ROUND four of the South West of England Open Winter Foursomes competition was played at Yelverton Golf Club on Sunday. The wet conditions made play difficult, but some good golf was still enjoyed.
The father and son combination of John and Alan Gawman from Tavistock proved too strong for Bobby Moore and Tony Welch, but only just. Moore and Welch were 4 down with 4 to play, but birdied two of the last 3 holes to get back in contention.
A poor drive by Gawman senior on the 18th gave their opponents more hope, but an outstanding 2 iron from 250 yards by his +1 partner, to within 12 feet, saw the final nail driven home.
The youngest competitor remaining in the competition, Joe Yorke, with partner Tom Squire (aged 18), continued their steady progress with a win at the 19th hole.
Having been 3 up with 3 to play, they were pulled back to all square on the 18th by Exeter assistant professional Jody Bee and Paul Jordan; but Bee missed a four foot putt on the 19th to enable Squire and Yorke to proceed to the quarter finals, almost certainly the youngest combination to reach this stage of the competition. Both young players are a fine testament to Yelverton?s junior golf policy, and the coaching of the professional Tim McSherry.
Two more professionals went out, with home professional Tim McSherry and Laura Eastwood losing to father and son team of Terry and Chris Cook, 4 and 3.
Churston professional Neil Holman and Emma Frain lost, even though they played par golf in difficult conditions. Their opponents Jason Hampton and Jo Hicks-Beach from Stover played inspired golf, including a ?birdie?, net ?eagle?, on the testing 13th hole; this leaves Jo the last lady golfer remaining in the tournament.
Only two professionals now remain in the competition. China Fleet assistant professional, Nick Horrocks, with partner Adam Bridgewater, had a convincing win 4 and 3 against Exeter professional Tony Fox and partner Dennis Radmore from Teign Valley. Martin Ruth, professional at Torquay, managed to win 1 Up, against Pete Hill and Jan Drew from Honiton, to make it a two-horse race for the £1,000 professional?s prize.
A plate qualifying round was also played, where the best eight teams, competing in a foursomes medal competition, won through to the quarter-finals stage of the plate, to be played at the same time as the main competition.
The competition takes a six-week break over the Christmas period, and starts again on January 11, when the quarter-finals will be played.
l More golf reports, page 52