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Kirwan vs Sullivan for the title
If you decide that it is too hot to play golf this Sunday (11th June), then bring along an umbrella for some shade and you could well be watching some of the best (and hottest) golf you will see this year at any Tournament when the Centenary Matchplay Championships, for the huge TP Cooke Trophy, is decided over 36 holes at Copt Heath Golf Club, between Rory Kirwan and Andy Sullivan.

Both these players have sparkled over the past year, Rory reducing his handicap by the sort of figures a Category III player would want, to become one of the best Juniors in the Midlands and No 1 for the Warwickshire Boys team. He has just completed the 'Schools' double of the Warwickshire and Midland Championships and goes to the England Schools later this month to try for a treble - he has a very good chance.

Andy also did the 'Schools' double and last year just about cleaned up wherever he played, taking the Boys Strokeplay and then going to show awesome golf in the County Finals and then take the Midland Boys Champion of Champions. The one Warwickshire Junior title he did not win was the Boys & U21s Matchplay where he lost to Rory in the semi-finals.

In the Quarters and Semi of the Mens Matchplay held today, 9th June, Andy threw 12 birdies at his two opponents firstly Jak Hamblett and secondly the Runner-up in the Centenary Warwickshire Amateur Championship, Russell Heritage. Both matches were won by the score of 5&4.

Russell overcame Dale Marson in the Quarters by 1 hole when on the 18th, with the match all square, Dale socketed his tee shot out of bounds.

The Centenary Amateur Champion Ben Stafford was up against a 'sick' golfer which is always a cue for the injured or ill player to do something special. Liam Mallin had been in bed for most of the week, suffering from the 'flu which had affected all his family, and only decided to play as the Matchplay started.

Stafford was indifferent from the tee for the early holes against Liam, then got his act together and led going to the 15th tee. Ben then hit two poor shots in a row and when Mallin birdied the 18th it was a 2 hole win.

In the other quarter final, Rory was his usual ice cold self in dispatching Copt Heath member Sam Hufton 6&5. Rory made a very good start in the semi-final to be 3 up after four against Liam before finding himself on the receiving end of six Mallin birdies to find himself one down on the 16th tee.

Kirwan won the 16th with a par and the 17th was halved. Both hit great tee shots at the 18th and Rory played a superb pitch to 6ft. Liam was however in a divot and he could add no spin to his approach, ending up 20ft from the hole.

'My putt never looked like going in', said Liam, 'then Rory just slotted home his birdie.'

That leaves Rory against Andy for the title, to be the holder of a trophy on which are the names of Ronnie Hiatt, John Whitworth, Peter Skerritt, Peter McEvoy, Andrew Carman, Paul Downes, John Mayell, Carl Sunseon and Sam Walker - but not Steve Webster or Paul Broadhurst.

It will be a first senior title for either player.

David Morgan on 2006-06-10