Captains use freed-up courses to complete season’s preparations
FORM OF COUNTY’S FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS ASSESSED AT GET-TOGETHERS
LEICESTERSHIRE and Rutland county golfers met up for competitive action for the first time this season at Cosby at the weekend, writes Jennifer Prentice.
The course was initially planned to host the inter-county friendly second team match against Staffordshire. But that was cancelled because of lockdown restrictions, as was the scheduled inter-county first team clash away to Staffordshire at Drayton Park GC.
Unable to lead their sides into action throughout last season, county captains James Billingham (Cosby), of the firsts, and second team skipper Jay Sheridan (Lutterworth) decided to use the latest cancellation to have a squad session.
In all, 20 first and second team squad members were involved.
Billingham said: “Last season was so disappointing because of the restrictions, although, of course, we were fortunate that most of our individual tournaments were able to be contested when changes to courses and some dates were rearranged.
“But the whole of the Anglian League series had to be called off.
“We have a similar friendly competition again this weekend. This will be at Melton, which should have hosted the combined first and second team fixture against Nottinghamshire, which was also cancelled earlier in the year.
“The opening season Anglian League matches early in May against Norfolk were also cancelled a few weeks ago, which will give us the opportunity of using the host course – Kirby Muxloe – for our annual first team versus second team clash.
“This league match will be resolved as part of the overall round one series when the rearranged Eastern Counties Championship is played in August at Seacroft GC, Skegness, a plan which all the Anglian League officials have agreed is a satisfactory alternative on this occasion.
“These three get-togethers – at Cosby, then at Melton and Kirby Muxloe – will complete our prepara
We have been unable to play a county match since September 2019, so it was great to get back into action again
tions for the main part of the new season.” To comply with the current coronavirus protocol, just first and second team senior players were invited to play at Cosby. Juniors, some of whom could be in line for selection for matches during the new campaign, were not considered for this event.
But Billingham said they have still been attending their own coaching sessions, although they have been split into smaller groups than in the past.
“Overall, obviously lockdown has been difficult for golf and golfers, as well as for so many other sportsmen and women and the country as a whole,” said Billingham. “We have been unable to play a county match since September 2019, so it was great to get back into action again and to assess players’ form after the long lay-off and start to make more plans for the new season.
“My first year as captain and that for Jay Sheridan, did not turn out according to our hopes and plans, so we are keen to get under way now and aim to have an opportunity to put together some good results in the future.”
At Cosby there was some sunshine mixed with snow showers and it was quite cold, but Billingham added: “It was great to get out on to the golf course and get some competitive play going again.”
There was an 18-holes pairs competition with a better-ball played over the front nine holes and individual scores counting over the back.
Martin Anderson (Kibworth), the former county captain, and Matt Peyton, of the host club ,emerged the winners. They had a total of 103 to finish first.
Jack Mayfield, also from Cosby, and Zack Stafford (Kibworth) with 108 were the runners-up, with no fewer than three pairs tied one stroke behind.
This tie saw third spot go to county champion Scott Wormleighton and his Birstall team-mate, Jack Merry. It was resolved on countback.
A similar format will be played this coming weekend at Melton.