Midland Golf Union
Lincolnshire secure victory in the EG Men’s County Championships (Midland Qualifying) held at Belton Park on 15th July 2023.
Lincolnshire secure victory in the EG Men’s County Championships (Midland Qualifying) held at Belton Park on 15th July 2023.
In brutal weather conditions Lincolnshire came out on top in the Midland Region qualifying and will take their place in the Men’s County Finals at Southport & Ainsdale at the end of September.
A torrential downpour halfway through the morning session caused a 40-minute delay to allow greenkeepers and club officials to clear the water from partially flooded greens. As the morning rounds were concluding the wind speed increased and by the time the second round started it was gusting across the course to almost 30 mph. Shot selection became increasingly difficult and judging pace on the greens more of a challenge. Despite the conditions there was some excellent golf with a third of the field returning with par or better. Derbyshire’s James Booth headed the field with a 67 closely followed by Hugo Kedzlie (Lincolnshire) on 68 and Lee Hitchcock (Northamptonshire), Simon Richardson and Levi Desmond, both Lincolnshire) on 69.
Lincolnshire were holding top position after 18-holes with a 347 total (-8) with Derbyshire in 2nd place at level par (355) closely followed by Leicestershire & Rutland on 359 (+4). Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire shared 4th place on 261 (+6), 6th placed Warwickshire (+12), 7th Worcestershire (+12), 8th Cambridgeshire (+14), 9th Staffordshire (+16) and finally Shropshire & Herefordshire (+18).
With storms skirting the course to the East, the challenge for the players was the gusting winds creating problems with distance control and pace on the greens.
The final outcome saw Lincolnshire holding their lead, and the only team to maintain an under-par total of 706 (-4) courtesy of all 6 team members finishing in the top twenty individual scores. Leicestershire & Rutland battled hard to finish runners-up on 721, with Derbyshire pushed into 3rd place on 723. Warwickshire climbed to 4th with 729. Northamptonshire dropped to 5th on 737 and Nottinghamshire just behind on 729. 7th to 10th was taken by Worcestershire (741), Staffordshire (746), Cambridgeshire (748) and Shropshire & Herefordshire (758).
Will Hopkins backed up his first round of 71 with a 69 in round 2 to take the Norman Russell Slaver (lowest gross over 36 holes) on countback. Matching the 140 total was James Ilsley (Worcestershire) with a pair of 70’s and Simon Richardson (Lincolnshire) with 69 & 71. Three players were just one shot further back on 141, Richard Wale (Leicestershire & Rutland), Darryl Gwilliam (Warwickshire) and Hugo Kedzlie (Lincolnshire).
During the presentation, MGU President John Rawson, thanked all the staff at Belton Park who had worked tirelessly to keep the course playable through the extreme weather conditions. He also paid tribute to MGU immediate past president, David Price, who sadly passed away in April. John added “David would have been immensely proud that Lincolnshire had been victorious at the club where he had played most of his golf”. Simon Richardson (Lincolnshire’s captain) said “the victory was especially for David Price who had been a County player, County Captain, County President and a great supporter of the county team for many years. This win was for David, he would have been very proud”.
Full Team scores - click here
Individual scores - click here
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