Wales avoid the Wooden Spoon

GOLF:

Round-up:

HOME INTERNATIONAL SERIES:

WALES could only manage third place in this season’s Home International Series staged at the Moortown club in West Yorkshire, writes Tony Poole.

Three members of the Southerndown club – Jake Hapgood, Matthew Harris and Llewellyn Matthews – represented Wales and on the final day they beat Scotland to avoid picking up the Wooden Spoon.

Hapgood and Matthews were paired and they won their matches against both Ireland and England while they halved on the final day against Scotland.

Wales lost their opening match to Ireland, 9-6, and then suffered a 9.5 – 5.5 defeat against England.

Scotland did likewise and on the final day the match with Wales was for third place.

Hapgood, a product of the Coed-y-Mwstwr club in Coychurch, and Matthews halved with Scottish duo Liam Johnston and Craig Howie.

Harris was partnered by Lewys Sanges (Celtic Manor Resort), and they also halved against Sam Locke and Jamie Stewart.

Matthews sat out the singles while Hapgood halved with Sandy Scott and Harris gained a 3 & 2 victory over Chris Maclean.

It all added up to a 9.5 – 5.5 win for Wales with Ireland taking the championship for a fourth consecutive year.

On the final day, it ended 7.5 apiece between Ireland and England to produce final scores on the door of Ireland 2.5, England 2.5, Wales 1 and Scotland 0.

WELSH TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:

PYLE & Kenfig were the most successful of the three local clubs involved in the Welsh Team Championship staged at the Rhuddlan club in Denbighshire.

They reached the semi-final stage on Sunday before bowing out, 3.5 – 1.5 to eventual winners Pennard.

Though Tom Peet beat Callum Dale 3 & 2 and his brother Matthew halved, defeats were suffered by Chris Evans, Jamie Jones and David Phillips.

In round one, P & K beat Abergele, 3-2, and in the round of 16 clubs they accounted for Padeswood & Buckley by a 4-1 margin.

Their quarter-final victims were Newport, who went under 3-2.

Southerndown defeated Flint 4-1 and Ashburnham 3.5 – 1.5 to reach the quarter-finals.

But they too lost 3.5 – 1.5 against champions Pennard – Dan Jakeway got their win, beating Callum Dale by one hole while Graham McMonagle halved.

But there were defeats for brothers Kieran and Kyle Harman together with Llewellyn Matthews, who arrived from the Home Internationals in Moortown.

Royal Porthcawl won their opening match against Whitchurch, triumphing 3-2, only to bow out in the next round against Wrexham by a 4-1 margin.

The Lock’s Common club were represented by William Evans, Thomas Furneaux, Richard Jones, Lloyd Martinson and Thomas Williams.

In a tight final, Pennard beat Celtic Manor 3-2.