Picture: Ashburnham Captain Tony Evans (right) hands The Putter to Mick Seal of Tenby
Tenby is the oldest golf club in Wales and both clubs were inaugural members of the Welsh Golfing Union (now Wales Golf) which first met in 1895.
The Tenby versus Ashburnham fixture is the oldest inter-club match in Wales and possibly the whole of United Kingdom. The first match was in 1896 and it has been played every year since including during both world wars. The teams compete for The Putter.
Despite being five up with five to play, Tenby GC Captain Mick Seal and his partner John Ball managed to collapse and were lucky to get away with a half against Ashburnham skipper Tony Evans and Wynne Eynon.
Ben Childs and Neil Thomas were comfortable winners by 3 & 2. Andrew Cope and Paul Northam were never behind and won 4 & 3. Roger Schooling and Phil Young won by the narrowest of margins – one up.
Consequently, Tenby claimed three of the first four games. However, the next two pairs both lost i.e. Wyndam Collins and Simon Cumbley by just one down but Austin Davies and Brian Jones were hammered 5 & 4.
Richard Ormond and Ted Buckett were three up after 14 holes but managed to lose all three over the railway line. However, they claimed a nervous half. In the final and very important game, Ross James and Tony Andrews were 4 & 3 winners.
Thus, the home side were victorious by five games to three meaning that The Putter will stay in Tenby for the next 12 months at least.