The stunning Hollinwell Golf Club was the venue for our 3^rd match of the season against a seriously strong Nottinghamshire side that included 5 members to add to an already very talented team.

Although this was only the 3^rd match of the season, we felt that this game could go a long way in deciding the league as both sides had won their opening 2 matches. The course looked in great order and very challenging with knee high rough just a few yards off the fairway plus to add to that, a typical English summers morning as all waterproofs and umbrellas were required for the morning's foursomes.

First match of the day was a new pairing of Alex Emms and a Worcestershire 1^st team debut for current County champion Eddie Vernon up against Notts' top pairing of Killian Ryan and George Cordall. Unfortunately it didn't quite happen for our boys going down 3&1. Match 2 saw youngsters James Ilsley and Mark Hewlett Jnr pair up, a very close match throughout but again things didn't go our way down 18 making a bogey 5 to lose 1 down. Matches 3 & 4 brought better news for Worcestershire, match 3 saw Adam Norman and Phil Krone play some steady golf in the conditions highlighted with a 250 yard 4 iron from Phil into the par 5 3^rd to 12ft and Adam managing to roll it in for an eagle 3, this helped them earn a 5&4 victory. Match 4 was the strong pairing of Richard Sadler and Kieron Austin and again some steady golf with the help of a couple of ridiculous up and downs saw these guys take their match 3&2. The last match of the foursomes was the unbeaten partnership of Kris Allen and Cassius Blake, unfortunately a bogey at 18 gave that hole to Nottinghamshire but it was still a vital half point leaving the match tied at 2.5 - 2.5. Another excellent effort in the foursomes leaving the match all to play for in the afternoon singles.

Thankfully the weather decided to be much kinder to us as the side was lead out in the afternoon by youth to give us old timers a slightly longer rest at lunch and a decision that certainly paid off....Emms lead the line taking match 1 with an impressive 4&2 victory quickly followed by Krone winning match 3 3&2 and shortly after Ilsley taking match 2 2&1, although not overly happy with his golf, a wins a win and that's all that matters. Match 4 saw County champion Vernon earn his first point for Worcestershire in a very tight game winning 1up and I'm almost certain they'll be plenty more points to come from this man, great to have you on board Eddie! 4/4 in the singles put us in a fantastic position needing just 1.5 points out of the last 6 matches to gain victory. Unfortunately matches 6 and 8 were over quite quickly with Norman and Allen losing 5&3 and 5&4 respectively. A few of us were watching Sadler in match 7 coming down the 15^th somehow only 1 down having nearly been 4 down 3 holes prior, a typical Sadler up and down on 15 out of the deep stuff kept his match 1 down with 3 to play. News filtered back from the 18^th that we had gained another half point from Hewlett Jnr in match 5 which took us within a point of victory. Sadler, looking pretty tired at this point halved the 16^th in par 4's and then both players produced a couple of fantastic shots into the par 5 17^th leaving eagle putts to which both players left agonisingly short in the jaws! At this time we still needed a point with Sadler 1 down playing the 18th, Blake A/S through 15 and no news from Austin until moments later I received a phone call from Kieron saying he has just won match 10 5&4.....Match won, to not only my relief but probably Sadler's and Blake's too! Sadler in his customary gritty fashion wins the 18^th to halve his match and although Blake suffered a 2&1 defeat in match 9, WORCESTERSHIRE WIN 8.5-6.5.

A result like this just goes to show how far we've come as a county and to have some excellent young talents in Alex, James, Phil, Mark and Cass finally coming through and representing the 1^st team is brilliant to see.

Thank you to Hollinwell GC for looking after us all day with the catering and it's always a pleasure to play round such a good golf course.

Thank you to President John Whitehead for again showing his support for the 1^st team.

This result now leaves the league in our own hands as we're the only side to win all 3 matches. Our next game is against Shropshire and Herefordshire at Kidderminster GC on Sunday 4^th August so it would be great to see as many supporters as possible to help the side gain another victory.

Adam Norman (Captain)

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