As dark clouds loomed over the Downs Course on Friday 9 March the Golf At Goodwood Members Team prepared to take back the title after two years of disappointment. The annual Members vs Staff match, which this year saw it’s best ever turnout, is a fourball betterball, matchplay format.
MAR 10th 2018
Members v Staff
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Light rain set in shortly after the first group set off and worsened throughout the afternoon, dampening all but the competitors’ spirits.
Live scoring via a mobile app, allowed the teams to stay up-to-date with each other's match scores and before long the members were up in seven of the 10 matches. This included some exceptional golf from Gordon Simpson & Max Herring who had a four-hole lead over Stuart Gillett & Josh Henderson after 11 holes. However, by the halfway mark, the Staff had pulled it back and scores lay even after comeback triumph for Greenkeepers, Joe Healy & Chris Stone who recovered from three down after eight holes to win their match 4&3.
The overall score remained nail-bitingly close as the groups rolled in with their final results. By 5.30pm the sun was setting and the rain continued to make scoring difficult for the final group as they headed down the 18th. Clubhouse scores were tied and in this final match, the decider, Members Lee Herring & Chris McLarnon had a one-hole lead over Chris McDonnell & Sam Townsend. A half for the Members pair would have been enough to seal the win for their team but McDonnell had other ideas; his birdie brought the match back to all square and the overall result to a tie.
Final score: 5-5
Thanks were extended to Josh Henderson and Robin Irving for their hard work, organising and preparing for the match.
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