Scratch team win against Herts boys
After trailing 4-0 at lunch the scratch team pulled it out the bag to win 8-4. This is the first time Verulam has won this annual fixture since 2006. Well done team!
James & Tommy just miss out in County Foursomes play-off
James Surridge and Tommy Ashton finished as runners-up in the Herts County Foursomes at Old Fold Manor on Saturday 20th August. They scored a superb 1 under par 70 in the morning, followed by 76 in the afternoon to tie for the lead with 3 other pairs on 146. There then followed a 4 way play-off, which was won at the second extra hole by Paul Wilkins and Lewis Watcham from Harpenden Common.
The other Verulam pair of Paul Senior and Dave Salter scored 156 (78, 78), and our total of 302 in the overall team event was good enough for 4th place, just 4 shots behind winners Moor Park.
Scratch Team win secures promotion
A comprehensive home win against Mill Green in their final game on Saturday has seen the Verulam Scratch Team secure promotion to Herts Division 2.
After a stunning away win at Harpenden two weeks ago, victory in this final match was always likely to be good enough to claim the Division 3 runners-up spot, behind Porters Park. Verulam took a strong 3 -1 lead from the morning foursomes, and then dominated the afternoon singles to finish up with a comfortable 9.5 – 2.5 win, with all 8 players contributing at least one win. And then 24 hours later, results elsewhere meant that promotion was confirmed, and the team could look forward to a return to Division 2 for the first time since 2004.
Congratulations to all of the 13 players who have represented the team in league matches this season:
James Surridge (unbeaten, with 10 wins and 2 halves)
Tommy Ashton
Louis Matamala
Paul Senior
Alan Murray
Eric Keith
Dave Salter
Gareth Hodges
David Dobinson
Steve Fownes (captain)
Mark Bosher
Tim O’Donovan
Calum Marjoram
Scratch Team well beaten by Porters Park
The Scratch Team lost 9 – 3 away at league-leaders Porters Park on Saturday. In what was always going to be the toughest match of the season, the foursomes were closely fought, but in pouring rain Porters won 3 of the morning games on the 17th, with only James Surridge and Tommy Ashton managing a half. We faired only slightly better in the afternoon singles - the only winners were James (who’s unbeaten run now stretches back 15 games) and Gareth Hodges, with captain Steve Fownes managing a half.
Whilst Porters are now well clear and looking likely Division 3 winners, a win in both our last two matches could well be enough to claim second place and promotion to Division 2. The next game is away at Harpenden on 30th July.
Verulam come 3rd in Knebworth Silver Bowl
Verulam put in a strong performance in the Knebworth Bowl event at Knebworth GC on Saturday, coming 3rd of 22 teams in the Silver Bowl (nett) and 6th overall in the Gold Bowl (scratch).
On a testing day that ended in heavy rain, our team had individual gross scores as follows
James Surridge 75, 74
Tommy Ashton 73, 74
Gareth Hodges 77, 81
Moor Park won the Gold Bowl, whilst Knebworth claimed the Silver Bowl.
Scratch Team too strong for Knebworth
The scratch team recorded a stunning home win over Knebworth on Sunday, by 9.5 points to 2.5, and are now only 1 point behind league leaders Porters Park.
Following an impressive three wins and one half from the morning four foursomes games, we dominated the singles as well to record our biggest win for several seasons. Very well done to James Surridge, Louis Matamala, Gareth Hodges, Mark Bosher, Alan Murray (all of whom won both of their games), Eric Keith and Tommy Ashton.
League results so far:
Chesfield Downs 7, Verulam 5
Verulam 7.5, Ashridge 4.5
Verulam 9.5, Knebworth 2.5
Our next match is a top of the table clash at Porters Park on 16th July
Scratch team win sees them move up to 2nd
The scratch team beat Ashridge at home on Saturday by 7.5 points to 4.5 to move up to equal second in Division 3. On a blustery day at Verulam, the morning foursomes were won 3-1 as Ashridge struggled with the firm, fast conditions. The afternoon singles were more evenly matched, but we picked up the points needed to win comfortably. Congratulations in particular go to James Surridge, Tommy Ashton, Louis Matamala and Paul Senior, all of whom won maximum points, and to David Dobinson who was unbeaten with a win and a half.
Next weekend sees the visit of Knebworth, with whom we currently share second place in the division, and a chance to close the gap on league leaders Porters Park.
Hosts finish 5th in Champion Club
Verulam finished in 5th place as hosts in the the Herts Champion Club event on Sunday. The 23 qualifying teams of 3 players per side played 36 holes scratch medal in what proved to be very challenging conditions.
In a very tight finish, Berkhamsted took the title with an aggregate score of 474, beating Brocket Hall on countback, with Stevenage and South Herts both on 477, and Verulam a shot further back on 478. Our team of James Surridge, Louis Matamala and Tommy Ashton led the field after the morning round, taking full home advantage, as all the teams struggled with the combination of hard ground and strong wind. Whilst we were unable to hold our lead as scoring improved slightly in the afternoon, a 5th place finish means Verulam will be seeded in next year’s qualifying.
Well done James, Louis and Tommy!
Scratch Team narrowly beaten in league opener
Sunday 17th April
The Scratch Team got their Herts Division 3 campaign underway on Sunday, with a narrow away defeat against newly promoted Chesfield Downs. Trailing 2.5 points to 1.5 after the morning foursomes, the afternoon singles were in the balance for most of the afternoon, and at the turn Verulam were well placed and ahead in 5 out of 8 matches. But a rally by Chesfield late on saw them take the singles 4.5 – 3.5 for a 7-5 win overall.
The quality of the golf was high all day, with James Surridge and David Dobinson remaining unbeaten, taking a point and a half each, and Tommy Ashton securing an impressive half against the Chesfield captain (hcap +1). Elsewhere, there were wins for Paul Senior and Dave Salter in the foursomes, and for Tim O Donovan in the final singles game.
Scratch Team
The men’s Scratch Team is Verulam’s premier representative side, drawn from the best players in the club, typically those with handicaps of up to 5.
The Team represents Verulam in the Hertfordshire Scratch League, which comprises some 40 clubs playing in 6 Divisions. We are currently in Division 3, a position we have occupied since 2005. League matches are played at weekends, with teams of 8 players per side playing 36 holes, scratch foursomes in the morning, followed by scratch singles in the afternoon.
Throughout the season, members of the scratch team also represent Verulam in other fixtures – for example, in the Herts Champion Club, the Herts Inter-Club Foursomes, in team Open events and in the London Amateur Foursomes.
For more information, please contact Steve Fownes, Scratch Team Captain, at steve.fownes@yahoo.co.uk, or phone 07852 987973
