The University of Lincoln golf team faced their first university match of the season against a usually very strong Loughborough University on Wednesday, October 20th.
Lincoln took two new first years, Lewis Pearce and Alex Taylor, who played alongside Rory Dixon, Colin Orr, Jamie Powell and captain Sam Buss. Expectations were high following a very positive season last year, where the team made it to St Andrews after reaching the quarter finals of the university nationals.
Lincoln were led off by Rory Dixon, playing some really steady golf, and holing a very tough 25ft putt on the 18th to get a deserved half. Also in the top match was Alex Taylor playing his first match for the university. His debut saw him play some outstanding golf going out in the front nine, and found himself six up at one point. But a determined comeback from his opponent meant he had to settle for a very promising three and one victory.
In the second match captain Sam Buss, was being his usual assured self, not missing much and giving his opponent very little opportunity to settle in. He quickly surged to a four and three victory. Colin Orr was fourth off the tee and soon found himself up against it, playing Loughborough’s only female golfer. Playing off the ladies’ tee she burst ahead and with that disadvantage Orr eventually fell to five and four defeat.
It was left to the final group of Lewis Pearce and Jamie Powell to get the vital point needed to win the match for Lincoln. Pearce was all square when he stood on the 17th tee, while Powell went in to the penultimate hole two down.
Powell hit two very solid shots to the par five 17th and made birdie to take it to the last. Pearce had made a very good par to go one up and make sure Lincoln were coming away with something from the match. Sensing a victory, both Lincoln lads hit the fairway on the tight 18th.
Pearce laid up in two and hit his third to the front of the green. Powell went for it in two and hit a good second some 60 yards short of the green. Powell went on to win the hole, gaining the half to guarantee victory, while Pearce made a very solid par to gain his first win for the university on his debut.
Final result: Loughborough University 2 – 4 University of Lincoln
The team face Northumbria in their next match on Wednesday, October 27th. They finished runners up in last year’s Premier North and will pose a tough threat to Lincoln, who will undoubtedly be on a high from their win in Leicestershire.