Click here for all the photos

County Week 2008
The EWGA regional re-organisation in 2008, meant that the inaugural 6- team County Week was held at Newmarket Links Golf Club from 2^nd to 6^th June. The format was the same as previous years, a round-robin tournament, each match consisting of 3 foursomes played in the morning and 6 singles played in the afternoon. Each day the captain could name no more than 8 players. Joining Bedfordshire, Cambs & Hunts, Norfolk and Suffolk in the East Region were Essex and Hertfordshire.

With the British Amateur Championships coming up the following week, Bedfordshire champion Holly Aitchison could only play 6 out of the 10 games, and scratch golfer Laura Collin, 7 out of 10. Many of the top amateurs had decided not to play County Week because of this commitment, but Holly and Laura both showed huge loyalty to Bedfordshire. As the smallest county in England, we needed our top players and really appreciate them both making themselves available, and for their contribution to the team, both on and off the course.

There were 60 games to play over 5 days, and it was necessary to rest caddies as well as players, so we needed a caddie master this year. Lin Gunn stepped in, organising the caddies, food and general player welfare, and she also found time for a little photography. Thanks Gunnie (twice!) Click here to view photos from the week. [Editor’s note: if you look closely, you will see one where Katie Burman isn’t eating!]

Day 1: Cambs & Hunts
Bedfordshire faced local rivals Cambs and Hunts on day 1 of the competition. With 5 players from Newmarket, Cambs and Hunts really made home advantage tell. Laura Collin and Cecilia Holden opened the foursomes account, attempting to maintain their 100% foursomes record at County Week. Laura was in sparkling form, and providing Cecilia hit the fairway on the par 5’s, Laura provided her with an eagle putt. Although none were converted, the four birdied par 5’s were enough to secure a point for Bedfordshire. Holly Aitchison and Heather Mutton teamed up, but were unlucky to meet two home players, where local knowledge edged through on 17. Sally Shayler and Bridie Quinn, also with a very impressive foursomes record at County week, were out 3^rd, but again were just pipped by local players.

Sally exacted revenge in the afternoon against one of her morning opponents, with an impressive display of up and downs on her way to a 5&3 victory. Laura continued her excellent foursomes form in the singles, tearing the course apart and winning 7&6. All the other matches were extremely tight, but unfortunately, Holly, Cecilia and Elaine all lost on the 17^th. Katie Burman made a very impressive debut against fellow junior, Miranda Brain, and despite making several birdies, was just edged out.

Cambs & Hunts 6 Bedfordshire 3

In the other games, Hertfordshire looked extremely strong, beating Norfolk 8 ½ to ½, and Essex beat Suffolk 6 ½ to 2 ½.

Day 2: Hertfordshire
3.8 inches of rain fell on Newmarket during County Week, and most reckon 3.7 of those fell on the Tuesday! Conditions were horrendous, with no let up in the rain all day. Courses all around were closed, but the green staff at Newmarket did a fantastic job to keep the course open and playable.  A couple of pins had to be moved during the day, but word was sent round very quickly to caddies and players, and several greens had to be squeegied between groups, but all matches were completed.

Hertfordshire are a young side and very strong. Cecilia and Laura again went out first in the foursomes against Hertfordshire champion, Lucy Williams, and England training squad member Charlie Field. At dormie 3 down, the girls dug really deep and produced some excellent golf to seal a half. Sally and Bridie had a tough tough battle against a very strong pair. Pippa Willis also made her County Week debut, pairing up with Vice Captain Elaine Bruce in the final foursomes match and impressing the supporters with her straightness and accurate chipping. At 5 down, Elaine and Pippa looked destined to lose, but word travelled around the course quickly: “they’re on the 14^th now”, “they’re up first on 16”, … The girls produced an amazing up and down when short-sided on 17 and were still fighting on 18. It took and excellent Hertfordshire putt to complete the match. Although they were unlucky, their fight back certainly helped and encouraged the rest of the team.

We were 2 ½ to ½ down after the foursomes, but the golf the team had played, kept our spirits and confidence high for the afternoon. Champion Holly had rested in the morning, and was disappointed not to be playing the Hertfordshire champion in the afternoon. Despite the horrific weather, Holly played under par for the 12 holes she completed in the afternoon before winning 7&6. Laura faced another England training squad member, Hannah Burke, and opened her account with her now familiar eagle at the first. The match was nip and tuck all the way, and Laura holed a fantastic putt on 18 to halve the match and bring Bedfordshire a vital half point for the 2^nd time in the day. Cecilia anchored the team, out last, trading pars with her opponent until a mistake let Cecilia in, and she capitalised, winning on the 17^th. Sally, Katie and Pippa all had very close matches in horrific conditions against very strong opponents.

Hertfordshire 6 Bedfordshire 3. Despite losing, it was a positive result and could have been even closer against a very strong side.
Essex managed the conditions extremely well, taking out Cambs and Hunts 8 ½ to ½, and Suffolk produced an excellent 6-3 win over Norfolk.

Day 3: Essex
Essex had played 2, won 2, and looked formidable opposition. The rain had eased by now, but the course was still very damp, and playing very long.
With Holly and Laura both resting in the morning, Captain Lesley May, had a tough job picking foursomes pairings. She went for experience, youth, and courage in that order, pairing Cecilia and Sally together, Heather and Katie, and Elaine and Pippa. Unfortunately, the Essex pairings proved too strong for us, with Heather and Katie fairing best, their brave challenge ending on 17^th after some spectacular golf from both sides.

At 3-0 down, it was a struggle in the afternoon. Again, Holly did not face the Essex champion, but instead was drawn against the very talented Daisy Dyer. Holly was 1 up on the 18^th tee, and knew how much a point would mean to the girls following behind her. Nothing was going to prevent that happening, and Holly produced 2 dream shots to hit the centre of the green. Putting was a formality, and we finally had a point on the board. Out in the anchor position was Elaine, playing the Essex champion, Jenny Pease. Elaine was only 1 over through 14, but Jenny was 4 under! In equally tough matches, Cecilia and Katie fought hard, both losing on the 17^th. Laura had a battle royal, that went all the way to the wire, but an excellent Essex putt sealed victory on the very last hole. Sally too fought hard, but lost to a birdie on the 16^th.

Essex 8 Bedfordshire 1.
Norfolk and Cambs and Hunts drew 4 ½ a piece, while Hertfordshire beat Suffolk 7 – 2.

Day 4: Norfolk
For the last 3 years, Bedfordshire have started County Week well, but lost out on the final day. Day 4 was uncharted territory, and with 3 losses from 3, we desparately needed a result against Norfolk.

Inspirational captaincy saw Laura and Cecilia back together at the front of the field; a combination of youth, experience and enthusiasm out 2^nd in the shape of Holly and Katie, and friends Bridie and Heather both with a point to prove, out 3^rd. Laura and Cecilia played flawlessly to put the first point on the board after just 14 holes. Holly and Katie following behind, played superbly, and went up the 18^th 1 up. A solid par was enough for them to seal victory, and give Katie her first County Week points. Bridie and Heather played with real guts, fighting for every par, every putt, every half. With hundreds of yellow shirts crowded around the 17^th green, and a strong wind against, Heather launched her tee shot onto the green. Bridie’s putt was dead weight, and our third point was secured. 3-0 after the foursomes.

Following such a successful morning, the same 6 players went back out for the afternoon. Finally playing a champion, Holly set the ball rolling in the singles against the very experienced Tracey Williamson, with the longest drive ever seen up the first. Holly made birdie to go one up and never lost the lead. Laura completed yet another round of impeccable golf and put yet another point on the board for Bedfordshire. Bridie had been struggling with her form at the beginning of the week, but she has a heart the size of a planet, and her foursomes victory in the morning had really boosted her confidence. She stood on the 18^th one down, needing something special. It came in the form of an enormous drive and a wedge shot to 3 feet. She won the hole and secured a courageous half. We had won!

Bedfordshire 5 ½ Norfolk 3 ½.
In the other matches, Suffolk had an amazing 7 – 2 win over Cambs and Hunts, and Hertfordshire and Essex faced each other with unbeaten records in tact. Hertfordshire edged it 5 ½ to 3 ½.

Day 5: Suffolk
We have never beaten Suffolk before at County Week. We have never played for 5 days at County Week. Mathematically, we could still come 3^rd, but we would need to win 7-2, a huge ask. Our victory over Norfolk gave us renewed confidence, and every player in the team had now hit form. Selection was very very tough for Lesley.

John O’Gaunt club mates and friends Cecilia and Katie teamed up for the opening foursomes match, but despite parring 7 holes on the front 9 turned 2 down. They fought hard, but the opposition made no mistakes at all, and eventually won on 16^th. Elaine and Sally went out second, and again faced a pairing playing flawless golf. The match went up the last all square, and we really needed something from it. Elaine’s tee shot was straight up the middle, and Sally dispatched it to the middle of the green. With the opposition also safely on for 2 everything came down to the putting, and with neither team wanting to give any ground, the match was halved in pars. Bridie and Pippa followed behind, another inspired pairing as they had caddied for one another the previous day, and had contributed as much to each other’s games as they had to their own. All square, and just off the 18^th in two, with the opposition safely on the green, only an up and down would do. Pippa produced an amazing chip under this pressure to about 5 feet. It was a very clever chip, leaving Bridie a straight uphill putt to save the half. Bridie holed out and the girls got a very well-deserved half point.

At 2-1 down after the morning, it was an even bigger ask. Our top priority was victory, and somehow we had to find 4 points from 6 in the afternoon.

Holly went out first against Suffolk champion, Vicki Inglis, again ripping a drive up the middle to great applause from the yellow supporters. A birdie-fest followed, and the match went up 18 all square. A par apiece meant the match was halved, and Bedfordshire crept closer to the magic total of 5 points needed. Laura played up and coming star Heidi Baek, and knew she was going to be facing a really tough test when her eagle putt on the first (for a half!!) lipped out. Laura had played exceptionally well all week, and she produced her best golf yet to clinch victory on the very last putt. With 2 ½ points in the bag, and 4 matches still out on the course, we began to believe we could do it. Sally too had saved the best till last, as she beat Suffolk stalwart Amanda Norman 4&2, and edged us even closer. Katie too had played really well all week, but had not got the points to prove it. She strung par after par after par together to reach 3 up, and then turned on the style with 2 birdies to close out her match 5 &3. Cecilia was narrowly beaten by the very experienced Sharon Luckman leaving just Elaine out on the course against Lizze Laflin. With nearly 40 years of County Week experience between them, they produced an excellent battle. Elaine got the upper hand early, getting 5 up, but Lizzie is a fighter and battled back to dormie 2 down. Lizzie made a safe par, and Elaine had hit the greenside bunker. After an exquisite sand shot, everything rested on her 5 foot putt. Elaine pulled the putter back, the ball set off, hit the back of the hole and dropped. Victory was ours. An excellent result against a very strong side.

Bedfordshire 5 ½ Suffolk 3 ½.

Hertfordshire beat Cambs and Hunts 6 - 3 and Essex beat Norfolk 7 – 2.

We finished fourth, but equal third on points, a very creditable performance. There are more positives than negatives to take to Billericay next year. Well played Team Bedfordshire.

Final Table: