Fixture: Vivary Golf Club vs. Long Sutton Golf Club
Final Score: Vivary 4.5 – 1.5 Long Sutton
Vivary’s 3 Counties League squad continued their campaign with a hard-earned 4.5 to 1.5 victory against a resilient Long Sutton side. Despite a few dramatic swings in momentum on the back nine, the home side put on a clinical display in the early pairings to secure the match points and keep themselves firmly in contention at the top of the league table.
The Match Breakdown
- Match 1: Robbie Miller & Dan Fletcher (Won)The opening pair set a flawless standard for the day. Miller and Fletcher found their rhythm instantly, cruising through the front nine with absolute confidence. By the turn, the result felt secure, and the duo comfortably closed out a dominant victory to put Vivary 1–0 up.
- Match 2: Dan Jackson & Kav Butland (Won)Maintaining the early pressure, Jackson and Butland formed a highly effective partnership. Both players contributed crucial shots at pivotal moments, splitting the workload perfectly to dismantle the Long Sutton pairing and quickly double Vivary’s lead to 2–0.
- Match 3: Nick Woon & Matt Tiley (Won)In what proved to be the most eventful match of the day, Woon and Tiley exploded out of the blocks to go 3 up through the first three holes. Long Sutton fought back to square the match, leading to an incredibly tense back nine. After an unfortunate tree-knock on the 11th forced a tough unplayable drop, Tiley produced the shot of the day on the 12th—hitting a spectacular recovery from an awkward spot between the back of the green and a bunker. The duo held their nerve from there to grind out a vital point.
- Match 4: Gary Bishop & Iain Wilson (Won)After halving a tense opening hole, Bishop and Wilson turned up the heat to establish a commanding 3 up lead by the turn, which quickly stretched to 4 up on the back nine. Long Sutton mounted a spirited late comeback to slice that lead in half, but Vivary shut the door with stellar play on the 17th to secure a 4–0 lead for the team.
- Match 5: Adam Reed & Brian Thomas (Halved)This match was a true see-saw battle that went right down to the wire, with both players trading blows with their opponents. After a missed opportunity on the final green left the match in the balance, Reed showed great composure to secure a crucial half-point on the 18th hole.
- Match 6: Rich Hodge & Bill Cridge (Lost)Faced with a tough, grinding away pairing, Hodge and Cridge fought valiantly but ultimately ran out of steam on the closing stretch, giving Long Sutton their lone full point of the fixture.
The Verdict
While some in the clubhouse jokingly called it their “worst scoreline of the season” so far, a 4.5 to 1.5 win against quality league opposition is an excellent result that keeps Vivary’s momentum flying high. The team showed great depth, combining explosive starts with the grit required to win the tight matches on the back nine.
With another victory in the bag, Vivary continues to cement its place as a serious force at the top of the 3 Counties League.
Up the Vive!