The Old Cranleighan Golf Society

The build up to this year's Grafton Morrish was a tense affair as two of the published squad pulled out at the last minute. Fortunately for the side 'the great' Colin Ferguson sacrificed the opportunity to play in the RAC Autumn Meeting and made the pilgrimage to the Norfolk coast.

Following a first round bye Cranleigh faced Stoneyhurst at Brancaster (RWNGC) on the Friday. Halford-Hewitt form suggested that this should not be a difficult match with the opposition well down the Anderson Scale. The Grafton, however, is a very different affair as two strong pairs can be sufficient to progress through the tournament.

Late call up Colin (putting is so easy) Ferguson and his partner Matthew Hansford managed to gain the first point for Cranleigh with a convincing win over the third pair. However, a 2&1 defeat for Crane and Sweetland at top meant that it was all down to the middle match. Having been up for much of the contest Luke Parry and Martin Riddiford found themselves one down playing the last hole. However, a fine approach shot from Martin left Luke a ten-foot putt for birdie, which he duly slotted to take the match to extra holes. The 19th was halved in par but a bogey from the Cranleigh pair on the par-4 20th allowed Stoneyhurst to take the spoils.

The Plate:

The format for the Grafton Morrish plate competition is 18 holes foursomes scratch stableford (3 pairs) at Brancaster. The top four schools from this stage then progress to a knock out competition, which is held at Hunstanton. In treacherous conditions on the Saturday the Cranleigh team managed a total of 83 stableford points, including an impressive 32 from Tim Sweetland and Luke Parry. This figure proved good enough to enter the next round the following morning when the team would face Bristol.

As they do not play in the Halford-Hewitt the strength of the Bristol side was not really known, although they had managed to notch up more stableford points in the plate qualifying than Cranleigh. Sweetland and Parry led the way at top pair and secured a comfortable victory 5&4. Behind them Hansford and Crane fared less well losing 5&4 after some errant driving (over golfed). Once again the overall result was in the hands of Martin Riddiford who, this time, was partnering Colin Ferguson. The Cranleigh pair was one up playing the 18th but despite some good play tee to green three putts cost them hole forcing the match down the 19th. Yet again both sides found the green in regulation but another three putt from Cranleigh meant that Bristol progressed to the final.

Many thanks to Matthew Hansford for organising such an enjoyable and successful weekend and to Colin Ferguson for stepping in at such short notice to complete the line up. To those who could not play: BE VERY ENVIOUS - IT DOES NOT COME MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.