Despite the difficult conditions there were some excellent scores in the qualifying rounds with no less
than fourteen under par rounds notably one from defending Champion and County Captain, David
Corben. David returned scores of 70 & 66 to lead the field on six under par. A clear five shots ahead of
Sunningdale's Will Dugdale who was one shot further ahead of US college player and West Hill member
Callum Mackay, Sean Phillips of Reigate Hill and England U16 international and Surrey first team player,
Angus Flanagan. The cut for the matchplay came at five over par but only after an exciting three man
playoff which saw U18 squad member, Alfie Fox, take the 15th spot with a solid birdie on the par 5 First
hole. First team player, Terry Nicholls pinched the last spot for Saturday morning by beating his long
time friend and school mate, Pat McCarthy of Dulwich & Sydenham, with a par on the uphill finishing
hole at Cuddington.
The Matchplay stages commenced at 8-00am on Saturday in far more pleasant and seasonal conditions.
The order of play was-
Corben v Nicholls Booker v Hodgson Mackay v Berrington
Phillips v Mutter Flanagan v Brittain Tonge v Meek
Cox v Buckland Dugdale v Fox
Again some excellent golf was on show with some tight games notably past Champion Mark Booker
nudging out Burhill's Duncan Hodgson on the 18th green, and although some scores may suggest
comfortable wins for a few the matches were nip and tuck all round, most being settled by killer blows
just at the appropriate time.
The subsequent quarter final line up was -
Corben v Booker
Mackay v Phillips
Flanagan v Meek
Buckland v Fox
The current and immediate past County captains Corben and Booker set off at great pace in the opening
quarter final match with David just being at bit too strong for his old friend winning the match 3&2 with
an excellent pitch shot from the left side of the par 3 16th hole. Callum Mackay continued his excellent
form for the week by beating the long hitting Sean Phillips 4&3 to also progress.
The remaining quarter finals would both go to the last green with Angus Flanagan narrowly missing
from 20 feet to lose to the impressive Scott Meek, who had only recently moved to live in Surrey
formerly from the Isle of Wight. U18 star Alfie Fox pushed First team player, Nick Buckland, all the way
but an errant tee shot in to the trees at the last from Fox meant Buckland had 3 putts from 35 feet
across the last green to progress into the Semi final on Sunday morning.
Sunday morning saw the Semi Finals, Corben v Mackay and Buckland v Meek.
Corben again started quickly and although missing a short putt on the 9th, passed the clubhouse
towards the 10th tee 2 holes to the good. Mackay won the 10th & 11th to reduce the deficit but missed
a short putt on the 15th for Corben to head to the 16th in front by the narrowest margin. Halves in par
saw the players head to the Par 5 penultimate hole where 2 magnificent shots from Mackay followed by
a 20 Foot eagle putt meant Corben would take a 1 hole lead to the 18th. Both players would hit the
green in regulation, but both would take 3 putts on the tricky green and Corben was in his 3rd
successive Final.
In the 2nd Semi Final it was tight through the early stages with Buckland just in front coming through
the turn, however a 3 putt bogey from the Addington Palace man on the 13th saw Meek level the
match. However, 3 quick wins in succession from Buckland closed out the match 3&2. The 2016 Final
would be between David Corben & Nick Buckland.
The Final started with a healthy gallery including both losing Semi Finalists. Solid Pars on the First from
both were then followed by a Buckland eagle 3 on the 2nd and a Corben birdie at the 3rd. Buckland
then missed the 4th in a tough spot and Corben hit the front for the first time.
Pulled tee shots on the 5th and 7th from Buckland extended Corben's lead to 3 before he himself made
an error taking 3 putts on the 9th to turn 2up. There were halved holes at 10, 11, 12 & 13 before both
players hit their tee shots on the long 14th into the left rough. Both players had tough lies but Buckland
managed to hit the green whilst Corben pulled his approach slightly and his lead was back a single hole.
The 16th was halved in par, before Buckland hit the shot of the Championship to level the match.
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