New event on Menorca set to become annual event after first success

Jul 17 2007 by Richard Williamson, Liverpool Daily Post

THE inaugural match between the promising junior players of Cheshire and the Balearic Islands proved to be a great success – and now looks set to become an annual event.

The five boys and five girls from each side played a ‘Ryder Cup’ series of matches for the Matthew Brown Cup at Son Parc Golf Club in Menorca over two days.

The competition was the idea of Bramhall member Hugh Brown, the owner of Son Parc, in memory of his grandson Matthew, who died in tragic circumstances in 2006.

The Cheshire boys were led by Josh Sims, a plus-two handicapper from Caldy, and Royal Liverpool two-handicapper Laura Jones was the girls captain.

The rest of the team was made up of two U16s and two U14s with Tom Boys (Royal Liverpool), Sam Connor (Sandiway), Oliver Carr (Heswall) and Tom Greenfield (Royal Liverpool) joining forces with Josh.

The rest of the girls were Hannah Davies (Bramhall), Jade Evans (Styal), Harriet Wilson (Caldy) and Bronte Law of Bramhall, the youngest member of the team at 12 years but with an eight handicap.

Cheshire lost the opening mixed foursomes 3-2, with wins for Davies and Boys by 4&2 and Connor and Evans (2&1).

Sims and Boys won the opening fourball 2&1 before Cheshire lost the next two matches. Law and Wilson found themselves up against Spain’s number two girl 12 years-old Luna Sobron – a hugely talented two-handicapper.

The Cheshire pair gave as good as they got before being squeezed out on the final hole.

Going into the final day Cheshire needed to win seven games to take the trophy but instead they suffered four early defeats.

With half the games completed an electrical storm caused play to be suspended and the remaining games were decided by their existing scores at the time of the abandonment bringing wins for Wilson 1up, Carr 2up, Davies 3up and Greenfield 1up.

The eagerly-awaited match between Law and Sobron lived up to all expectations as the determined Cheshire girl stormed into a five-hole lead. Her talented opponent gradually reduced the arrears to take a one-hole lead going into the 17th hole where her drive ran into deep trouble leaving Law with an easy task to level the match with a shot to come on the final hole.

But the weather had the last word as play was cancelled.

The cup went to the Balearics 24-14 with Hugh Brown presenting the Matthew Brown trophy to their captains Cecelia Fernandez-Reyes and Pep Juanada.

Cheshire Ladies captain Pam Draper said: “It was a wonderful experience for our juniors and one which will give a great incentive for those who will be trying to win places on the team in the coming years.

“Our players conducted themselves impeccably at all times and were a credit to their clubs, the county, their families and themselves.”