Challenger Team on the road Vs Essex
Final game of the season for Joe Smith s team at West Essex
TheMiddlesex Challenger Team(2nd’s) travelled away toWest Essex GCfor their final match of the 2024 season.
This was the match where Middlesex could win the league by winning or drawing the match, so the stakes were high.
The day started well in the early morning foursomes withGary Clark and Andre Bothmaleading the way, taking a 3 hole lead only to see it dwindle away allowing the Essex pair to sneak it by one hole
Joe Eastwoodand new playerSunny Ridelywould sadly lose comfortably by the margin of 6 and 4
Another new addition to the teamBill Temple and Kane Stonewould also lose comfortably by 5 and 4
Not the best of starts as all attention and hopes now rested on the shoulders of unbeaten foursomes pairingJoe and Rymer 😎 SMITH– sadly they were on the wrong side of some pivotal moments, their unbeaten run would come to an end and leave Middlesex staring at a0-4 scorelineat lunch
Player manager Joe Smith said"This is golf, we dished out the same score line to Bedfordshire, remember this is a big boys game and we have to dig deep and go again in the afternoon."
Gary Clark from Pinner Hill would lead from the front and rolled in a 30 foot putt on the last to win the first match.
County regular Andre Bothma played some nice stuff but lost 4 and 3.
Joe Eastwood performed very well only to lose to a late birdie one down
Scoreline 1-6……
Billy Temple put up a game fight but lost 4 and 3
Former first team captain Kane Stone would bring home next point by 4 and 3
Player manager Joe Smith produced a majestic back nine but would run head first into a player that had only eight putts in as many holes to lose 2 and 1
However there would be some joy in the SMITH camp as son Rymer 😎 become a 5 and 4 winner and finally new player Sunny Ridgely lost 7 and 6
Essex 9 Middlesex 3
"It’s been a great year"said JOE
"Today we played a very strong Essex side and we just could not get the right side of the big moments. I’m very proud of the players and my assistants Gary and Phil we gave it our all. But, clearly we lost to the better side but all is not lost."
He continued…"Essex have to go away to Bedfordshire and win, a draw would not be sufficient for Essex only a win would do, if not Middlesex are the champions.
I might even go to watch on the 29th of September and support both teams I would be completely neutral and hope for a draw"said JOE with a big smile