While Carmarthen could only muster two sets of the same name in their team, Tenby beat them with four. On the visitors' side were two Rays, playing together, and two Aluns, while Tenby offered up two Richards, two Roys and two Peters to add to the three Brians playing last week. Thank goodness the two Rays weren't playing the two Roys! The additional Brian was Brian Jones who joined the Seniors back in the winter and was delighted when Stan extended the invitation for him to compete against Carmarthen last Thursday.
His introduction to Seniors' match play was alongside 'Mr. Moneybags', Tony Morgan. Tony played his part over the first nine holes, scoring a two on the sixth and winning the seventh, while Brian re-acquainted himself with course conditions which, on this occasion, were excellent. The rough was uncompromising, the fairways, when found, were conducive to long drives and the greens fast and tricky, as many found to their cost.
Tony and Brian, playing against Colin Lewis and Alun Davies, were four up after nine holes and cruising - so they thought! Then came the Wall St. crash as they floundered over the final holes of the course. 'We messed up!' was similar to the phrase used as they plodded their way home. It started on the 10th when Brian lined himself up for his drive. As he started his downward swing, the ball started to roll off the tee. Unlike Tiger Woods, he couldn't stop and had to continue, striking the ball as it fell to the ground. It ended up somewhere close to the 11th green! Their efforts went downhill from there and they were unable to report a win to their captain.
Stan Hudson, on the other hand, fared better than last week. His chosen one this week was the renowned John Hayhoe. Before tee-off, John was prowling around with an anxious expression, fearful of the task expected of him. As it turned out, Carmarthen captain, Mike Davies, praised him for his consistency and accurate, straight driving which helped him and Stan to a well-earned win.
Mike turned out to be one of the longest hitters Stan has played against but, fortunately for Stan, the number of accurate long drives was few. Stan and John won the first, but lost the second when they witnessed Mike's distance off the tee which only required a short wedge to find the green. His par four would have won the hole except for the fact that his partner, Dai Elias, earned himself a birdie.
Stan and John went one down and the score remained the same until they won the sixth with a par three. John's straight driving, as well as good use of shot allowance, enabled Stan to capitalise on that early success. They opened a lead on the seventh and from there did not look back as they all enjoyed the cool sunshine. They finally shook hands on the 14th and relaxed as they played out the final four holes.
Following their leader was the first of the Brians accompanied by the first of the Richards and the first of the Aluns. Brian Morgan and Richard Chapman were engaged in a close match against Alun Rees and Selwyn Humphreys. There was never more than one hole in this battle until they reached the 16th. There was a good standard of golf played all afternoon and the visitors watched in amazement as Morgie found the fairway, via an arced route over the rough, with great consistency. Despite this, he and Richard were playing catch-up until the 13th, which they won. Richard was surprised to lose the 14th when his four was beaten by Selwyn's four, net three. Undaunted, they regrouped and went ahead on the 16th, consolidating that with another win on the 17th to add to Stan's tally of wins.
Not so fortunate were Roy Gundry and Des Stone who were also engaged in a mammoth struggle. Simon Barrett and Lyn James showed that they could adapt to Tenby conditions and, despite losing out on the first, went ahead on the third. Des's birdie on the fourth restored the balance and he and Roy improved on that when they won the fifth and sixth. The seventh was the first hole to be halved and the ninth became the second.
Despite his cheerful moaning about all and sundry, in particular his form, Roy Gundry was instrumental in winning and halving a number of holes on the front nine. All-square after 10, the home pair was delighted to see a long putt on the 11th drop into the hole for a par. This was the only win on the back nine as they were overtaken on the 15th. No change on the next two holes, so there was still a chance of catching up on the 18th. Both Roy and Des messed up their second shots and threw away any chance they had of forcing a half.
Roy Morgan renewed his acquaintance with Lyn James after the meal, even though they didn't play together. They spent time together in Trinity College in the '60s and Lyn is now a bookie, so they had much to talk about. Roy didn't have quite so much to say about his game, however. He and Owen Monaghan had come up against yet more competent golfers in Ray Sinden and Ray Heath.
Owen's four, net three, on the first gave them a good start, but then they had to stand back and admire Ray's good form. If Ray wasn't in the hole, then Ray was as the Carmarthen pair opened up an unassailable lead with pars and a birdie on the front nine. They nullified any shots Owen and Roy were afforded and concluded this encounter on the 14th.
Richard Davies and Rod Clarke looked well pleased with themselves as they supped their ale in the clubhouse. Richard had found some good form with his putter as the pair showed Tony Hurd and Peter Ashley-Jones how to play Tenby golf course. They indicated that their better ball score was two under gross after nine holes. Rod reckoned that it had taken seven holes for him to warm up, but the pair opened their account by winning the first. They did not look back and opened up a lead that was difficult for Tony and Peter to catch. Peter was eight-foot from the pin on the fifth hole with his second shot and thinking he could putt out. Richard, who was16-foot away, putted first and rapped the back of the hole to claim his three. The pressure was too much for Peter as he pushed his putt just wide, conceding yet another hole.
Another on good form was Bob Howse as he and Tony Morris held the Davies duo, Gerwyn and Howard, at bay.
'Every time we had a chance of winning a hole,' claimed Howard, 'they would come in with a birdie! They were disgustingly good.'
Bob and Tony kicked off with a birdie on the first and Tony followed two holes later with a three, net two. Despite this the visitors only found themselves three down after the first nine holes, nine holes in which Bob scored three over gross. Howard and Gerwyn continued to play well, but were having to score par or better to sometimes halve a hole. Bob's birdie on the 13th and Tony's birdie on the 15th were the final straws in a very competitive match.
Brian Waters and Nigel Rimell waltzed over the finishing line in their match against Richard Allen and Dave Goodman.
'We had a good game today,' stated Brian.
'No, we never took part,' was the reply from Richard.
Both pairs gelled as they walked around the course, Brian and Nigel to win holes, Richard and Dave to lose holes. Nigel was pleased with his four, net three, on the seventh and again a long putt for a four on the ninth. Brian was just pleased. His driver is working well these days. Dave remarked that they were good company and they enjoyed the walk around the course.
Having commented on Mike Fox's competition at story telling last week, Peter Williams found himself partnered with him this week. Mike had something to prove, but Peter claimed that his threat of using a roll of gaffer tape was more than effective. Whatever, this pair worked their magic as they accompanied Irfon Jones and Dennis Driscoll around the course.
In unfamiliar timorous, subdued fashion, Mike declared that, despite winning the roll-up on Tuesday, his light couldn't shine. It was rather overshadowed by Peter, who was on sparkling form this week. They won the first five holes, but were then caught up as Irfon and Dennis used their shot allowance to good effect.
A few halved holes were thrown in for good measure before the home pairing won the 15th end 16th holes to re-establish their lead. This time they held on to it and walked in smiling - even through the gaffer tape!!
Nip and Tuck showed themselves again. This week they were accompanying Peter Hart and Bart Youll as they duelled it out against Graham Williams and Fred Cook. In a closely fought match, they were one down after seven holes and the score remained at that for the middle part of the course. Fred surprised them with a birdie on the 14th when he used his putter from a long way off the green to give himself a short putt to finish. Peter's response was to win the 16th and give themselves a ray of hope. Unfortunately, both he and Bart had poor drives on the 17th, offering their opponents the chance to take the match. They duly obliged.
Results: S. Hudson and J. Hayhoe beat M. Davies and D. Elias 5 and 4; R. Chapman and B. Morgan beat A. Rees and S. Humphreys 2 and 1; D. Stone and R. Gundry lost to S. Barrett and L. James 2 down; B. Jones and T. Morgan lost to C. Lewis and A. Davies 3 and 1; R. Davies and R. Clarke bt T. Hurd and P. Ashley-Jones 7 and 6; O. Monaghan and R. Morgan lost to R. Sinden and R. Heath 6 and 4; B. Howse and T. Morris beat G. Davies and H. Davies 4 and 3; N. Rimell and B. Waters beat R. Allen and D. Goodman 8 and 7; P. Williams and M. Fox beat I. Jones and D. Driscoll 3 and 2; P. Hart and B. Youll lost to G. Williams and F. Cook 2 and 1.