Essex Golf
2025 SEG Challenge Team Final - Essex Come Through Tight Battle With Hampshire
Essex Challenge Team Final v Hampshire at Newton Green Golf Course, Suffolk.
12th October 2025
With weather forecasted to be foggy until midday it was with some relief, we arrived early Sunday morning to find perfect conditions for golf. Newton Green, although not recognised as one of the premiere Suffolk courses was certainly an ideal venue for The Challenge County Final.
The old part of the course is played over heathland with tiny greens, tight fairways and plenty of gorse. The new nine holes is parkland with plenty of space, large greens and lined by trees. Although under six thousand yards in length this meant several of the par 4’s are drivable providing plenty of risk and reward opportunities.
Having played and narrowly beaten Hampshire in each of the previous two finals we anticipated a close match.
The Essex line up for the day was as follows: Timmy Moncur - West Essex & Captain, Mason Barningham - Colchester, Sam Carter - Abridge, Joe Dobbyn - Boyce Hill, Karl Ochse - Romford, Shay McQueen - Romford, Freddie Warn - The Warren, Will Wright -Chelmsford,
As anticipated the morning foursomes were close, until the latter stages it looked like Hampshire would go into lunch with a slight lead.
Timmy and Mason, Essex’s lead pair, won 3 & 2 but the other three games initially looked to be going in Hampshire’s favour.
Karl and Shay fought back to get a valuable half and Joe and Sam having been behind, played some aggressive golf to finish two up.
The score at lunch was 2.5 - 1.5 in Essex’s favour.
Reminiscent of this year’s Ryder Cup, early on Hampshire were up in seven of the eight games. Only Joe was ahead, and he went on to convincingly win his game 6 & 5.
Karl recovered from being one down for most of the front nine to overhall his opponent and win 2 & 1.
Hampshire then won the next three games to make the score four points each meaning the result was to be decided over the last three games, all of which went down the final hole.
Will secured a half, and Sam halved the eighteenth to hold onto a one-shot lead.
Freddie held his nerve on the last to win the hole and give us the necessary points to win.
Both sides played exceptional golf and both teams were a credit to their respective counties both in terms of their ability but also in the spirit the game was played.
A big thank you to Newton Green who superbly hosted the event. The hospitality was exceptional and for the first time in my experience, the club provided several volunteers who acted a ball spotters.
Match Result: Essex 7 Hampshire 5
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