On Saturday 9th August Bishop Auckland Golf Club played Seaton Carew in the 7th round of the National Mail on Sunday Team Classic last 32.
The match was played at High Plains, Bishop Auckland, on a bright but blustery day with 5 players from each club. The teams were evenly matched. However, Wayne Hewitt of Bishops, playing against Durham County Golfer Hughie Hamilton ran out a comfortable winner, winning his match 7 & 5; a great start for Bishops. The second match proved to be a lot tighter when Graham Milne pitched his ball next to the 18th hole for a birdie that left his Seaton Carew opponent Ian Hendry to sink a monster putt to win the match and level the game. It wasn’t long before the result of the third game was known, with Paul King, representing Bishops, losing his match to scratch golfer Jonathan Conley 3 & 2.
The fourth game fortunately swung back the Bishops way, with 4 handicapper Andrew Graham squaring the match with a solid 4 & 3 victory over Seaton Carew’s Matthew Davidson, who is soon to start an American golf scholarship.
In the final match was Jamie Birkbeck, who over the years has won decisive matches resulting in Clark Cup wins and, of course, the Mail on Sunday Competition in 2003. With 4 holes to play, Jamie was 3 down to Seaton Carew’s, Robbie McGann. However, Jamie fought back to birdie the 18th and level the match, taking it on to extra knock out holes. On this occasion it wasn’t Bishops’ day, Jamie lipped out to and made par, whilst Robbie putted and made birdie 3, which won the match for Seaton Carew, who now go through.
The Bishop club expressed ‘massive thanks’ to the magnificent supporters who turned out to cheer the team on.
Match Result Bishop Aucklan GC 2 1/2 – 2 1/2 Seaton Carew (won on 1st extra hole).
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
