A Great Weekend in Menorca for the Cheshire Juniors.

The Mayday Bank Holiday Weekend saw ten of Cheshire's best Boy and Girl Junior golfers, at Son Parc Golf Club in Menorca, for the Third Annual Matthew Brown Cup Match against the youngsters from the Balearic Islands. This Match is played on a "Ryder Cup" type format in tribute to the memory of the Grandson of Hugh and Kath Brown; to support Junior Golf, in both the Balearic Islands and here in Cheshire. Hugh is the proprietor of Son Parc and is a Member locally of Bramhall Golf Club. The Cheshire Team was led by Dominic Barnes of Caldy and Bronte Law from Bramhall, the youngest player being 12 year old Haydn McCullen playing off 6 handicap from Didsbury. Full details of the Team and the Match Results are shown in the attachments together with various photographs of the event.

Under, at times a cool breeze, but otherwise a magnificent weekend's weather, the match was preceded by a days practice on the Friday, with a formal Opening Ceremony in the evening followed by a Barbecue. Ted Leather, representing the CUGC and Julia Leary the current Captain of the CCLGA presented an Honours Board to Hugh and Kath to record the progress of the fixture. Son Parc a full 18 hole layout for just over three years now, continues to improve significantly and provided excellent greens for what was to prove an exciting match and one that was never over until the very final stages. After the first day's Mixed Foursomes, Cheshire were well behind, although the three games lost were only decided on the very last green. In the Fourballs Cheshire were able to reverse the swing, winning three out of the four games, leaving the match poised with both Teams scoring nine points at the close of play on Saturday. The ten Singles games on Sunday demonstrated some very high standard golf which was thoroughly enjoyed by the supporters who travelled with the Squad together with the many local visitors. Initially the advantage was with the upper order of the Balearic Team, however the strength in depth of the Cheshire players eventually came through, with the final result decided as the last matches on the course played the final holes. Haydn McCullen and Gemma Clews, school pals at Ashton on Mersey Sports College remarkably recorded what is traditionally known as a "Dog Licence" over their opponents. The Singles were finally taken six games to three, with one halved game, giving Cheshire their first win in this Annual Series by 22 points to 16.

During the Closing Ceremony the appreciation of both Teams for the very generous sponsorship of this event by Hugh and Kath was expressed together with the superb efforts of the Staff at Son Parc to ensure that the weekend was so enjoyable and successful. The fixture provides a great opportunity for the our young golfers to gain important experience of playing competitive high standard golf in a different environment, together with the continuing development of a close relationship with our friends within the Balearic Golf Federation.