Winning start for firsts and seconds in Anglian League
LEICESTERSHIRE and Rutland golfers opened their new Anglian League campaigns at first and second team levels with matches against Lincolnshire.
It was warm and sunny at both venues over the weekend.
The firsts, who won their league last season, made a winning 9-3 start at Cosby GC.
The seconds completed the double when they won 6.5-5.5 away at Ashby Decoy GC.
In the first team match, it was two-all after the opening foursomes, but the county swept to success 7-l in the afternoon singles.
No fewer than four county players scored maximum points.
They were Richard Wale (Kibwoth), England boy international Frazer Jones (above, Kirby Muxloe), Martin Anderson (Kibworth), and another home club member James Billingham (right, Cosby).
County captain John Fairbrother, who is also a Cosby GC member, said: “I am delighted we have made a winning start with both teams.
“In the first team clash we led at halfway, but it was not until Martin Anderson slotted a 25ftlong putt on the final green of the morning foursomes to give him and his partner James Billingham, who was my predecessor as county captain, their important narrow victory.
And it took us to level at lunch. “James was down in his singles later and it was good to see him turn that round and clinch the point when he recorded a one–hole success.”
The county seconds were leading 3-l after their foursomes, which proved crucial when Lincolnshire fought back in the singles, which they took by a 4.5-3.5 margin. But Leicestershire and Rutland ended with a 6.5-5.5 success.
lst team (Leicestershire and Rutland names first) - foursomes:
R. Wale, F. Jones bear H. Payne, J. Payne 7 and 6, C. Cartwright, W. Plant lost to M. Haynes, P. Wharton 5 and 3, S. Mayfield, J. Mayfield lost to C.Toyne, J. Kirby 5 and 4, J. Billingham, M. Anderson beat S. Robinson, S. Moyses 1-hole.
Singles: Wale beat Wharton 1-hole, Cartwright lost to M. Haynes 1-hole, Jones beat J. Payne 3 and 2, Plant beat Toyne 7 and 6, J. Mayfield beat H. Payne 1 hole, S. Mayfield beat Kirby 2 and 1, Anderson beat Moyses 5 and 3, Billinghan beat Robinson 1-hole.