After four rounds spanning three months, the destiny of the Walton Shield (Seniors Mixed Pairs Matchplay) was decided on August Bank Holiday Monday in favour of Carolyn and Richard Fox.
Despite having to give 13 and 17 shots to his opponents (John Davidson and Jan Harris, respectively), Richard secured halves at the opening two holes with a bogey and par. Carolyn then took over by winning the next four holes which included net birdies at the 3rd and 6th holes. Jan Harris managed to reduce the arrears to 3 down at the turn before the match entered its topsy-turvy phase.
At the 11th Jan’s gross par made it two down before a net par by Carolyn at the 12th and a gross par by Richard at the 13th moved the Fox’s to four-up with five to play. Jan then won both the 14th and 15th holes to give the Collier Cup winners a glimmer of hope.
That light was extinguished on the 16th when Carolyn rolled a 40-foot putt hole-side and neither Jan nor John could convert their putts to extend the match. The Fox’s had prevailed by 3&2.
In a match played in good spirits, the Fox’s shot a net 68 for the 16 holes played while their opponents scored a net 71.
Carolyn and Richard will receive the Walton Shield at Presentation Night later in the year.