Lancashire hold on for victory
LANCASHIRE made a winning start to the new county golf season – but only after withstanding a fightback in the singles.
The Red Rose county had started brightly against the Southport and District Golf Association at Formby in the traditional curtainraiser to the campaign.
They took the foursomes 4½-1½ to hold a healthy advantage at halfway, but the host team battled back after the break in the singles.
However the tail of the Lancashire team proved strong enough to hold off Southport and secure an 11-7 success.
For the SDGA team, 16-year-old scratch player Greg Holmes of Royal Birkdale won his debut singles match 1up against Joe Brice of Manchester.
Greg will feature in the Lancashire Boys team aiming to retain the Four Counties title at Shifnal GC from April 11-13.
Pleasington’s Michael Hunt marked his comeback after a year out with a shoulder injury by teaming up with Curtis Clarkin to edge out Mark Duncalf and Greg McIlroy 1up in the foursomes.
England international Sean Towndrow, from Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, led the afternoon fightback with a 4&3 win over the experienced John Carroll, and was followed in by Duncalf, Andrew Molloy and Anthony Stirling.
But Lancashire took four of the last five matches to pull clear in the final reckoning. RESULTS