Glamorganshire V Creigiau

Glamorganshire Golf Club First team faced Creigiau First team at St. Pierre golf club in the last preliminary round of the Singles Matchplay Welsh Team Championship and pulled through with the tightest of wins by 3 – 2.

Jay Morris led the way for Glamorganshire and he got away to a steady start at all square after 3 holes. Brian Rigby was out second against one of the Counties hottest talents and Brian’s 1 over par through nine holes was eclipsed and he went 4 down.

Nick Grimmitt faced another of Creigiau top players and right from the start you got the feeling that this match would go the full distance, with both players trading early birdies.

Jordan Price-Davies headed out 4^th and he got into a good rhythm edging 1up on the front nine.

Simon Curle was the anchor man as he has so often been for Glamorganshire and he immediately stamped his authority on the game going 3 up through the front 9 holes.

However, upfront things were not looking good for Glamorganshire as both Jay Morris and Brian Rigby had been beaten giving Creigiau the first 2 points, needing only one more for victory.

However, Simon Curle nudged his birdie putt stiff on the 14^th and with it Glamorganshire’s first point in what was a commanding display from Simon Curle.

Nick Grimmitt had entered the 15^th hole 2 down, but no matter as he slammed in back to back birdies to level the match, and with Jordon Price-Davies 1 up behind him things were on the up.

All square facing the 249 yard par three 18^th hole, Nick Grimmitt’s Tee shot came up short right, where he chipped up to 10 feet, but with his opponent down for a safe par Nick faced a crucial putt to keep the match alive, which he duly slotted right in the middle of the cup and off he marched to the 1^st tee for the second time.

Meanwhile, Jordon Price-Davies rounded off a fantastic display with a great shot to the 18^th hole and with it Glamorganshire’s vital second point.

The whole game depended on the sudden death playoff, where both players found the fairway at the par 5 first hole. Nick Grimmitt hit his second leaving him 100 yards with Creigiau not far behind. Both players looked calm but you could sense the pressure building on them, and it showed as the Creigiau man skulled his 3^rd shot through the green, but Nick’s pitch was not up to his high standards and he missed the green left. However, Nick re-grouped and his chip was enough to close the game out in what was a truly superb Team win for Glamorganshire.

This win see’s Glamorganshire in the Welsh Team Finals for the first time in 6 years, which is played at Whitchurch golf club on the 13^th – 16^th of August.

Perforamnce Table Update:

Nick Grimmitt	12
Matt Mulloly	6
Simon Curle	6
Gordan Price-Davies	5
Brian Rigby	4
Chris Payne	3
Jay Morris	1
Harry Rigby	1
Simon Hall	0
Martin Price	0
Leighton Brooks	0
Dean Bezant	0
Andy Hughes	0

Wenvoe I V Glamorganshire I

Glamorganshire Golf Club First Team travelled up the road to Wenvoe and narrowly lost by 2 -1.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle lead off against Wenvoe’s Star pair Nick James and Lloyd Evans. Both sides showed their intent early exchanging solid pars and the game was deadlocked at all square.
Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt took on Wenvoe veterans Lee Ivory and Sean Davies and they went straight in too a high quality game, but they got their noses in front at 1up through 9 holes.
Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies were out last and they’re great form of last week deserted them like Ronaldo and they were soon 3 down.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle kept up the pressure and a telling putt from Glamorganshire’s Simon Curle pushed them 1 up with 4 holes to play, but this lead soon disappeared as they struggled off the Tee.
Behind them Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt were just closing out another solid win, maintaining their 2 year unbeaten partnership. However, one match behind Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies had lost making the match 1 all.
With only Brian Rigby and Simon Curle left on the course at all square playing the 18th hole the match could have gone either way, but sadly for Glamorganshire it went Wenvoe’s way as they holed a great 10 foot putt for the win.
Next week see’s a break from League Team golf but Glamorganshire face Creigiau at St. Pierre in the Welsh Team Championships on Sunday afternoon.
Performance Table
In the race to Meat Pie Nick Grimmitt is blitzing the performance table and looks totally unassailable already.

Nick Grimmitt 10
Matt Mulloly 6
Simon Curle 4
Brian Rigby 4
Gordan Price-Davies 3
Chris Payne 3
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1
Simon Hall 0
Martin Price 0
Leighton Brooks 0
Dean Bezant 0
Andy Hughes 0

Glamorganshire I’s V Wenvoe I’s

Glamorganshire I V Wenvoe I
Glamorganshire Golf’s First Team got back to winning ways as they hosted local rivals and newly promoted Wenvoe GC recording a gutsy 2:1 Victory.
It was a welcome relief for skipper Simon Hall to have all 5 First team regulars back in action, as Nick Grimmitt and Matt Mullooly got the match underway against Wenvoe’s hottest star Nick James, but the Glamorganshire pair struggled off the tee visiting more tree’s than David Bellamy and Wenvoe forged ahead 3 up.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle were out second and their game was evenly balanced as both sides struggled to get any consistent form going.
Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies anchored the side against Wenvoe veterans Lee Ivory and Sean Davies, and they showed no respect hammering home early birdies to storm 5 up going up the 9th hole.
Thankfully Nick Grimmitt and Matt Mullooly decided to wake up as they holed 3 great putts in a row at the 13th, 14th and a snaking 15 footer by Grimmitt at the 15th was enough to put the game all square.
In the middle match Brian Rigby and Simon Curle could not recover from 2 down, but one match back Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies had wrapped up the first win for Glamorganshire on the 14th green, leaving the team who won the first game to take the match points.
With Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt all square playing the treacherous 200 yard par Three 18th hole, Grimmitt’s superb iron to 5 feet was just the tonic Glamorganshire needed as they won the final game and with it all the match points.
Playing Wenvoe is always a potential banana skin with the away side knowing the course so well, but this Glamorganshire side showed genuine belief to win this match that will put them in confident mood as they travel away to Wenvoe this week.

Performance Table Update:

Nick Grimmitt 8
Simon Curle 4
Matt Mulloly 4
Brian Rigby 4
Gordan Price-Davies 3
Chris Payne 3
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1
Simon Hall 0
Martin Price 0
Leighton Brooks 0
Dean Bezant 0
Andy Hughes 0

Pyle & Kenfig I’s V Glamorganshire I’s

Glamorganshire Golf Club First Team travelled away to Pyle and Kenfig minus 5 of their regular 6 man team losing 3 – Nil despite a fantastic fight from this experimental string.

Martin Price and Chris Payne headed up the Glamorganshire challenge and they got off to a great start on Pyle’s cruel set up, going 1 up through 4 holes.

In the second pairing Wenvoe import Leighton Brooks and young Andy “Tiger” Hughes were out second, also getting off to a flying start at 2 up through 4 holes.

Captain Simon Hall anchored the side with Dean “Bazooka” Bezant and they were immediately on the end of Pyle putting display that saw 3 putts over 25 feet drop in the first 4 holes and they went 4 down.

Going into their back nine Martin Price and Chris Payne got caught up in the rough more than their Pyle opponents and they went 2 down.

Leighton Brooks and Andy Hughes paid the price for not holing out, with the luck of the bounce favouring the home side at a few crucial times and they went 2 down as well.

Meanwhile Simon Hall and Dean Bezant had rallied firing in 2 birdies in 3 holes, when Pyle’s Ian booth drove straight down the middle of the 9^th fairway hitting his partner’s bag resulting in an immediate loss of hole and the match went all square.

Upfront Martin Price and Chris Payne hit back with solid pars at the very tough 16^th and 17^th holes and they were 1 down playing the last hole. With Pyle short sided and Glamorganshire facing a birdie putt a half looked odds on, but a miracle chip from Pyle’s Dai Price was enough to half the 18^th and win them the first game.

Leighton and Andy couldn’t hold a strong Pyle pair who trotted out pars on the back nine and they lost on the 15^th, whilst a few errant drives from Simon Hall were enough to cost Glamorganshire the last match giving Pyle the full 3 nil win.

Although a whitewash many positives emerged from this Team performance with 2 Premier League rookies playing away against one of Wales strongest amateur Clubs. Dean Bezant and Andy Hughes performances warrant special mention as the 17 and 18 year olds took the massive step up to First Team golf in their strides. With a full season of Team Golf to come and the right application they could be threatening selection ahead of the old guard next year.

Performance Table Update

Nick Grimmitt has stormed to the top of the table with a welcome return to form this year, whilst his normal partner Mat Mullooly has paid the price for missing some key games as he’s slipped down the table.

Nick Grimmitt 6
Simon Curle 4
Brian Rigby 4
Matt Mulloly 2
Chris Payne 1
Gordan Price-Davies 1
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1

Vale I V Glamorganshire I’s

Glamorganshire Golf Clubs First Team travelled away to The Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club and came away with a fantastic half, that see’s the First Team back on level points for the season.
With Club Champion Matt Mullooly away Glamorganshire’s strength in-depth was tested, and Harry Rigby made his return to the first Team after a 2 year absence, playing with Nick Grimmitt. They got off to a solid start all square through 9 holes, playing against Zach Gould the Vale’s talisman and rising Welsh talent.
Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne followed and they had their hands full from the outset going 3 down early on.
Stalwarts Simon Curle and Brian Rigby were last to fire, and they started with clear intent rolling out 6 straight pars to go 1up.
With Harry Rigby and Nick Grimmitt heading into the par five 18th hole 1 up it looked like a dream start, but a final hole birdie from the Vale was enough to snatch a half in this crucial game.
Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne had battled back from 3 down to all square only to slip 1 down playing the 17th hole, where a solid iron into the heart of the green was enough for the Vale to secure the first clear point.
Simon Curle and Brian Rigby battled to the par five 18th hole all square, where Simon Curle launched a bomb of a drive over 300 yards down the fairway, only for Brian Rigby to rip his iron approach to 15 inches and secure a hugely important halved match for the Glamorganshire boys.
With last weeks loss away to Neath and a half at home and away with the Vale, the First Team have got their Premier League season back on track in the defence of their title.
Next week see’s the first Team travel away to Pyle & Kenfig, with 5 of the 6 first Team away warm weather training in Arizona.