Singles burst brings easy win for Devon

Devon captain Ali Welsher led his team to a resounding 11-4 win against the Gloucestershire and Somerset PGA side in the annual inter-county contest at Filton.

On a glorious spring day in Bristol the two teams looked to be a pretty even. The morning foursomes started well for the home men who took an early lead after the first four games. The final morning contest went Devon’s way to tie things up. But that was as good as it got for Gloucester and Somerset.  

Devon avenged the defeat suffered at Torquay 12 months earlier for their first victory since 2009 (a few years were missed in between!). The overall scoreline now stands at two wins each.

The match was tight until Devon produced a sensational winning streak by claiming the final six singles matches.  Christian Vine (Woodbury Park) beat Paul Barrington (InPlay Golf, Bristol) 3&2, Jason Fullard (Torquay) beat Scott Thompson (Mendip Spring) 3&1, Tom Jessamine (Exeter) beat Andrew March (Brean) 3&1, Harry Mayers (Torbay Golf Centre) beat Daryl Kelley (Filton) 4&3, Ben Martin (Exeter) beat Nick Ellis (Naunton Downs) by two holes and Barry Austin (Downes Crediton) beat Robin Goodey (Chipping Sodbury) 4&3.

Until that moment Devon were only one point ahead after the morning foursomes were halved. Although Dan Hendriksen (Staddon Heights) beat G&S captain Giuseppe Licata (Chipping Sodbury) 2&1 and his brother Paul (Ivybridge) pipped  Ashley Mansell (Clevedon) by one hole, the home side hit back when Ed Goodwin (Cirencester) beat Gary Milne (Woodbury Park) 3&2 and Russ Berry (Broadway) halved with Ali Welsher (Tiverton) to leave the score at 5-4. But after that Devon’s later players were in devastating form.

Foursomes: Mansell & Licata halved with Hendriksen & Hendriksen, Goodwin & Berry lost to Welsher & Milne 3&2, Kelley & March beat Fullard & Vine 3&2, Thompson & Barrington beat Jessamine & Mayers 4&3, Goodey & Ellis lost to Austin & Martin 2&1.