Played at Trevose golf club on Sunday 18th October

Result: St Enodoc 5.75–7 Carlyon Bay

St Enodoc narrowly lost 7–5.75 to back-to-back defending champions Carlyon Bay in a closely fought CTC 1st round match played at Trevose GC, with the result being settled in the final two games. This year’s team featured four juniors, with Harry Jolliff and Will Dingle making their CTC debuts alongside Alfie Chapman and Kai Dingle.

A competitive morning left St Enodoc with a slender lunchtime advantage. Steve Chapman and Mark Justice combined well for a 3&1 win, a result matched by Joe Combellack and Charlie Runnalls. Carlyon Bay kept the foursomes level by beating George Tunbridge and Kai Dingle 4&3, and Alfie Chapman and Harry Jolliff 5&4. With Will Dingle also recording a 4&3 victory in the ninth-man match on his debut, St Enodoc headed into the afternoon leading 2.75–2.

That advantage gave the singles added interest, and Steve Chapman put the first afternoon point on the board with a 4&3 win over Archie Haynes. Alfie Chapman claimed his first CTC point by beating Ben Armstrong by the same margin, while Mark Justice’s match with Steve Waddell went the distance, a birdie at the last earning Mark a valuable half.

There was little to separate the sides as the remaining matches unfolded. Wins for Sam Crocker over Charlie Runnalls, 2&1, and Mark Blaber against George Tunbridge, 5&4, kept Carlyon Bay firmly in contention. Joe Combellack’s recovery from two down to halve with Martin Quantick ensured the contest remained open, with attention turning to Kai Dingle and Harry Jolliff in the final two matches.

The closing holes brought frustration for both St Enodoc players, as two putts caught the edge but refused to drop. Kai’s lip-out on the 18th left him one down against Alec Nile, while Harry suffered the same fate on the 17th as Max Gay completed a 2&1 win.

It was a disappointing finish to a closely fought day, but there was plenty of encouragement in St Enodoc’s performance, with the four juniors playing a full part alongside their more experienced teammates. Congratulations to Carlyon Bay, and well done to Harry and Will on their CTC debuts.