NORFOLK’S senior golf team produced a stunning comeback to beat their Suffolk counterparts 8-7 at Stowmarket Golf Club.
The East Anglian Senior League curtain-raiser looked to be heading the way of the hosts after they built on their narrow foursomes lead by winning the opening three singles matches.
That left Suffolk with a commanding 6-2 advantage. But captain Iain Reid’s side remained in contention thanks to their skilful and spirited play across the other seven head-to-heads.
Jon Batten, Mark Williamson, Richard Oakes and Steve Lloyd launched the fightback with a series of convincing wins through the middle order.
Next, Mark Butt was denied by a slender one-hole margin but Adrian Myhill and Iain Yule closed out the final two matches to give Norfolk a hard-fought success over their local rivals.
A delighted Reid said: “The middle and bottom order performed magnificently in the singles to turn the match around. It was a great showing with special mention going to Iain Yule and Richard Oakes for earning points in both the morning and afternoon.”
Norfolk’s next league clash is at home against Cambridgeshire on Thursday, June 20 at Thetford Golf Club.
East Anglian Senior League
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Foursomes (Norfolk players named first)
Simon Butts and Richard Oakes won 3&1 v James O’Doherty and Simon Goldsmith
Iain Reid and Jim Macleod lost by 1 hole to Paul Buckle and Rob Whisker
Mark Williamson and Jon Batten lost 2&1 to Steve Dufferty and Graham Sykes
Steve Lloyd and Adrian Myhill lost 2&1 to Kenton Jamison and Trevor Hellyer
Iain Yule and Mark Butt won 3&1 v Steve Mann and Chris Phillips
Morning foursomes score: Norfolk 2 Suffolk 3
Singles
Butts lost by 1 hole to Buckle
Reid lost 4&3 v O’Doherty
Macleod lost to 5&4 Goldsmith
Batten won 5&4 v Dufferty
Williamson won 4&3 v Mann
Oakes won 4&3 v Sykes
Lloyd won 5&4 v Hellyer
Butt lost by 1 hole to Phillips
Myhill won 2&1 v Whisker 2&1
Yule won 4&3 v Jamison
Afternoon singles score: Norfolk 6 Suffolk 4
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Match result: Norfolk 8 Suffolk 7 (Played at Stowmarket Golf Club)
