Bernard Darwin Tournament
| Date: | 1st July 2010 |
| Venue: | Woking G.C. |
Result: Won
Report on the 2010 Bernard Darwin at Woking Jonathan Hubbard
The challenge this year was to go 1 better than the Tonbridge team of 1980,( Peter Bathurst & Chris Taylor, John Thompson & Bertie Flower, David Biddle &David Wigglesworth), who set a record, winning The Darwin 4 years running..
With the same team available as in the past 4 years, Adrian Cooper generously offered to stand by as first reserve, although he would be a first pick for any other school. Our team (Geoff Clay & Tim Jenkins, Jonathan Hubbard & Tony Monteuuis, Peter Saggers & Martin Yates), faced a tough draw against Repton, and was required to start at the 12th Tee. The second pair started extremely well and won comfortably, the first pair got better as their match went on and Peter & Martin won a close match leaving us 3-0 winners. The only problem arose when Jonathan's driver head cracked after hitting the ball ........so powerful! He found a demo club in the Pro's shop, and although it made a terrible noise, it went so well that he ended up buying it!
In the afternoon we faced the finalists of last year, our old enemy, Charterhouse, who were thirsting for revenge. Off the 12th again, Tonbridge came out all guns firing and after 4 holes were 4 up in every match! However, although Tim and Geoff went 5 up after 5 and playing sub par golf won 6/5, the other pairs were pegged back to all square and 1 down after 10! Two long birdie putts by Martin at 6 & 7, put them back in control, and in the second match Jonathan holed from off the green at the 8th for a birdie, which squared that match. At the short 10th Monty had to play his second out of a hedge behind the short 10th after Jonathan’s apparently good tee shot to a bone hard green. However Charterhouse then shanked into the same hedge from their greenside bunker and didn’t get out so well so we went 1 up leaving us in control - and another 3-0 victory was secured.
After an excellent evening at the Weybridge Tapas restaurant, where the Ayatollah graced us with his presence for a while, we had Eton for breakfast in the morning. They were strengthened by 2 newcomers, and although Martin and Peter never looked troubled the top pairs had to work a little harder. With Tim and Geoff playing par golf and Jonathan and the Hon.Sec. always in front, we reached the final, without a game having been dropped.
So it was Radley in the Final. Our first pair was soon in control and won very comfortably. However, Jonathan and Tony were struggling on the greens and after 3 putting 9, 10, 11 and 12, they lost 4/3. Martin and Peter were 1 down after 11 in what was now the crucial match, but Martin played a miraculous chip at 12, which Peter holed from 15 foot, and they had a good 4 at 13 to go 1 up. A half at 14 was followed by a 5 at fifteen which was good enough to put us 2 up. Two excellent shots to the short 16th produced a half in 3, and with Radley in the trees at 17, the victory was secured.
We had had a tough draw and played the 4 strongest sides in the competition, but with strength in depth it would be great to continue our run in 2011. We were very heartened by the support we received and among others watching it was very good to see the Society Captain, Francis Sumner, David Hubbard, John Spurling and Richard Stocks.