Match Report

The Princes team met at Sittingbourne for breakfast and a chat before making their way onto the range and putting green to get in some warm up time. The Sittingbourne golf course looked in superb condition, ready to host the first round of the Knock Out cup. As always playing away is always a tough proposition but we were here to give it our best as we always do!

1st Match

Michael Hart / Simon Reed

Mike was a little down hearted as he didn't have Crabby's beard to stroke to calm his nerves! However both Mike and Simon started off pretty solid with four pars, then the opposition broke the deadlock with a birde on 5. Mike quickly replied knocking it stiff on 6 for a birde, A/S. Simon then knocked it close on 7, unfortunately unable to convert. They were then gifted a hole on 8 with there opposition both making bogey.

The Prince's duo then started to turn the screw with Mike making birdie on 9. Turning 2up! Solid pars on 10, then Simon decided to show up to the party with birdes on 11 and 12 to put Prince's 4up. Mike decided enough was enough and put it close on 14 to win 5&4. Great result for the first match together this season.

Good match this week.. nip and tuck for the first 7 holes. Reedy hit all the fairways on the front 9 just the wrong ones. Found his form from there though making a couple of clutch birdies at key times to hammer the nail in...!!!

2nd Match

Steve Klosek / Robin Orchison

Robin and Klos got off to a solid start birdieing the 2nd hole to go 1up.

A great 5 iron into the par 3 4th from Robin set up a great opportunity to win the hole only for the opposition to drain a 20 foot putt from off the green for a par and the half.

The opposition then chipped in for birdie on the 5th but as payback for the 4th, Klos drained his 25ft putt to deny them winning the hole.

A great par on the 6th, 7th & 8th from Robin was good enough to win the holes to put us 4 up after 8. Then another great birdie on 11 from Robin put us 5 up

The Princes pairing then went on to make a couple more birdies before finally closing out the match 5 and 3. Robin and Steve dovetailed well, if one hit a bad spell the other played solid making pars or birdies.

Safe to say Klos and I got off to a great start winning the 2nd with a birdie. Hole 5 stroke index 1 saw the opposition chip in for birdie leaving Klos a 30 foot putt for the half. Klos stepped up and drained the putt no problem to halve it. The Princes pairing then went on to make a couple more birdies before finally closing out the match 5 and 3. Robin and Steve dovetailed well, if one hit a bad spell the other played solid making pars or birdies.

Great performance again! Really well played!

Superb play by the sounds of it. Myself and Coppers watched Sittingbourne chip in on the 5th only then to witness Klos putting in from 30 odd feet for the half!!!

3rd Match

Mark Bennett / Matt Digby

3 games, 3 partners for Benno and a steady start was made by the 2019 debutant Matt "Diggers" Digby who halved the 1st in Par. The 2nd, saw Benno unable to hole a 10ft birdie chance so we remained all square. A par 4 from Benno was enough for a win on 3, 1up.

A quite brilliant up and down for par from Diggers on the 4th kept us ahead, we then both went missing on the next 3 and gave them 3 holes which would prove our undoing later on. If the bunker had been raked properly on the 7th we might have had half a chance !

Solid halves on 8 & 9 - another great piece of short game wizardry from the Diggers!!

2 down at the turn ! Losing 10 was another set back - but this was a tough Sittingbourne pairing - our heads didn't drop though, plenty more holes we reminded each other. The 11th Par 3 halved with a neat up and down from Benno (that's not a misprint, miracles do happen!) - Par 5 12th again halved in 5's with a solid 2 putt from Benno (Reedie might have a different description) !

With news filtering through that the first 2 scratch games had won - I reminded Reedie not to disappear in case of a playoff - his reply was quite rude !! With a shot for Matt down 13 we knew we needed this to kick us into life and it did - a brilliant 2 putt for par by Diggers reduced the deficit - a tricky 12ft birdie from Benno couldn't be converted on 14 - 2 down 4 to play !

Some shocking (Edit Brilliant - DJ) news was then received - DJ & Coppers had won 7&6 - still can't believe it ha ha (there should be 2 match reports) - The team had won this cup match but we were now playing for pride! (Edit And order of Merit Points! DJ)

Benno stiffed a 4 iron onto 15 - 1 down ! The Sittingbourne pair both looked at best making 5 on 16 until 1 of them almost chipped in 4 birdie - hole halved.

Onto the 17th - great drives from the Princes pair and with Sittingbourne both in trouble off the tee we fancied to be level going down 18. A great up and down from the bunker saw Sittingbourne keep us at bay for the 2nd hole running. We knew we needed a birdie down the last to see us get a deserved half but with both of us hitting it well right on the par 5 18th it left us some work to do.

Diggers laid it up to 9 iron distance, Benno's was a little more interesting - finding a 3ft gap between 2 trees to leave 100yards - it wasn't where I was aiming ! With my birdie putt resting on the left lip from 25ft the game was up (we won't mention Matt chipping into the bunker - DJ has it on video!!) - gutted to be the first Princes pair to record a loss this season but I know me and Matt gave it our best shot even when we knew the team had done the job ! Keep going lads - it's the big one next - Canterbury at home - losing is not an option !!

Unlucky lads, really great effort!! Well played Diggers, sounds like you played well !!!

You can now see why Benno has had 3 partners in 3 matches already!!!

4th Match

Ryan Hockley / Dave Brett

First tee nerves soon disappeared as Bretty makes 4 nett 3 to win the first hole. Sittingbourne hit back winning the next two holes, holing 30ft birdie putts on each. Ryan then hit a great tee shot into 4, and narrowly missed the birdie putt. 1 down on the 5th tee and everyone getting shots from Ryan, a good tee shot, and second to 20ft meant that a 2 putt from Bretty squared the match.

Unfortunately we both messed up 6 and were soon back to 1 down. The next 4 holes were halved.

It was not until the 11th when Hockley decided enough is enough, stiffing a wedge on the par 3 and tapping in for the birdie. All square.

An adventurous bogey on 12 by Bretty, never seeing the fairway was enough to halve 12, followed by halves on 13 and 14. All square still.

Freedom came into the game and the Prince's pair won 15 and 16 to take them 2 up and dormie. An error from both Hockley and Brett on the 17th let the home side sneak back to 1 down.

Onto the 18th tee.

Bretty to play, Lost ball...

Hockley steps up, boom baby, straight down the middle. Second shot came up a little short leaving a tricky pitch to the par 5 18th. A classy "nipped" pitch left Hockley a birdie putt and 2 for the match.

Despite abuse from his own team, clearly some people can't handle their Guinness, Hockley rolls in the birdie putt to secure a 2 up win for the pair. Game set and match.

Fantastic win Lads, just want to set the record straight here as I don't want any rumours flying around! Coppers did not buy that Guinness! You might have already guessed but just incase he claims he did, he didn't.

Brilliant Birdie on the 18th there Ryan, well played. Sorry for Coppers commentary on the video. Also a superb piece of caddying by Bretty as well down the 18th, class.

5th Match

Paul Copley / David James

Tail End Charlies DJ & Coppers having to give shots started solidly with a par on the first after a super tee shot from the old boy getting a solid par to halve the first.

Both parred the 2nd with some sensible shots to go 1 up. Coppers then shanked a 3 iron on the 3rd after DJ creamed one down the middle. Coppers unphased put 5 iron up to DJs ball, nice SW in and sank 30 footer for par to halve the hole. He was heard to say " Looked a par all the way!" 

In the midst of all the commotion of Coppers telling everyone how it was a nailed on par after the tee shot, DJ missed the birdie putt which would have seen us go 2 up through 3.

Both DJ and Coppers hit superb shots into the par 3 4th whilst both the Sittingbourne lads missed the green. DJ's ball was just on the edge of the green, Steve (Sittingbourne) hit a superb little chip shot which looked like it was going very close to the hole, unfortunately for him it hit DJ's ball and stopped some 20ft away. Coppers made the par to put Princes 2 up.

Onto the 5th........... lets forget the 5th, back to 1up.

DJ had a great par from the trees on 6 and par on 7 to go 3 up. Two superb drives from DJ/COP down the 8th put them in a great position. Coppers hit a gap wedge to 5ft and looked like they were going 4 up but a bit of magic from their opponents saw them chip in for birdie.

Coppers duly slotted his birdie putt to halve and stay 3 up. Probably the turning point in the match.

Four good approach shots in from all the players on the 9th saw DJ only 8ft from the pin and he calmly dispatched his birdie putt to go 4up. Strolling with panache to the 10th the pair were truly in command. DJ smashed a rescue up the fairway whilst Coppers went way left into the trees. DJ stuck his second to the middle of the green whilst Coppers punched out and with a bit of Mickleson magic stuck it to 5ft and sank the putt 5up.

Again Coppers was heard to say" Par all the way!"

DJ hit the par 3 11th whilst Coppers went through the back, but a good chip saw him par out. The opponents looking at the birdie putt to try and claw back into the game just missed and thought they'd halved the hole, but they hadn't taken into account DJ 25ft away who hit a smooth solid putt and in it went for birdie 6 up.

Our opponents heads were down now.

DJ's team talk on the 12th was "Win this hole, game over and we are right by the club house and I'll buy you a Guinness. Well coppers was foaming at the mouth. Good drive, 5 wood down the fairway, pulled his 9 iron left missing the green, but seeing the club house and smelling the beer a deft chip, par putt...game over. A solid performance from the Tail End Charlies !!

The draw for the Quarter Finals happens in May, will keep you informed.

Well played everyone, brilliant result away from home!!!