Kenilworth was in excellent condition for the first of the Midland League matches, against a team who had ‘given us a bit of a golfing lesson’ last year, according to 1st Team Captain Andy Kearns. His morning pairings mostly played well – Andy Jones, fresh from Runner-Up in the Warwickshire Amateur and playing for the 1st team for the first time in over a year, was paired with Tom Webber and as a pair they did not drop a shop through the morning round.

However, the Shrops & Hereford Pair 5 had an eagle and four birdies so our –1 just wasn’t good enough. Another returnee was Ben Senior who was paired with Chris Evans, just back from the British Amateur. They lost 2&1 through 3 fliers which cost them a shot each time.

The only morning point came from Paul Randle and Gareth Jenkins so Andy Kearns was now faced with the dilemma that has been that of a number of Ryder Cup Captains. His response was to spread his very best players through the 10 singles.

Paul Randle went out first, and started double bogey, bogey. That was the last opportunities his opponent had to win holes, as Paul was four under for the remaining 10 holes, winning 7&6. A rejuvenated Bill Nicolson soon followed him back into the clubhouse –5 for a 5&4 win so the match score was now Shrops 4, Warwickshire 3 – and we had a chance for a 2004 League Match perfect start.

Gareth Jenkins was under par in his halved match, another example of the benchmark of scoring that is need at this elite level Midland’s golf. It was also nearly a half for Dave Westwood. Westwood was four up with four to play, with majestic golf (-4 for those opening 14 holes. A hook and a pull and a mistake and Dave was standing on the 18th just 1up.

His opponent pulled his tee shot left at this tricky par 3 and Westwood played what seemed a perfect tee shot, low and at the flag. It just drifted away and did not hold the green leaving our man to chip first. Westwood’s chip was good, to 8ft, his opponent was a bit clumsy, running 15ft past. However, that putt was firmly holed so for a whole point, Dave faced his par putt and rattled it into the hole – the points then just kept on coming.

Chris Evans and Andy Jones (not a bogey in his singles match as well) were both –4 in 5&4 wins. Ben Senior was level in a 2&1 triumph so Warwickshire just needed one more point for the match win, with three players out on the course.

It wasn’t Tom Webber’s day and the Shirley golfer lost 3&2. Adam Gray had chances to claw back some of his opponent’s early lead around the turn. He did manage to reduce the deficit to just one hole before making a mistake at the 16th and lost on the 17th.

That left us needing a point from Ian Stranks, playing at No 10. It looked like Stranks was having problems when he lost a four up lead around the turn. Ian was until recently a member at Kenilworth, one possible reason why Andy Kearns asked Ian to play at the end of the singles. Andy was rewarded by a string of Stranks birdies from the 12th – and the winning singles point.

All the players were realistic about what was an excellent comeback but one which is not likely to happen on every occasion it would be needed. The foursomes will be better for the next match on the first Sunday in July at Edgbaston. It was though first points for Team Warwickshire.

More pictures from today are in the Gallery – County Men | Teams | 1st Team | Pictures

A full scorecard is available in County Men | Teams | 1st Team | Scores