Hampshire Second Team Match v Kent – Wednesday 24th August 2022

August 26, 2022

Folkestone was our destination to play Kent in the last Hampshire Stovold Trophy match of 2022. The French coastline was in sight from Sene Valley Golf Club with beautiful sea views from many of the undulating golf holes. The Hampshire team were seeing the course for the first time and had heard of the blind drives and severe slopes that would punish shots not on the right line.

It sounded like a huge challenge, as indeed it proved in the morning foursomes with all three games closely contested. The pairings of Becky Scott and Georgina Carter, Hannah Dymott and Brooke MacArthur and Tammy Andrews and Aileen Simpson battled hard with long driving and precise iron play impressing. To Hampshire’s delight, the girls won all three matches by the close margins of 2 & 1, 2 & 1 and 2up.

A special mention for G who holed a bunker shot on the 17th to win her and Becky’s game with a birdie!

Three to nil at lunchtime but with six points at stake in the afternoon, the match could still be anyone’s. The temperatures rose and the sea shimmered, a beautiful afternoon to watch golf from under the shade of the trees but brutal to play in. However, the heart and talent of our Hampshire second team is never in doubt and the girls won the afternoon singles by 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 meaning a win by 6 1/2 to 2 1/2 and a runner up position to Surrey in the Stovold Trophy table.

Thank you to Sene Valley for hosting our match and to Ingrid and Gill for their efficient organisation and friendly company.

Most of all a HUGE thank you to the team who drove hundreds of miles to represent their county and were complimented by Kent on their friendliness and sportsmanship.

It has been an honour to captain all the Second Team matches for the past two years and spend time with the amazing players we have in our squad. I now pass the baton to Eilean Cunningham, who will aim to bring the Stovold Trophy back to Hampshire in 2023. You can do it!