FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
Hornsea claimed the Yorkshire Team Championship for the second time in three years this week as imperious Ganton bared all its teeth.
Once again the Raybould brothers – Nick and Matty – were at the heart of a superb five-shot victory. Even the heroics of recent Open competitor Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) couldn’t deny the east coast club.
Hornsea finished 20 over par as the Rayboulds and Yorkshire player Jack Maxey used all their local knowledge to great effect.
“It’s almost a bit of a home club,” said 22-year-old Matty, who is in the middle of his degree at Lenoir-Rhyne University in North Carolina.
“And I think it’s fair to say we managed the ball well. Myself and Nick didn’t lose a ball and I think Jack only lost one. There were a lot of people looking for balls out there. Ganton really showed what it’s all about. They have done an amazing job with the course. It’s faultless.”
“At lunchtime when we saw the scores we reassessed and thought if we can do another ten over we won’t be far away.”
Matty also paid tribute to his club.
He added: “The support Hornsea gives elite-level players is phenomenal and that shows in the strength in depth we have at the club. We’ve got around 12 players who could play in our team and it was also great that a group of members made the trip over to support us. That meant a lot.
“We also got a lot of great messages on social media and stuff like that.”
Leading the tributes was Hornsea captain Tom Elder, who said: “They are a talented group of players with a long future in golf ahead of them and Hornsea Golf Club is incredibly proud of these players and their achievement.”
In the morning 24-year-old Nick and Matty both returned 73s to help their side build up a one-shot advantage over Huddersfield and three ahead of Middlesbrough, who were indebted to a superb 70 (-1) from James Swash for keeping them in contention.
England international Bairstow had six birdies in the morning as he also carded a 70 to help Hallowes stay just six back.
In the afternoon the Sheffield club emerged as the main challengers to Hornsea and their trio were among the later starters.
Once again the 2019 champions posted a collective 10 over with Nick Raybould going one better. Jack Maxey birded three of his opening four holes on his way to a 75 and Matty Raybould again birdied the epic 251-yard par three 17th as he made it round in 76.
Hornsea then had a long wait for the Hallowes trio to complete but the last four holes proved a step too far despite another excellent 70 from Bairstow, who collected the individual prize.
Hornsea will represent Yorkshire in the English Champion Club event at Knole Park in September (17-19)