THE final of Tavistock Golf Club?s Championship lived up to its pre-match prediction of an enthralling battle between two of the club?s brightest stars, 21-year-old holder Alan Gawman and England No 1 Junior (under 18) James Ruth.
Just as the band of supporters were contemplating extra holes because there seemed to be little between the two players after three hours, James? second shot to the 18th left him with a seven-foot putt.
Alan?s tee shot had drifted left over the hill, and the best he could manage was a second to the fringe of the green and an enormous putt, which he left still a few yards from the pin. James stepped up and coolly sunk it for the title.
At no time during the match had he been in the lead, but he never gave up the chase and finished the equivalent of four under par.
At the first Alan stamped his mark with an eight-footer to go one up, and after a series of pars he doubled his lead at the fifth with an incredible 60-foot putt for a birdie, having seen James just miss from a further ten feet away.
James notched a two at the seventh with a 25-footer, then drew level at the next with another birdie. There was no change through the turn, when, at the tenth Alan went back in front as James registered the first bogey of the day. He again went into a two-shot lead at the 12th with another birdie, but at the next hole he missed a five-footer to save par.
Needing that spur James? next tee shot finished six inches short of the hole, and as Alan only just missed from the back of the green, the match was all square again. Both birdied the 15th and parred the next two before the 18th and that exciting finish.
l In addition to James Ruth, four of the clubs juniors have been invited to county coaching. They are Sam Brockington, Adam Burbidge, Chris Gawman and Daniel Roseveare.
l In the junior medal, Jack Jessop finished ahead of Adam Waddle, and in the Daily Mail Foursomes qualifier, John Gawman and M Clarke finished two shots ahead of the field of 28 entries. J Gawman/M Clarke +1; D Burge/J Gynne -1; S Washer/D Frise -2.