Bernard Darwin Tournament
| Date: | 3rd July 2008 |
| Venue: | Woking G.C. |
Result: WON
The Bernard Darwin 2008 : Report on Day 1 from Tim Jenkins and from Day 2 from Jonathan Hubbard
Day 1
Jonathan Hubbard, our Captain, encountered his first problem some months before the competition started. His son had chosen the first day of the Darwin for his wedding in Somerset and Jonathan really felt that he ought to be there! He telephoned the rest of the team who were very keen to win the Darwin for a third consecutive time with the news and a somewhat abashed Tony Monteuuis added to the problem by confessing that he also needed to be with his wife and family that evening since he was throwing a particularly special birthday party for her in Padstow, Cornwall at the time. Both players assured the rest of the team that they would be at Woking by 8.00am on the following morning, but in the meantime two fine replacements weere recruited for the first day in the shape of OTGS Captain Colin Vokins and the redoubtable Richard Stocks.
In the morning Tonbridge teed off against Highgate at the 15th, which was a godsend for Clay & Jenkins and Yates & Saggers, otherwise they would not have had the opportunity of playing the last few holes during the tournament. Comfortable wins for the top & bottom pairs with a commendably stout performance from the "meat in the sandwich"!
The afternoon against Repton, this time played from the 1st, followed the same pattern - the "crusty bread" of the sandwich being too tough for the opposition (both top and bottom winning 5/4) with the meat in the middle, rather tender, producing another half.
Perhaps the moment that gave the rest of team the most joy was when Clay & Jenkins at the 3rd, and only one yard off the green, took a further 4 shots to find the putting surface.
First Round v Highgate (won by 2.5 - 0.5) :
G.Clay and T.Jenkins beat P.Barnes and B.Turner (or Tunner!) by 5/4
R.Stocks and C.Vokins halved with H.Olivere and W.Muirhead
P.Saggers and M.Yates beat H.Middleton and R.Philips by 4/3
Second Round v Repton (won by 2.5 - 0.5)
G.Clay and T.Jenkins beat R.George and D.Gill by 5/4
R.Stocks and C.Vokins halved with J.Bolsover and M.Elliott
P.Saggers and M.Yates beat F.Adams and A.Anderson by 5/4
Day 2.
With Tony Monteuuis and Jonathan Hubbard driving up from the West country, the able reserves were relieved of further duty. Many thanks to Colin Vokins and Richard Stocks for making sure of our place in the semi-finals!
As Geoff Clay and Tim Jenkins were now well and truly "bonded", it was decided to allow them to remain together....a good decision as it transpired.
Winchester were our opponents, and Tonbridge came out of the blocks on six cylinders.Geoff and Tim established an early lead and won on the 14th green, ensuring that Geoff could repair immediately to the club house and conserve his enery for the final. Jonathan and Tony were paired against Tony's old sparring partner from Ashdown, Bill Maclagan. No mercy was shown here and Winchester were dispatched 8/7. Peter and Martin had matters well under control and a generous half was agreed.
So to the Final against Radley, with the hat-trick in our grasp. Once again our top 2 pairs scored well and were soon in control. Although Peter and Martin looked like coming second, the final was again decided by the 14th green.
In the early 80's Tonbridge achieved 4 consecutive wins, and now that we are tied with Wellington with 10 wins apiece, a second 4th win would put us alone in pole position.
Semi Final v Winchester (won 2.5 - 0.5)
G.Clay and T.Jenkins beat A.Brownrigg and R.Robinson by 5/4
J.Hubbard and A.Monteuuis beat W.Maclagan and A.Hall by 8/7
P.Saggers and M.Yates halved with C and N.Scott-Malden
Final v Radley (won 2 - 1)
G.Clay and T.Jenkins beat their opponents by 5/4
J.Hubbard and A.Monteuuis beat R.Palmer and C.Clarke by 5/4
P.Saggers and M.Yates lost to their opponents by 5/4