DEVON'S WOMEN TRIUMPH IN SIX COUNTIES 2nd TEAM MATCHPLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Women's 2nd Team Manager, Lorna Elliott reports on the
Women's Six Counties Second Team Matchplay Championship 2024:

Somerset v Devon at Long Sutton Golf Club
We rocked up to Long Sutton Golf Club with the weather not looking good, but we trundled on not knowing whether we were going to finish or not.

First out for Devon in the 3  Foursomes games was me (Teignmouth) partnered with Carys Morris (Portmore/Tiverton) against Somerset's Libbie and Abi. We had a lovely game but, unfortunately, the putts weren't dropping for us and we found quite a few trees to lose 5 & 3. Next up were Helen Chivers (East Devon) and Frances Harbron (Okehampton) playing Somerset's Karen and Sara. It was hard fought to the end and Devon won 2-up on 18. Our final Foursomes game partnered Hannah Reynolds (Teignmouth) and Susie Carr (Teignmouth) playing against Denise and Milly. Again, it was a really good game for a Devon win 2-up on 18. Going into the afternoon's singles Devon were up in 2 games to 1 and it was all to play for. Out first was Carys v Abbie and they both battled to the very end to halve the match on 18. Somerset's Denise, Lili and Abi won the next 3 matches from Frances, Hannah and Helen. It was a close game from Frances who lost 1-down on 18. The next Devon win came from Susie v Milly at 4 & 2 in the horrendous weather that now dominated the afternoon. The final game was me against Libbie and it was very interesting (nail biting!) as Libbie was 3-up after 10 and then I fought back to win holes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 for a 3 & 2 win. This final game win meant that Devon halved the match against Somerset overall.

Devon v Cornwall at Exeter Golf & Country Club

The sun was shining and what a glorious day to be on a golf course. First out for Devon were Carys Morris and Chloe Hall (Warren) playing against Lizzy and Maddie. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be for Carys and Chloe but they did well to hang in to the 18th to lose 2-down. Next out was a new pairing of Frances Harbron and Belle Tarr (Churston) who played against Bridie and Hayley. Frances and Belle put up a strong performance together to win their match 3 & 2. Our final pairing was Hannah Reynolds and Susie Carr playing against Sam and Pauline, our girls were on great form and brought home a solid win of 5 & 4, which meant we went to the afternoon singles games up 2 games to 1. The afternoon's singles  games were all to play for and first for Devon a halved match for  Hannah v Bridie on the 18th after a well fought game. The next two matches were strong wins from Carys v Lizzy 5 & 4 and Belle v Sam 6 & 5. The next 2 games went to Cornwall's Maddie v Chloe and Hayley v Frances, both 2 & 1. It all came down to the final match and it was déjà vu for me as I was 1-up going down the 18th only to lose the hole, which meant a halved game. But that didn't matter because we halved the afternoon session and that, along with our win in the morning, meant we won the match 5 games to 4. The win against Cornwall and the half against Somerset meant that we had won the division and were through to the final at Tiverton Golf Club on 29th September.

Devon v Wiltshire at Tiverton Golf Club - The Final
I would like to begin by saying that I am immensely proud of every single one of my ladies for getting through to the final and whatever happens happens. With a weather warning in place for most of the country, we headed up to Tiverton on Sunday morning hoping to stay warm and dry - and so we were for the morning's Foursomes games. Leading the charge for Devon were our strong pairing of Frances Harbron and Belle Tarr playing against Alex and Tracey. Frances and Belle kept their cool to win 2-up on the 18th. The second pairing for Devon was Carys Morris and Helen Chivers playing Lauren and Claire. Lauren and Claire proved too strong for Devon and we lost 3 & 1. Our final Foursomes pairing was Susie Carr and Hannah Reynolds against Sam and Lizzy and Sam and Lizzy won 3 & 2. After the morning's session it was 2 games to 1 in Wiltshire's favour. We started the afternoon session with everybody teeing off in the dry but then the rain came and it did not stop. The wind was gusting, a tree was already down on the 7th and it was miserable for players and caddies alike. As Team Manager I stepped aside as a player (lucky that!) and I did not envy the ladies playing in that weather. Susie led the singles charge playing Tracey and won her match 2-up on 18. Belle put in a great performance and won 6 & 5 against Alex. Hannah was really unlucky in her game against Lauren as she was all square going down the last hole but lost the 18th. Carys, playing Lizzy, used her course knowledge to win 2 & 1. We were looking good but the next win went to Wiltshire as Helen lost 3 & 2 having been 4 down after 5 holes, brought it back to all square but could not get ahead Sam of at any point. This meant that it was 4 matches apiece and it was all down to the last game still out on the course which was Frances playing Claire Frances was was 1-down going down the 18th which, to Devon's excitement, she won. The match couldn't finish as a half and, dripping wet and feeling cold Frances and Claire walked to the 19th hole. Frances hit a screamer down the fairway and Claire's ball went into the trees. Even with caddies, keeping grips dry on the clubs was difficult. They reached the green and Frances had 2 putts to win the hole but what did she go and do? She went down in 1 to win the match overall! Everyone was thrilled to get back to the clubhouse as quick as possible to get dry and warm, which was a mission as waterproofs and clothing underneath were literally being wrung out. Both teams enjoyed a lovely meal of lasagne which is just what was needed after a cold and wet afternoon. Lauren from Wiltshire presented the Six Counties Team Championship Shield to Lorna for Devon.

I would personally like to thank all the ladies from Wiltshire for playing in those awful conditions and playing the games in great spirit. I would like to thank Tiverton Golf Club for hosting the final, the greens staff for giving us a course that held up in the most atrocious of conditions and the catering staff for keeping us fed and watered throughout the day. Thank you to all the parents for their support and caddying along with the other Devon team members who caddied on the day. I had one last important job to do which was to award Susie Carr, Hannah Reynolds and Helen Reynolds their 2nd team colours. Finally, a big massive thank you and well done to my Devon team. None of this was possible without you and you have really put the cherry on top of the cake for me this year. Well done to everyone and roll on 2025. 

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