The Worcestershire Golf Club hosted the county's opening 1^st team match of the season against Staffordshire. The weather was finally kind to us as the sun was shining over the Malvern Hills.

A strong side that had plenty of experience but with the strong crop of juniors coming through our county currently, we welcomed last years u18's captain Cassius Blake into the side to make his 1^st team debut.

The foursomes matches was lead out by the home club pair of current county champion Steve Lane and Tom Howells. A very tight game throughout resulting in a halved match. Next out for Worcestershire was the strong pairing of Alex Emms and Tom Wakeman who again fought hard, produced some steady golf and kept their unbeaten partnership in tact gaining another valuable half point for the team. Matches 3 and 4 saw two all Moseley pairings of Adam Norman and Richard Sadler followed by Kris Allen and debutant Cassius Blake. Norman and Sadler but their experience to good use with plenty of pars and the odd birdie thrown in resulting in a 2&1 victory. Allen and Blake also played some steady golf and produced another 2&1 victory for Worcestershire. The last match out was the 2022/23 County captain Kieron Austin and Nathan Slater, the boys capped off a fantastic morning for Worcestershire winning the 18^th hole to win their match 1up resulting in a 4-1 lead at half time.  

The message at lunch time was to keep piling the pressure on to the Staffordshire side and carry on where we left off in the foursomes. We certainly managed to do that with the first 4 singles matches all gaining victories, County champion Lane lead the line with a 4&2 victory followed by wins from Emms (4&3), Norman (8&7) and Sadler (3&1). Howells fought particularly hard nearly coming back from 4 down only to lose on the 18th. Match 6 and 9 in the singles produced more points through Wakeman (2up) and Austin (6&5). Allen and Slater came up against some excellent golf in matches 7 and 10 going down 2&1 and 4&3 respectively. Last match left on the course was debutant Blake in match 8 who unfortunately lost the 18^th hole to halve his match, still a tremendous effort gaining one and a half points on the day. 

With Worcestershire winning a further 6.5 points in the afternoon singles, this capped off a fantastic start to the season resulting in a 10.5 - 4.5 victory.  

A big thank you goes to The Worcestershire GC for hosting the match, the course was in it's usual immaculate condition and both teams were thoroughly looked after by the bar and catering team all day.

Thank you to President John Whitehead for starting the matches and supplying the lads with refreshments throughout the day, it was also great to see past presidents Norman Boulton and Ian Rone, there supporting us, we really appreciate it.

Next match is against old rivals Warwickshire at Robin Hood GC on Sunday 3^rd June which the team is thoroughly looking forward to. 

Adam Norman (Captain)

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