ESN through to Semi-Finals in Pitcher
Match Report
East Sussex National qualify for the Pyecombe Pitcher Semi – Final
The ESN Pyecombe Pitcher team overcame both the odds and appalling playing conditions on Saturday to overturn a 3.5 point deficit to Cowdray Park and qualify for the Pitcher semi-final by beating Littlehampton 4-1 on the West Course.
The tough scratch and single figure handicap pairs format is not for the faint hearted and in each matches all 18 holes are played out to a medal scratch score. As ESN members know, anything can happen on the 18th hole and Saturday was no different.
Lead pair Lee Sexton and Mark Earley set the tone early and took a three shot lead into the back nine. Mark Earley made an especially important birdie with a 10 foot putt on 4 because the Littlehampton pair had tapped in for birdie after an excellent pitch to the green. Littlehampton then clawed back the advantage to just 1 shot with a run of birdies on the back 9 leaving ESN with that slender lead standing on the 18th tee. With their Cat 2 player finding the trees on the right and their 2 handicap Cat 1 player blocked out on the left, Lee Sexton hit a long drive down the left. Mark Earley also found himself blocked out on the left and was forced to chip out. With the Cat 1 opponent unable to find the green, Lee produced the shot of the day by hitting a gap wedge to 6ft while unsighted to the front right pin, only able to see a small part of the green. A winning shot, 1-0.
Dean Plant (pictured) and Brett Johnson suffered a slow start with Dean making an uncharacteristic double bogey on the 2nd hole after Brett had lost his tee shot. They were then three shots back against Littlehampton’s +3 handicap club champion Sam Dicks and it was always going to be a tough task to find a way back into the game. Brett made a fantastic birdie on 12 to keep ESN in it and a steady par by Dean on the 14th meant ESN were only one shot down. Birdies by Sam on 15 and one by their Cat 2 player on 16 meant that ESN were back to three down on the 17th tee. However a calm up and down for birdie on the 17th hole by Dean meant the deficit was back to 2 on the 18th tee and - anything can happen. So it proved with both Littlehampton players finding the trees on the right. This meant Dean could have the chance to chip in for a half or even a very unlikely win after his approach went long. Hopes of victory were dashed though as the Littlehampton Cat 2 pitched from 90 yards to 6 inches and an unlikely gimme 5. This left Dean to chip for the half which was narrowly missed. 1 -1 and two excellent total medal scores of 69 and 70.
Ethan Randall and Ryan Wickens are a formidable pairing for any opponent to face and so it proved on Saturday with the ESN cruising to an eventual 3 shot win. The duo were never really threatened during match but there was a tense moment on the 12th when Ethan’s hybrid approach headed towards the bunker on the right in front of the green. It was filled to the brim with floodwater and with Ryan having taken a penalty drop on the hole already ESN’s lead was in jeopardy. Thankfully a solid performance with the bunker rake by Ethan retrieved the ball and full relief was taken leading to a somewhat nerve-wracking par. 2-1 ESN
It fell to Josh Hardy and Ross White to seal the victory for ESN. This did not look likely after 9 holes with ESN two shots back. Josh had played some solid golf on the front 9 but the opposition were able to overcome the conditions with a very respectable one under score. However, a double bogey six on 11 brought the ESN pair back into it and a solid par by Josh on 12 left ESN walking off the green with a one shot lead. Ross and Josh both got their drives away on 18 and with Littlehampton again in trouble on this treacherous hole it was left to Ross to hole a four footer for par and victory for the ESN team. 3-1 and a fantastic turn around.
I wasn’t able to watch much of the Steve Graham and Jon Stern partnership, but in truth the super solid pair were well in front after three holes and the margin grew wider as the round went on with a wide gulf in respective playing ability between the pairings. The ESN pair were never likely to make many mistakes and dovetailed well throughout the round. Steve made a solid par on the 18th with the Littlehampton pair relieved to finish that ever demanding hole and make it to the bar where we were all well looked after by the staff that had stayed behind to serve the teams.
The 4-1 scoreline was perhaps harsh on Littlehampton who fielded the aforementioned Sam Dicks, two scratch players, a two handicap and a 3 handicap in their strongest line-up of the season. However, the conditions and the 18th hole were obstacles ESN managed to better effect on the day.
Well done to the team, a fantastic effort showing true grit and determination on behalf of the club.
ESN will play Piltdown GC in the Semi-final with Mid-Sussex playing Pyecombe in the other semi -final.
Mark Campbell
Captain – Pyecombe Pitcher team.
FINAL JACK League Table
P W D L Games Won (Away) Points
Mid Sussex 4 3 0 1 5 18.5
East Sussex National 4 3 0 1 4 18
Cowdray Park 4 2 0 2 6 15.5
Copthorne 4 2 0 2 2 14
Littlehampton 4 0 0 4 1 4
The ESN Pyecombe Pitcher team overcame both the odds and appalling playing conditions on Saturday to overturn a 3.5 point deficit to Cowdray Park and qualify for the Pitcher semi-final by beating Littlehampton 4-1 on the West Course.
The tough scratch and single figure handicap pairs format is not for the faint hearted and in each matches all 18 holes are played out to a medal scratch score. As ESN members know, anything can happen on the 18th hole and Saturday was no different.
Lead pair Lee Sexton and Mark Earley set the tone early and took a three shot lead into the back nine. Mark Earley made an especially important birdie with a 10 foot putt on 4 because the Littlehampton pair had tapped in for birdie after an excellent pitch to the green. Littlehampton then clawed back the advantage to just 1 shot with a run of birdies on the back 9 leaving ESN with that slender lead standing on the 18th tee. With their Cat 2 player finding the trees on the right and their 2 handicap Cat 1 player blocked out on the left, Lee Sexton hit a long drive down the left. Mark Earley also found himself blocked out on the left and was forced to chip out. With the Cat 1 opponent unable to find the green, Lee produced the shot of the day by hitting a gap wedge to 6ft while unsighted to the front right pin, only able to see a small part of the green. A winning shot, 1-0.
Dean Plant (pictured) and Brett Johnson suffered a slow start with Dean making an uncharacteristic double bogey on the 2nd hole after Brett had lost his tee shot. They were then three shots back against Littlehampton’s +3 handicap club champion Sam Dicks and it was always going to be a tough task to find a way back into the game. Brett made a fantastic birdie on 12 to keep ESN in it and a steady par by Dean on the 14th meant ESN were only one shot down. Birdies by Sam on 15 and one by their Cat 2 player on 16 meant that ESN were back to three down on the 17th tee. However a calm up and down for birdie on the 17th hole by Dean meant the deficit was back to 2 on the 18th tee and - anything can happen. So it proved with both Littlehampton players finding the trees on the right. This meant Dean could have the chance to chip in for a half or even a very unlikely win after his approach went long. Hopes of victory were dashed though as the Littlehampton Cat 2 pitched from 90 yards to 6 inches and an unlikely gimme 5. This left Dean to chip for the half which was narrowly missed. 1 -1 and two excellent total medal scores of 69 and 70.
Ethan Randall and Ryan Wickens are a formidable pairing for any opponent to face and so it proved on Saturday with the ESN cruising to an eventual 3 shot win. The duo were never really threatened during match but there was a tense moment on the 12th when Ethan’s hybrid approach headed towards the bunker on the right in front of the green. It was filled to the brim with floodwater and with Ryan having taken a penalty drop on the hole already ESN’s lead was in jeopardy. Thankfully a solid performance with the bunker rake by Ethan retrieved the ball and full relief was taken leading to a somewhat nerve-wracking par. 2-1 ESN
It fell to Josh Hardy and Ross White to seal the victory for ESN. This did not look likely after 9 holes with ESN two shots back. Josh had played some solid golf on the front 9 but the opposition were able to overcome the conditions with a very respectable one under score. However, a double bogey six on 11 brought the ESN pair back into it and a solid par by Josh on 12 left ESN walking off the green with a one shot lead. Ross and Josh both got their drives away on 18 and with Littlehampton again in trouble on this treacherous hole it was left to Ross to hole a four footer for par and victory for the ESN team. 3-1 and a fantastic turn around.
I wasn’t able to watch much of the Steve Graham and Jon Stern partnership, but in truth the super solid pair were well in front after three holes and the margin grew wider as the round went on with a wide gulf in respective playing ability between the pairings. The ESN pair were never likely to make many mistakes and dovetailed well throughout the round. Steve made a solid par on the 18th with the Littlehampton pair relieved to finish that ever demanding hole and make it to the bar where we were all well looked after by the staff that had stayed behind to serve the teams.
The 4-1 scoreline was perhaps harsh on Littlehampton who fielded the aforementioned Sam Dicks, two scratch players, a two handicap and a 3 handicap in their strongest line-up of the season. However, the conditions and the 18th hole were obstacles ESN managed to better effect on the day.
Well done to the team, a fantastic effort showing true grit and determination on behalf of the club.
ESN will play Piltdown GC in the Semi-final with Mid-Sussex playing Pyecombe in the other semi -final.
Mark Campbell
Captain – Pyecombe Pitcher team.
FINAL JACK League Table
P W D L Games Won (Away) Points
Mid Sussex 4 3 0 1 5 18.5
East Sussex National 4 3 0 1 4 18
Cowdray Park 4 2 0 2 6 15.5
Copthorne 4 2 0 2 2 14
Littlehampton 4 0 0 4 1 4