Kent Golf Limited
Kent Foursomes, Junior Foursomes, Eric Green Trophy, Captain’s Cup & Top Club Finals
Date published: 1 Oct 2024
We were truly blessed with the weather for our major Finals Day at North Foreland this year with non-stop sunshine and barely a breath of wind, and with five finals being contested over the beautifully prepared course, it promised to be an exciting day.
First out were the scratch players from Knole Park and Upchurch River Valley who were fighting to be crowned Kent Foursomes Champions. In match one, Mike Evans and George Cannon gave Upchurch an early lead, being 1 up after 8 against Knole Park’s Max Moseley and Leigh Ferris. There was further good news for Upchurch in match two as Greg Diddams and Connor Lang also held a 1 up lead after seven holes against Jordan Hicks and Sam Statham. The momentum, however, began to swing around the turn and the Knole Park players fought back in both games on the second nine and would go on to win match one by 2 holes and match two by 1 hole, which gave them a 3-hole aggregate victory. An excellent final to watch, with some high-quality golf.
In the Junior Foursomes final, where Dartford were doing battle with Sundridge Park, there was an equally tense atmosphere with the result still in doubt until the very end of the round. Tommy Hulance and Ozzie May (Dartford) were giving four shots to the Sundridge pairing of Lennon Hill and Kit Hill who used them to good effect as they finished the 18 holes with a score of 4 up. But there was a different narrative in match two as Dartford’s Haiden Matos and Harrison Costello - despite giving three shots to Kieran Parkins and Freddie Corke – took control of the match around the turn and ran out 6 up winners which was good enough to give Dartford the title with an aggregate of 2 up.
After a season of battling through the rounds, our 64 entrants in the Eric Green Trophy were reduced to just two – Kevan Duhig (Gillingham) and Chris Greenfield (Walmer and Kingsdown), with Chris receiving 9 shots. It was a nip-and-tuck affair all the way with the match remaining all square after the fifteenth, and still in the same tantalising state after the regulation 18 holes. Sudden death was required to settle the matter, and with Chris not in receipt of a shot at the nineteenth, Kevan kept his nerve to press home his advantage and take the title at the first extra hole. Congratulations to both finalists for a great match played in fine spirit and the day was made even more special by having Eric Green’s widow, Evelyn, and their son, Mark, in attendance to present Kevan with his trophy.
In the mixed foursomes Captain’s Cup final, Dartford – in their second final of the day – were taking on the team from Canterbury. In match one, the Dartford pair of Keely Green and her son, Peter, gave Jacklyn Barons and Bruce Maguire 8 shots, which the Canterbury pair used wisely to race into a commanding lead and they found themselves 5 up with 6 holes to play. But Keely and Peter moved up a gear and won four of the next five to stand on the 18th tee only one down. Alas, they couldn’t quite manage that final step and Canterbury held on to win the game by one hole. The second foursome followed a similar pattern with Christina Carlotti and Nigel Fluet (Canterbury) being ahead for most of the match against the Dartford pairing of Jane and Martin King, who were receiving three shots. Jane and Martin fought hard to take the match all the way but would ultimately succumb by a score of two holes. Congratulations to Canterbury on a well-won victory.
So, with only one knockout still on the course, where would our final trophy be heading? The last two clubs standing in the fourball betterball Top Club were The Ridge and Upchurch River Valley, with the latter hoping to overcome their disappointment from the Kent Foursomes. In match one, Joe Hopkins and Scott Burns (Upchurch) took on Steve Lilburn and Colin Pitchers (The Ridge) and after a very tight game, Steve and Colin emerged as the victors by the smallest of margins – 1 up. In the game behind, Stephen Noble and Gary Lamb (Upchurch) were doing their best to overturn the deficit and duly moved into an unassailable 4 up lead against Mark Turner and Graeme Vinall (The Ridge) after 17 holes, thus giving the title to a very happy Upchurch contingent by an aggregate of 3 holes.
Thank you to our County President, Chris Reynolds, for acting as starter, and to our referees, Ken, Ian, and Peter, for their usual expert assistance. Our thanks also go to Chris and Elaine Tappin for coming along to present the Captain’s Cup, and Evelyn Green MBE and son, Mark, for presenting the Eric Green trophy. A special mention, too, to all the caddies and spectators who turned out to lend their support and help make it a special day for our players. Finally, our gratitude goes to North Foreland for their usual splendid hospitality and organisation – not least for remembering to order in the sunshine!
As runners-up in the Kent Foursomes, Upchurch River Valley now have the honour of hosting us next year, so we look forward to our day with them on the 27th September 2025.
Junior Foursomes Champions 2024 - Dartford
Kent Foursomes Champions 2024 - Knole Park
Captain's Cup Winners 2024 - Canterbury
Top Club Champions 2024 - Upchurch River Valley
Eric Green Trophy Winner 2024 - Kevan Duhig (Gillingham) with Evelyn Green MBE and her son Mark Green
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