After a raft of last minute dropouts due to Covid-19, we managed to get two strong teams of 10 with The Baltic Exchange kindly providing a couple of players to help the Principals.

The first match was led out by the two captains: Nick Perry led the Principals, ably supported by Tony McDonnell, and Paul Farren who led the Brokers along with Nathan Ellisdon. The Principals started the match well and led by two at the turn, remaining ahead until the game was tied on the 16th largely due to the impressive play of Tony Mac. However, the Paul Farren on switch was firmly flipped and the Brokers won the final two holes to get their team off to a great start.

Next up for the Brokers were Guy Bartleet and Milo Ruane who went up against Charles Keyworth and Henry Smith for the Principals. This was another gripping encounter with the Principals up by one ahead into the last, only for Guy ‘Bullseye’ Bartleet to sink a 25-footer to win the hole and  secure an unexpected half for the match.

The third match saw the Brokers team of Nick Marns and Liam George take on the Principals Nat Twiggs and Sam Collins. After a tight and epic battle, the match was halved on 18th despite Liams’s best efforts to try and garner new business by letting the Principals win. His magical final par was enough to halve the match and be the saviour for the Brokers.

The fourth match was played between the Brokers Dave Penn and Fraser Lane against ex-Principal and BEGS legend James Bond soundalike Robert Gemmell, accompanied by the Baltic Exchange CEO, Mark Jackson. With Robert back to fitness after a recent hand operation and swinging the sticks beautifully once again, along with Mark in fine form, the Brokers didn’t stand a chance.

The match score was now level with just the final group to come in.

The final four out were Max ‘The Anchor Man’ Bonavia, playing on his home track, and Chris Palmer up against the pairing of Henry Potter (Principal for the day) and Callum Flett. The Brokers edged the win on the 16th with two to play. A sterling performance from Callum that despite antique clubs still put up a fight and managed not to lose a single ball, which most of us who played that day would attest is some achievement!

Result: 3-2 to the Brokers

A special thanks must go to Guy Bartleet and Max Bonavia for organising a fabulous days’ golf played at the quite brilliant Royal Wimbledon. A real treat of a course for us to play and we hope to return to for this fixture next year!

Well played everyone! 

Find out more about the Baltic Exchange Golfing Society: www.balticgolf.co.uk