Matthew Strudwick produced a gritty performance to clinch the Norfolk Match Play Championship at Heacham Manor.
In a closely fought final the Dereham golfer triumphed over fellow County player, Scott Wright from Swaffham Golf Club.
A couple of uncharacteristic errors by Wright in the early exchanges saw Strudwick take a two-hole lead which he held through the front nine holes.
At the 10th hole Strudwick’s second shot fell well short of the green giving Wright the opportunity to peg back a hole which he duly accepted. Another poor approach to the long par 5 eleventh hole by Strudwick allowed Wright to level the match.
The turning point came at the par 3 fifteenth. Strudwick had the honour having moved back into the lead at the thirteenth, a finely struck iron landed safely in the heart of the green. Wright’s reply found the greenside bunker from which he executed a majestic shot to finish just inches from the pin. Strudwick’s birdie putt found the bottom of the cup restoring his 2 up advantage which he was not to relinquish finally closing out the 3 and 1 victory when Wright shook hands having conceded the seventeenth hole.
It was Strudwick’s fourth win of the weekend having also beaten some of the cream of Norfolk Golf in Warwick Calisse, Liam Caffyn and Harry Bradfield on his way to the final.
The Handicap Match Play Championship that ran alongside the scratch event was an equally close encounter. The see-saw match was eventually won by Luke Johnson. Solid play on the final hole saw the Royal Norwich golfer triumph over Kevin Chapman from Bawburgh Golf Club by 2 holes.
There were birdies galore in both 3rd and 4th place play offs with 14-year-old Toby Lewin 2 under par when defeating last year’s handicap champion, Stephen Tidy. The scratch competition saw Callum Rana 4 under par in his victory over Harry Bradfield.
At the trophy presentation Bob Carrick (County President) paid tribute to Paul Searle for his sponsorship of the County over the past 7 years, this being his last year. Bob presented Paul with the Roger Trower Award for 2024.
Next years finals will be held at Bawburgh Golf Club.
Norfolk Match Play Championships (Played at Heacham Manor Golf Club)
Scratch competition semi-finals:
Matthew Strudwick (Dereham) beat Harry Bradfield (Mattishall) 1 up;
Scott Wright (Swaffham) beat Callum Rana (Eaton) 4&3.
Final: Strudwick beat Wright 3&1
Handicap competition semi-finals:
Kevin Chapman (Bawburgh) beat Stephen Tidy (Dunston Hall) 1 up;
Luke Johnson (Royal Norwich) beat Toby Lewin (Bawburgh) 2 up.
Final: Johnson beat Chapman 2 up
