MARSHALL WINS 2019 SENIORS KO TITLE AFTER LONG WAIT FOR FINAL
2019 CHAMPION IS FINALLY CROWNED AFTER RAIN AND LOCKDOWN
GRAHAM Marshall (Birstall) is the 2019 county golf union seniors knockout champion.
He successfully defended the title he won in 2018 by beating Steve Dodman (Beedles Lake) over 18 holes at Lutterworth GC in the longdelayed final.
It was third time lucky for holding the final at Market Harborough GC.
It was first postponed due to heavy rain last season, was rearranged for earlier this year but was called off again due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the two other intercounty foursomes tournament finals due to be held at the same time at Lutterworth have been postponed again to the lockdown affecting the city and parts of the county.
Several of the competitors could not take part at Lutterworth at the same time as the seniors knockout event because they live inside the affected area.
So they were unable to travel to the course to represent their clubs.
The men’s final is due to be settled between Cosby and Kilworth Springs GCs and the pro/am finalists are Glen Gorse A and Luffenham Heath B.
At present, it has not been possible to rearrange these 2019 tournament climaxes again.
But Kevin Whitfield-Green, the county’s director of tournaments, is anxious to get the 2019 champions decided before the 2020 events reach their conclusions.
Kevin said: “The whole situation has been a nightmare really.
“The postponements due to the wet weather meant we ran out of time due to the loss of daylight hours last autumn, then we were hit by the restrictions earlier this year, which have returned more recently.
“But we have had to reschedule so much of our season this is just an additional problem really and we are determined that these events should be settled as quickly as possible now, while adhering to all the rules and guidance we are getting from the government, England Golf and with all the relevant health and safety considerations being met.
“The seniors match was closely contested and the course extremely well presented for the final, so we were delighted this went ahead and proved to be a good match.”
Marshall is a former county amateur stroke-play champion. He won this title with his 142 total over his own course in 1987, beating former top county amateur golfer and Walker Cup man Gary Wolstenholme.
Wolstenholme, then a member of The Leicestershire GC and now a Staysure senior tour professional, finished a stroke behind him.
In the 2019 final against Dodman, Marshall went one down at the first, but that was the only time he trailed in the match.
He was all square after two and went in front at the third and was never behind again all day.
Marshall won the sixth, went three up at the eighth, and was three up at the halfway point.
He lost the 12th, but won the next. He also won the 15th. and the match by a 4 and 3 margin.
Marshall was presented with the trophy by Richard Barker (Longcliffe), the county president, who congratulated both men for their patience in resolving the longawaited final and on their achievement in reaching the climax of this popular county championship event for men golfers over 55 years of age.