Based on experience and lower handicaps, Jude McManus and Paul Stanford were the favourites to win the Walton Shield, the premier Mixed Matchplay competition for Senior golfers at Bromsgrove GC.   Yet, they found themselves two down after three holes as Anne Rowe produced a net par to win the 1^st hole with Phil Harris securing par at the 3^rd hole.

With the next two holes halved, it looked like Jude and Paul were in for a difficult day at the office.  However, Jude’s par at the 6^th reduced the arrears, and when she rolled in a curling 20-foot putt for par at the 7^th it looked as though the match was about to go all-square. However, Anne rattled in a 15-foot putt to steal the limelight and maintain a slim advantage.  But it was short-lived as Jude parred the 8^th and Paul won the 9^th hole.  From 2 down to 1 up, the tide had turned.

At the 11^th hole, Jude almost holed out, her ball glancing the flag to finish less than a foot from the cup.  Paul then won the 12^th and Jude the 14^th to go dormie four.  If anything exemplified the great spirit in which the match was played, it was Paul’s concession of two lengthy putts for his opponents at the 15^th as that provided the half that he and Jude needed to win the match 4&3.

Jude and Paul will receive the Walton Shield at Presentation Night in November.

Deryck Hall

The featured picture shows (from l to r) Phil  Harris, Anne Rowe, Jude McManus, Paul Stanford