Suffolk Golf Union
Saturday 14th September saw the final of the Stenson Shield on a fine, sunny day on a magnificent track at Ipswich Golf club that looked absolutely stunning.
The morning foursomes saw a strong Felixstowe Ferry performance taking a lead of 3 - 1 at lunch.
Ben Sayers and Mark Fosker beat Ken Coffey and Dominic Rudd 5 and 3. Tony Talbot and Bailee Taylor lost to Simon Peckford and Taylor Crisp 3 and 2, Jimmy Price and Adam Sheldrake beat Nathan Parrish and Philip Asheden 7 and 5 and Rhodri Harston and Will Pearce beat Tom Fowler and Gary Fisher 6 and 5.
The afternoon singles were a tight affair and around the 9th hole Woodbridge were in with a good chance of pulling off a great comeback. The front 2 singles finished quite early with one victory a piece. The next 4 matches all reached the 18th green. Dominic Rudd holed a great 25 footer for a half with Rhodri Harston. Jimmy Price played a great chip from a poor lie and halved with Tom Fowler. Simon Peckford was unfortunate to finish in the heather surrounding the left bunker on 18 but hit a great wedge into the green pin high. Bailee Taylor, being supported by Sam Forgan on his bag, hit his approach into the righthand greenside bunker. He played a magnificent bunker shot and when Simon failed with his par putt Bailee had scored a great one up victory. Tony Talbot and Nathan Parish finished all square. Meanwhile the back to matches went the way of Felixstowe Ferry for a comfortable win by 8.5 to 3.5.
The presentation ceremony saw Ipswich Captain Ian Brown welcome the teams to the club and he received generous comments and thanks from Charlie Wilderspin who presented the prizes to both teams.
Sayers bt Ken Coffey 5 and 4, Fosker lost 3 and 2 to Crisp, Harston and Rudd halved, Price and Fowler halved, Taylor beat Peckford 1 up, Talbot and Parish halved, Sheldrake beat Patrick Coffey 4 and 3, Pearce beat Fisher 3 and 2.
Pictured below is Will Pearce who won the 6th hole of his match with Gary Fisher when he holed his tee shot with a 5 iron which most of he course heard with a reverberating "Get in".