L&RGU Win Eastern Inter County Foursomes

L&RGU win the EICF at Seacroft GC by a record six shots at the weekend.

EICF Table & Full Results

Congratulations on an Eastern Counties Foursomes Triumph

Congratulations to the Leicestershire & Rutland team and Captain James Billingham on a deserved victory at Seacroft this weekend. The tournament is one of the highlights of County golf with nine Counties bringing their finest players all determined to win or improve their position from the previous year. With nearly 100 players the demanding Skegness venue is a showcase of County golf. The format of three-ball matches and three tee starts means all teams are playing two matches each morning and afternoon of the weekend. Consequently, there can be huge changes in fortune reflected on the leader board each session.

Saturday morning

Very hard fought matches finished with L&R claiming 4 ½ points from the possible 10. The slight disappointment evaporated when the leader board showed the leaders only had 6 points. With Captain James playing, he utilised assistant Captains, Oli Willson and Jay Sheridan. This enabled a team change for the afternoon, resting Steve Sansome and bringing in debutant Tom Roberts. A bold change as Steve playing with Scott Wormleighton had won both morning matches. However, this is a physically demanding event and utilising all squad players is beneficial.

Saturday afternoon

An emphatic performance winning 9 points. A result that catapulted the L&R team to the top of the leader board by the narrowest of margins. All eleven players had played on day one and contributed points. Tomorrow morning L&R were playing the two nearest rivals, for all three Counties scoring 5 points would keep them in touch.

Sunday Morning

Steve came back into the team to partner Scott. Tom was playing again but with Oli Lewis with Liam Plant resting. It was a tougher day for golf. For L&R, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk the matches went down the wire. The defining moment was in the last three-ball where Captain James partnering Martin Anderson seemed to be losing both matches with three holes to play. This situation was turned around into two wins. The resultant 6 ½ points increased the L&R lead with closest rivals now being Lincolnshire who were one of the opponents in the afternoon.

Sunday afternoon

The weather became wet as forecast. Unfortunately sat on a referee buggy I was unable to follow the team round the whole course. Liam came back in to partner Tom replacing Oli Lewis. The top three pairs won both their matches with the afternoon total being 7 ½ . This included Coby Cartwright partnering Richard Wale all tournament at the top, Luke Burrows with Chris Brook and Steve Sansome with Scott Wormleighton. Scott had a remarkable eight wins and Steve seven out of seven.

Overall

A categorical win for L&R by what I believe to be a record margin. Six points clear of second place with only 6 ½ points separating 2nd place from 9th position. As President I could not be prouder of the players including the support team both for the way they played and how they played. The tournament is a gem in the crown of County golf and I am delighted for all the players especially for Captain James Billingham on this richly deserved success.

 Philip Askew President L&RGU

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