The Baltic Exchange Golf Society played the Stock Exchange on 28 June, which was two weeks after the Summer meeting and over three weeks since the fantastic victory over Lloyds, so expectations were high.

The opening match was Steve Hedges & David Johnson versus skipper Trevor Marsh & Tom Cochrane. It was a tight game which went to the 18th and despite heroic efforts the Baltic ended losing the match 1 down.

The second match was James Chapman & Anthony Williams versus the formidable Baltic pairing of Mark Ravenscroft & Damian Green. The Stock Exchange pairing were always in control and ran out winners, putting them 2-0 up overall.

Next up was Robert Mumby & Paul Dudley playing Malcolm Wiggett & James Pendered. The Baltic started strongly and were 3 up within 5 holes due to some lose play by SEGS. They soon corrected their wayward shots and thanks to a couple of horrendous worm-burner drives from Hon Sec James, SEGS got back into the match and it was all square after 10 holes. For the next 6 holes it was back & forth, until the Stock Exchange won the 17th to go 1 up. Hon Sec managed a good drive on 18 which was eclipsed by his opponent,  both teams on in regulation but the Baltic failed to secure the birdie they need to halve the match and lost 1 down, so overall score was 3-0.

The fourth match was Ian Ogilvie & Mike Bishop versus Stuart Wheeler & Jeremy Penn, yet again this went to the 18th and you guessed it the Stock Exchange edged it 1 up.

David Hawkins & Crispian Collins were next to play and their Baltic opponents were Ben Dudman & Anthony Grenfell, very experienced match-play golfers. Baltic were 2 up at the turn, but then SEGS’s putters got hot and courtesy of 4 lengthy putts they got their noses in front and they won the match on the 18th green, so SEGS were 5-0 up and looking for a morning whitewash.

The anchor pairings were skipper Mark Pollard & Clive Coate versus the wily Simon Cox & John Simister, surely they could somehow contrive a win or just a half? It didn’t look good when the Baltic went 4 down after 6 holes, however a sterling fight back levelled the match by the 14th. Sadly this herculean effort was too much as Mark and his partner were ruthless, running out winners on the 17th by 3&1.

So we all went to lunch a bit jaded wondering how we had not managed any score despite a lot of the matches going to the final hole.

Everyone changed into their jacket & tie and as ever the N.Z. Club put on an excellent lunch, could the Baltic produce its own Medinah moment?

For the afternoon round it was 13 holes of greensomes starting from the 6th hole. First off for the Baltic was Malcolm Wiggett & Jeremy Penn playing James Chapman & Ian Ogilvie. It was a close match that went down to the wire and ended in an agonising victory for the Stock Exchange.

The second match was Tom Cochrane & Simon Cox versus David Hawkins & Anthony Williams, there was very little between the two pairs and neither was able to secure a wide margin, so the match ended up going to the final hole which was won by SEGS, so the Baltic was still yet to register any points.

Could the third pairing of Mark Ravenscroft & John Simister pull off a victory against Mark Pollard & Mike Bishop? Sadly not on this occasion, with SEGS playing very solid golf they won the match on the 16th hole.

Next up for the Baltic was Hon Sec Penders with the reliable Ben Dudman playing Clive Coate & Paul Dudley. This too was a close match with never more than 2 holes in it and quite a few halved holes thanks to a good putt. Down the stretch the Baltic had a putt on 17 for the hole but failed to make it so we marched down 18 all square hoping for a birdie to win the match. Having managed a good drive, it was then bettered by the opposition. With both teams on in regulation SEGS didn’t make their putt for birdie so Baltic had a chance again for the first point….but the Hon Sec was not able to pull it off and after halving the hole it meant a gentleman’s half for the match but BEGS finally had it first score on the board so the overall whitewash was avoided.  

Our final pair was Anthony Grenfell & Damian Green versus David Johnson & Robert Mumby. As I would expect from our gritty players it was a tight game which was all square coming to the 18th. With the Baltic on in regulation and SEGS short of the green it was looking like the first full point was looming for us…..SEGS chipped well, the Baltic didn’t hole for birdie but was given theirs for a solid par. SEGS coolly slotted their putt to salvage a half for the hole thanks to an excellent up & down thereby halving the match as well.

So the final score for the afternoon greensomes was 5-1 to SEGS and the overall was 11-1 to SEGS. I know the score looks like an old fashioned pasting, but there were seven matches decided on the 18th green, which is a testament to the never say die attitude of BEGS, just need to get the putts to drop next time. Well played the Stock Exchange.