Saffron Walden Golf Club were triumphant in the Cambridge Area Golf Union Scratch League Division 1 for the first time since 1989.  This came as a major turnaround after escaping relegation last year on the final day of the season, ironically against the same opponents played to win the title this time.  The team encountered quality opposition in almost every match but came out on top in the final analysis.  Newmarket, Gog Magog, Royston, Thorpe Wood & Lakeside Lodge were wonderful hosts and guests in every match.  The Walden team are already looking forward to defending the title next season.

The deciding game came on Wednesday 11^th July against Gog Magog GC, who were the reigning champions.  SWGC went into the final game needing two points to lift the trophy; something that sounds simple, but when you are playing against a team as strong as they are, it was never going to be a simple task.  As the matches unfolded the lead pairs of Oliver Tuck & Richard Southall and Graham Goodman & Adam Brown were in tremendous form, winning their foursomes matches 2up and 3up respectively.  James Vallins and Tom Duggan played out a real battle with the third Gog Magog pairing, who holed a good 6-footer on the last green to halve their match.

There are often factors that determine success or failure.  Whilst no single occurrence should be given any special credit during what was a superb squad effort, 2 factors are worth mentioning

• Miles Holmes (h/c 11) and Stuart Stranger (h/c 8) stepped in at very short notice as third pair for the Club's second match away at Thorpe Wood GC. Neither having played the course before, they found themselves 3 down with 4 to play. In semi-darkness, they turned this round holing a long putt on the last green to win 1 up!
• In dreadful weather, strong SWGC teams visited Royston GC and Newmarket GC for matches 8 and 9 respectively. Not an attractive prospect but fantastic 4-2 victories in both fixtures strengthened Walden's position at the top of the table with one match remaining.

The success means a lot to everyone at the Club.  2 members of the squad (Martin Start and Colin Brown) that won 18 years ago played a number of the earlier fixtures this season and were present to watch the last match progress.  A number of Club members and officers were also present.

David Cox, the team coach, said of the success "The team won eight of the ten matches and halved the other two. With consistency like this you can see that we thoroughly deserved the win and I hope we can build on it for next year.  It took great effort from everyone involved to go unbeaten throughout the whole season and I am very proud of the team.  A major factor was the coaching during the spring which led to consistency in the pairings throughout the season."

Report by Chris Standen

Appearing in the photo celebrating victory

STANDING (L>R)

Martin Start, Steve Plumb, Adam Brown, David Cox (coach), David Watts (Club Captain), James Vallins, Oliver Tuck, Richard Southall & Tom Brown.

KNEELING (L>R)

Graham Goodman, Tom Duggan & Colin Brown.

TEAM MEMBERS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND

Stuart Stranger, Miles Holmes & Shaun Malone.