41st Annual Ashburnham vs. Tenby Mixed Match: Thrilling Victory Sealed Amidst Challenging Conditions
Last Sunday marked the 41st annual mixed match showdown between the golf titans, Ashburnham Golf Club and Tenby. This highly anticipated event teetered on the brink of cancellation due to dire forecasts of torrential rain and gale-force winds.
In a testament to their determination, captains from both teams engaged in a flurry of early Sunday phone calls and ultimately resolved to press on with the match.
The timing couldn’t have been better, as a narrow window of favourable weather seemed to prevail between 12pm and 6pm. However, the heavens had other plans, opening up shortly after 6pm.
The crosswinds certainly presented a challenge for the golfers, rendering playing conditions exceptionally demanding. After the completion of three matches, it appeared the home team was destined for a comfortable victory, boasting a lead of 2 1/2 to 1/2.
Tenby mounted a comeback in the subsequent three games. Linda Tordoff Evans and Brian Jones, Fair Ball and Allan Morton (securing an old-fashioned 7-and-6 victory), and Jill John and David Blackmore all clinched victories, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.
The fate of the match hinged on the last contest on the course, extending all the way to the 18th green. The seasoned duo of Laura McQueen and David Morgan clung to a precarious one-hole lead, needing only to halve the hole to secure victory for their team. Demonstrating remarkable nerve under pressure, they clinched the crucial point.
The post-match presentation dinner followed the dramatic conclusion of the final game, with attendees praising the exceptional apple and blackberry crumble as a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable day of competition.
Amidst the celebrations, Ashburnham’s mixed team captain, Olivia Martin, officially announced that Tenby had successfully retained the Cup. In response, Mick Seal, who had been partnered with Diana Dredge in the match, expressed gratitude to the Ashburnham club for hosting the event.