & Secretary) of Wexham Park carried off the prestigious Greensomes Title at Maidenhead after the Council Meeting. They just pipped the Host Club Captain and Secretary by one point with the outgoing President and his Club Secretary in third place.
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| Jeff Hazelgrove & Joe Dunne |
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This annual fixture pitching youth against experience once again proved the old adage wrong. The Seniors must try once more to find a format that will get them a win. Suggestions on a postcard please!
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The Colts took on the Club on Saturday 26th March. After a close series of morning foursome the Colts took the afternoon fourballs to win the match. This match was invaluable practice for our first League game in May against Middlesex.
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The Juniors had a disappointing day at High Post GC on Sunday 20th March. After a week of coaching in Portugal, some of the players were understandably tired and this reflected in the result, as we went down in both matches.
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The Annual Dinner took place at The Blue Mountain Golf Centre on Monday 7th March. Some 343 people had an excellent evening listening to our three Guest Speakers. Fred Caröe, President of the EGU and Richard Cole-Hamilton, Captain of the R&A were the Principle Guests and Ian Irving our final speaker, ensured everyone went home laughing! Matt Rendell (Reading) was awarded the prestigious Boddington Trophy for the most improved Junior in 2004.
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| Fred Caröe, Tim Clutterbuck, Richard Cole-Hamilton |
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| Matt Rendell and Roger Longshaw |
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The Colts Team took on the Club at Gerrards Cross on 6th March. An excellent performance in the morning foursomes gave them a big lead. They were able to hold on to that throughout the afternoon to take the match 9-6
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We have posted details of BB&O Clubs involved in the scheme and have now published those in the other participating Counties. If your Club has signed up and you wish to download an application form or conditions, please click on the links below.
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