King's Lynn golf aces reign out in Spain
King's Lynn Golf Club have left their rivals green with envy by lifting the Annodata national team tournament.
The Lynn club, based on Castle Rising Road, came out on top of more than 500 teams from across the UK in the five-a-side competition.
After battling their way through seven gruelling rounds to reach the finals at Barcelo Montecastillo Golf Resort in Cadiz, Spain, they then defeated Consett and District 3.5-1.5 in the semi-final before teeing up a 4.5-0.5 success over Romsey, from Hampshire, in the shootout for glory.
Lynn went into the event playing to honour the memory of Grace Robinson, from Wisbech St Mary, who was tragically killed last month following a crash near Wisbech.
Grace's dad, Mark Jennings, was an integral part of the team through the qualifying rounds of the event.
On the achievement, captain Mark Butt, whose team sported pink ribbons in Grace's memory, said: "The whole experience was amazing but to actually win the competition is an incredible feeling.
"We've played some consistent golf throughout. Both games were really close and we didn't want to get ahead of ourselves at any point. We managed to hold our nerve and win the final.
"It was extremely emotional because the final was on the day of Grace's funeral, so we managed to complete what we set out to do do and win it for Grace and all of her family.
"It was a real team effort from everyone throughout the event."
A spokesman from King's Lynn Golf Club said: "On behalf of us back at a very snowy golf club, congratulations gentlemen, we are very proud of our national champions. Enjoy the champagne."
Mason Bernstein, Mark Butt, Jason Wysoczanski, Andy Hudson, Matthew Bowman helped the Lynn team to glory while both Mark Jennings and David Jarvis, unable to make the final, also represented the club earlier in the competition.
All five of Lynn's players won their opening hole in the final.
Bernstein, giving four shots, was all-square through the turn but turned on the afterburners to close out the match 4&3.
Hudson, also giving four shots, led at the turn before putting his opponent out of his misery on the final hole.
Wysoczanski, meanwhile, was on a roll, winning four of his last six holes, for a 2&1 success.
Lynn captain Butt, giving nine shots, never knows when he is beaten and was all-square at the turn, before coming back from two down with three to play to claim his point on the final hole.
With the match already in the bag, Bowman – undefeated throughout the whole tournament – made good use of the eight shots he was receiving to cruise to an honourable half.
After receiving a bye in the first round, Lynn secured victories over Middleton II (home), Ely (home), Middleton I (away), Milbrook (home), Sheringham (away) and Muswell Hill to book their place on the plane to Spain.
The successful Lynn team thank the golf club for all of their support as well as sponsors Marc Knights, from West Norfolk Electrical Engineering, Karl Swenson, from Control Components Anglia, and Claus Neilson, from Qualitops.
