One of the most keenly contested, and difficult to win, events in Ivinghoe Golf Club’s calendar is the men’s Winter League Match Play Pairs.
Played over several months, the competition follows a four-ball, match play, format that ultimately pits the winners and the runners-up of two preliminary round-robin mini-leagues against each other, in knockout semi-final and final matches.
This year, after one of the most hotly contested competitions in recent club memory, marked by a number of particularly close matches, the final has been won by ‘The two P’s’, as they’re known at the club, comprising Peter Kuempfel, playing off 22, and Paul Messenger, playing off 23.
Both Peter and Paul have had to play exceptionally fine golf throughout the competition to progress to the Final but, facing the strong and consistently successful pairing of Russell Shardlow, off 7, and partner Chris James, off 12, ‘The 2 P’s’ probably went into the final as marginal ‘underdogs’.
But a sporting Chris James, conceded afterwards the best men had won on the day.
“The P’s played some terrific golf out there and, to be fair, they never really let us get into our stride,” he said.
“We needed to get off to a fast start and to get our noses in front in the match but they were both playing so well that, that just didn’t happen!
“The lads fully deserved their well-earned victory and both Russ and I take our hats off to them. Congratulations, and well played.”