VERULAM GOLF CLUB are still fighting in the Hertfordshire Scratch League after securing a nail-biting last-hole victory over hot rivals Welwyn Garden City on Saturday, June 29.

With two defeats out of two going into the match, Verulam were under no illusions of how important the outcome would be.

"We needed to win to keep our season alive," said team captain Alan Johnson.

Home advantage had proved decisive in the last two encounters between the sides, and it looked again to be the case as Verulam established a one-point lead after the morning foursomes.

However, their lead was something of a cheap affair. Leading 2-1, it appeared Verulam were about to lose the final foursomes point.

Mark Bosher and Kenny Hull were one down on the 18th tee, but were thrown a lifeline when their Welwyn opponents turned their noses up at a win by driving out of bounds off the tee to gift them a half.

The real drama though, would not come until the final moments of the match.

Despite victories for Stuart Ashby, Martin Witchard and Mike Edwards, who took the last two holes to win on the 18th, middle order defeats for Chris Dew, Hull and Bosher ensured Verulam's lead remained one point with two matches still playing and news from the course was not promising; Martin Wallace was one down to A Collie on the 17th, while up on the green, John Rea was on the verge of a two and one defeat which levelled the overall match score.

All eyes then turned to Wallace, who duly won the 17th to draw level with Collie, meaning the outcome of the entire day would depend on the final pair going down the par five 18th.

Under the circumstances it was little wonder that neither produced his best golf and, after four shots both players found themselves eyeing up prodigious putts for par.

At 40 feet, Wallace's was marginally the further, but after four indifferent strokes, a sublime one made ammends as a pendulam swing of the putter sent the ball snaking over the grass and into the cup.

If that carried shades of Leonard against Olazabal at Brookline, Collie completed the picture when he was unable to match Wallace.

"It was Martin's first game back in the team after two year's out," said Johnson. "He was delighted and of course Welwyn were very happy for us, too."

The dramatic finale completed a momentous victory for Verulam, who leapfrog Welwyn into the prime safety position in the table.

Their next scheduled match is against Sandy Lodge on July 28, but with six of Saturday's eight unavailable for the fixture, Johnson is anxious to re-arrange for later in the season.

July 3, 2002 16:30