Inter Services 2009
RAF Men crowned 2009 Inter-Services Golf Champions, but double delight denied by half a point
SELECTION OF PHOTOS NOW IN More to follow in Gallery....
The RAF has a liking for the golf courses at Saunton on the glorious North Devon coast, having attended the Inter-Services there for the fifth time, as well as hosting our Single Service Championships at the venue on previous occasions. To quote Sir Nick Faldo: “I cannot think of anywhere in England where 36 holes could be more enjoyable and I've no doubt that if the East Course were located on the coast of Lancashire or Kent it would have hosted an Open Championship by now.”
Expectations were running high as the RAF Mens and Ladies teams, captained Sqn Ldr Dean Lewis and Sqn Ldr Rachel McAlpine respectively, arrived well prepared to do battle after success in the lead-up fixtures to the Inter-Services. If you believe in fate then the Mens victory was never in doubt - the RAF Mens team had won 3 of the previous 4 Inter-Service competitions held at Saunton.
Day 1: The opening day of the 2009 Championships saw both RAF Mens and Ladies teams taking on the Army. Buffeted and blasted by the wind the Men secured a 8½ - 6½ point victory and the Ladies won 8 - 4. This impressive start meant that Day 2, the non-playing day for the RAF, could be used to prepare for the final day’s play against the Navy.
Day 2: The Navy played the Army on Day 2 which saw the Army Men secure a relatively comfortable win, meaning that a draw or a win for the RAF against the Navy on the final day would see the RAF Men regaining the title they lost last year. The Navy Ladies beat the Army 8½ - 3½ and that vital ½ point Navy advantage over the RAF Ladies meant that the RAF had to win the decider match on the final day of the Championships.
Day 3: Day 3 was blustery day once again and saw the RAF Men fight back in the morning foursomes to ensure that they were only 3-2 down at lunch. In the afternoon singles the Navy were given a lesson in links golf by a high-class RAF performance with 8 out of the 10 RAF golfers bringing home a point and another half to ensure a comprehensive victory by 10½ - 4½. Unfortunately the RAF Ladies, in a nail-biting conclusion which went down to the last putt on the last green and which would have justified late night TV viewing, were held to 6 - 6 tied match which meant the Navy Ladies retained the title.
Both RAF teams performed admirably at an excellent 2009 Inter-Services Golf Championships and very nearly brought home a double victory over our Inter-Service rivals. Mens’ Captain Dean Lewis spoke emotionally of the Mens’ success: “I was really chuffed that everyone contributed points towards the victory. It was great to see everyone supporting the final match up the 18th which summed up the team ethic throughout the week which made my job as Captain easy.” Similarly Ladies’ Captain Rachel McAlpine expressed her pride in her team’s valiant efforts: “The team played magnificently to give us the best chance of winning the Inter-Services title. Sadly it was not to be but we were so very, very close. The gutsy performance demonstrated that the team is right up there and ready to dominate again.”