Essex Golf Union

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The John Day Trophy  Final  2023

Upminster Golf Club was the setting for the 2023 John Day Trophy final. Crondon Park were scheduled to host after winning the Trophy for the past two years, winning this final would make it a hat-trick. Upminster kindly stepped in to host in the same week as The Upminster Trophies which were scheduled for the following weekend. Crondon Park faced The Warren and the team sheets suggested it was a very level contest with a number of matches playing off scratch with no shots given. The course was, as always in The Upminster Trophies week, in excellent condition. The weather saw temperatures reach the high 20s and with very little wind to cool the players it was set to be a tough challenge for both teams.

As the matches progressed through the 9th hole the Crondon Park team were looking good for a repeat of last year as they were up three of the four matches. As the day progressed, match two levelled out and Ian Young versus Mike Bedwell concluded as a halved match. Apart from Match two, all other matches were won or lost, so a potential playoff could’ve been an option.

When match one went Crondon Park’s way & match 3 favoured The Warren, all other matches on the course were evenly split. For every match Crondon won, The Warren countered and returned a point to stay in touch with the total, both teams requiring just 5 points to win the Trophy. With Crondon on 4.5 points with one match left on the course, Eddie Cook from The Warren taking on Crondon Park’s Robert Percy. Eddie’s 3& 2 victory quickly made it back to the club house and the news of a playoff made for some added excitement amongst the spectators and some noticeable nerves from both sides.

With the teams tied on 4.5 points each, playoff players Keith Wood from Crondon Park who was also their Team Manager was to play Mike Horton of The Warren. Both unfortunately lost their matches, so it was an opportunity to deliver something for their team, Mike Horton certainly did that. Keith Wood narrowly missed the green after his tee shot drifted right and bounced right of the 1st green just shy of pin high. Mike Horton addressed his tee shot and proceeded to strike a 5 iron just left of the flag. As it landed just short of the green it was greeted with a straight bounce, that checked up before releasing to about 8 feet just short & left of the hole. It received a round of applause from both sides and deservedly so. Keith’s chip pitched a fraction short of the green which killed any momentum it had, coming up some twenty feet shy of the hole, it was almost a must make putt to save par. His effort narrowly missed on the high side which under the circumstances was a fine effort, his 4 was duly conceded, leaving Mike with his 8-foot putt and requiring just two putts to win. His effort was equally as good, lipping out at a pace that made the par putt a certain ‘gimme’. Keith offered Mike the opportunity to hole out for a very solid par, which received a warm applause from all spectators surrounding the green. A match played in the greatest of spirits and despite the disappointment to Crondon Park, the Team Manager Keith Wood stated it was a fantastic final and he looked forward to challenge of making it to the final again next year.

The players and representatives of both Clubs enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts following the golf. At the presentation ceremony that followed the golf and then again following the meal, both Team Captains spoke and reiterated what a great day it had been regardless of being on the winning or losing side.

The Essex Golf Union would like to thank Upminster Golf Club for hosting the event, it was a most enjoyable afternoon with golf played in the best spirit.

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FINAL 

     Colchester      v      Crondon Park
To be played on Wednesday 7th September 2022
at Thorpe Hall Golf Club
Start time 12.30pm

John Day Trophy Final

Thorpe Hall GC, 7th September 2022

Thorpe Hall Golf Club was the setting for the 2022 John Day Trophy final as the winners of the 2021 final, Crondon Park, had made it to the final again. This year their opponents were Colchester GC. 

The course was in excellent condition for the two teams as they set out in breezy conditions, factoring in some tense matchplay golf the supporters all thought the two evenly matched teams would provide a closely fought contest.

As the matches progressed through the 9th hole the Crondon Park team were looking good for a repeat of last year as they were up in most matches.

But the weather was giving the players more to think about as a heavy rain shower passed over the course.

The leading match was the first to finish, with a comfortable 4&3 win for Crondon Park’s Gary Brady, and this was soon followed by match 5 adding another point to Crondon Park’s tally. Match 2 finished on the 17th with a further win for Crondon Park, but this was followed by the first point for Colchester as match 8 concluded with a win from Steve Sharman. Crondon Park then completed a clean sweep of the first five matches winning in matches 3 and 4, giving them 5 points and enough to win the final for the second successive year. The remaining matches were called in, awarding a half point to each side. The final result giving Crondon Park a favourable 4 point margin of victory.

The players and representatives of both Clubs enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts following the golf. At the presentation ceremony that followed all  confirmed their appreciation for the running of this competition.

The Essex Golf Union would like to thank Thorpe Hall Golf Club for hosting the event, it was a most enjoyable afternoon with golf played in the best spirit of the game.

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FINAL     

Crondon Park Golf Club ~ 2021 John Day Trophy Champions

Burnham on Crouch Golf Club
8 September 2021

The setting for the 2021 John Day Trophy final was Burnham on Crouch Golf Club, the winners of the 2019 final last year. The two finalists who had made it through five rounds of competition matchplay this year were from Playgolf Colchester and Crondon Park. 

The two teams set out on what was rapidly becoming one of the warmest afternoons of the year, before factoring in some tense matchplay golf, on a well prepared golf course.

As the matches progressed through the 9th hole the final looked to be evenly balanced, most matches remaining close fought battles with only a couple showing any significant advantage to one side or the other.  

As the last groups commenced their back nine holes the numerous spectators watching this final were preparing for a long afternoon before a result would become evident.  

As the first four matches reached a conclusion, honours were shared between the two sides, two comfortable wins for Playgolf Colchester and two close finishes going to Crondon Park. A number of matches then reached conclusions in quick time, matches 6 & 7 went to Crondon Park with match 5 concluding on the 18th hole with a win for Playgolf Colchester and then match 9 finished on the 16th green levelling up the whole tie once again at 4 points each, with one final match left out on the course. 

Match 8 reached the 18th hole all square, with it looking like a playoff may be required to split these two teams. Both players reached the green in three shots with Crondon Park sitting about 15 ft from the pin and Playgolf Colchester about 25 ft away to play first. A large crowd of supporters and players now surrounded the 18th green and were making use of all vantage points on the clubhouse balcony. The Playgolf Colchester putt narrowly missed, finishing just beyond the hole, leaving the door open for Dennis Murphy to seal his match and the whole tie in favour of Crondon Park. This he did, and with the putt dropping into the centre of the hole a large cheer from Crondon Park’s players and supporters went up. 

After the presentation ceremony the players and representatives of both Clubs enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts and confirmed their appreciation for the running of this competition.

The Essex Golf Union would like to thank Burnham on Crouch for hosting the event, it was a most enjoyable afternoon with golf played in the best spirit of the game.

Congratulations to Burnham Golf Club on their victory over Stoke by Nayland
in the John Day final at 
Three Rivers Golf & Country Club
Wednesday  11th September 2019.

The setting for the 2019 John Day Trophy final was Three Rivers Golf & Country Club, the winners of the inaugural final last year. The two finalists who had made it through five rounds of competition matchplay this year were from Burnham on Crouch and Stoke by Nayland. 

The two teams set out in overcast weather conditions for a late summer afternoon of tense matchplay golf on a well prepared golf course.

As the matches progressed through the 9thhole the final looked to be slightly favouring the Stoke by Nayland team, but a number of matches were fairly evenly balanced between the sides with a few too close to call. 

As the last groups commenced their back nine holes the clouds cleared, and the sun provided the players and numerous spectators with a fine late summer afternoon to enjoy. 

A few matches reached an early conclusion, two points on the board for Stoke by Nayland and one to the Burnham team. Match 1 finished on the 17thhole with another win for Stoke by Nayland enhancing their slender lead. However, all was not lost for Burnham as match 6 finished next with a 1up result in their favour, and this was quickly followed up with a 2up victory in match 4 and a 2&1 victory in match 7. So, Burnham now held a 4 – 3 lead with the last two matches left out on the course. In match 8, Stoke by Nayland held a 1up advantage on the 18thtee, and both players were on the green in three shots. Adrian Cherry left his long approach putt close to the hole for a conceded 5, but Fred Banfield holed his 20-foot putt to win the hole for Burnham and a vital half point. At this time both playoff players made their way nervously to the practice area to warm up for the potential playoff decider. Match 9 was now on the 18thhole, again with Stoke by Nayland holding a 1up lead. Both players made the green in 3, but both missed short putts, giving Stoke by Nayland the point to take the overall match into a tie.

The playoff commenced on the first hole, with a large group of support following the two players. Malcolm Norton got into trouble from the tee and could not match the par 4 made by Burnham’s Stephen Hull. So, the destination of the Trophy was decided, it was going east to Burnham on Crouch.

After the presentation ceremony the players and representatives of both Clubs enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts and confirmed their appreciation for the Essex Golf Union running this competition.

The Essex Golf Union would like to thank Three Rivers for hosting the event, it was a most enjoyable afternoon with golf played in the best spirit of the game.

Final Scores

John Day Trophy Final

Thorndon Park, 12thSeptember 2018

The setting for the inaugural John Day Trophy final was the excellent Thorndon Park course, hosting The Essex and Three Rivers Golf Club’s on 12thSeptember. 

A fitting setting for the first final in this competition as John Day’s daughter is a member at Thorndon Park.

The two teams set out in almost perfect weather for a late summer afternoon of tense matchplay golf.

As the matches progressed through the 9thhole the final looked to be fairly evenly balanced between the sides with a number of matches All Square, but with maybe a slight advantage to the Three Rivers team. With a testing back nine ahead either team could still win the day. As the first few matches began to reach the concluding holes it became clear that the Three Rivers team had mastered the back nine better than their opponents. The first two matches out went down the 18thresulting in a win and a half for the Three Rivers players and were followed by three more comfortable victories. The Essex needed some good results to bring them back into the match, but it was not to be as Bob Wells also won match 7 for Three Rivers which gave his team an unassailable lead. The last two matches out also resulted in halves.

The final result was a 7 to 2 victory to The Three Rivers Club, without losing a single individual match. A great performance on the day.

After the presentation ceremony the players and representatives of both Clubs enjoyed the hospitality of their hosts.

The Essex Golf Union would like to thank Thorndon Park Golf Club for hosting the event, it was a good match played in the best spirit of golf.