Boyce Hill's first round match against Colchester in the Leslie Wood got off to a steady start when the home team took a 3-2 lead into the afternoon from the morning foursomes .Pack leader David (Smithers) Smith (above left), increased his team's advantage by a point in the singles with some fine assistance from his trusty caddie Dave (Mobester) Coates.
Smith rallied back from three down on the 4th after swopping his team colours for a wine-red polo shirt he carries in the bag for a ball wipe.
Club captain Jim Shovelin resisted the urge to celebrate early and headed straight to the bar for a water bottle refill.
Meanwhile things were looking good on the course. Ryan Brommage (below left) was among six of nine Boyce players up in the singles.
Brommage was drawn against another big hitting youngster.
The pair slugged it out in one of the highest quality matches of the day, no doubt aided by the intermittent eye-rest breaks they took together between holes before unleashing a lash down the fairway.
Togetherness was certainly a theme of this good natured contest, although Charlie Goodwin and caddie Perry Lodge took it a step further by holding hands between holes.
Charlie's playing opponent made an official complaint to secretary David Kelly on the grounds of unfair advantage after his own caddie ruled out palm tickling.
Mr Kelly dismissed the complaint. Mr Lodge spent the rest of the afternoon offering peace signs to the crowd.
Phil Alderton (above right) suffered a surprise loss to another big hitter, although Tom Wilson (below) triumphed after a birdie on 17.
Despite the fine 75oF heat, the Dentist raised eyebrows when he refused to undo his shirt-top button and remove his blue rain-hat, and was seen with pink cigarrettes.
Caddie Des Daniels became so concerned he stepped in to take the drive on the 10th.
Normal order was resumed when The Dentist recovered to record another win.
Despite some excellent play, Charlie lost on the 17th to an excellent opponet who was below par on the back nine.
Brommage came back from dormie two down to earn a half with a fantastic par on 18. His score meant Boyce needed just half a point from the remaining three matches.
After another excellent match, Gary Loveday had this putt on 18 for a half, and a Boyce win.
It just missed low side.
Losses for the last two Boyce players, Simon Haggett and Tom Ward, took the match into a play-off, with Haggart chosen to take it down the 1st.
Two wonderful shots meant he had two putts for the win from 10ft below the hole.
Haggett sealed the win when he made the putt back.
Despite the high level of excitement the Boyce players had time for some more male bonding, with Haggett and Roy Soilleux (who won both matches) keen to shake more than hands.
An emotional finale to another fantastic day.
Well done Simon and the team!
