Very close to this feature you will find a report on the 2004 Warwickshire Matchplay Championships. You will also be able to read the editorial from Andy Kearns on his team selection for the 2004 County 6 qualification which is next Saturday (19th June) at Woodhall Spa, the 'home' of English Golf. There are summaries of the recent 2nds and Juniors Matches in the relevant sections of the site and most importantly for a number of you, there are entry forms or on-line entry for four of the five remaining Warwickshire Union Strokeplay Championships.

It’s that time of year again where we take on the best of the Midlands counties in an attempt to make it through to the National County finals. The format of the event is for a 6 man team (plus a reserve) to play 36 holes stroke play (this year around the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa) with all scores to count and very little margin for error.…. And the winner takes all. As everyone is probably aware, this is a highly charged and pressurised event that attracts the very best golfers from each county - many internationals will be on display at Woodhall Spa on the 19th and there promises to be some fantastic golf played.

‘If I play my best golf, I can beat Matt (Cryer)’, said Graham Hargreaves before today’s 36 hole final. It has been 23 since Graham last appeared in the final. On that occasion he played a certain Peter McEvoy and lost 3&2, a match also played at Ladbrook. The omens seemed good as Hargreaves took the lead at the very first hole with a birdie four.

All the friendlies are over, all the training sessions stored away. With the Berkshire taking place this weekend (taking away some of our best players), Andy Kearns was going to show how good the 1st and 2nd team squad is by picking a winning team – but that was not so likely after the morning session of foursomes against Shropshire & Herefordshire at Kenilworth GC on Sunday 6th June.

72 holes in two days has the ring of the playing requirement from the mainstays of a Ryder Cup team, let along three Warwickshire Juniors for whom the Junior 6s (Thursday) was as tough a test of their golf as they had ever had in their short careers. Andy Sullivan, Sam Foster and Neil Taylor all arrived to play their best, not matter how tired they were, over a Cosby course, beautifully prepared for the Midland Schools 2004. They would be joined by Dale Marson to complete the Warwickshire team, and Jack Raison and Chris Hazeldine as wildcard entrants.

In 2001, Warwickshire last qualified for the Country finals with a team boasting Juniors of the calibre of Rob Steele, John Wetton and the like. This year’s team was of equal possible status but with five scores to count from each of two rounds, and the best juniors in the Midlands to contend against, it would be a tough task. Would the ‘Fat Lady sing’ for our County?

Throughout this week, we will be reporting on the successes of Warwickshire Amateurs in the 2004 British Amateur Championships. Qualifying is being held over the Old and the Jubilee Courses with the top 64 going through top the Matchplay over the Old. This feature will be updated each day as long as there is Warwickshire representation - hopefully through to Saturday and the Final.