Blondel's title

TONY BLONDEL of L'Ancr-esse GC has at long last won his first individual matchplay championship by defeating Micky Ayre on the final green in this year's prestigious Braye du Valle inter-club matchplay event. After a long week of round-by-round action Ayre and Blondel had to cope with fierce heat in their 18-hole final in which neither player went more than a single hole up at any stage.

It was Ayre, a 15 handicap from the Royal and in receipt of four shots from Blondel (10), who had the narrow one-up lead come the turn.

That lead was given straight back at the 10th and Ayre was forced to chip-in at the par four 11th to force a half in bogey.

With the match all-square through 13 Ayre would have wanted to make the most of his last available shot come the long 14th hole and having leaked his tee-shot out left, the Royal Guernsey representative looked in a little trouble.

But thanks to a great up and down recovery from high and left of the green, Ayre obliged with a net birdie and took the lead again.

At the 15th Blondel witnessed his opponent hit the pin from all of 50 yards with his third shot, but thankfully for the Vale Rec president-elect a two-putt for bogey from 8ft by Ayre followed and yet another hole was halved.

Come the next hole Blondel started to gain control and with the pin in a tricky position a par four was good enough to return the match all-square for the fourth time.

Only a few yards separated their balls on the 17th fairway and Blondel played first, depositing his shot no more than 4ft from the pin.

Suddenly the pressure was on Ayre and after putting his ball in a greenside bunker a concession to a birdie soon followed.

All Blondel had to do was make a half at the last and a long awaited individual match play title was his.

With the pin cut just yards form the front bunker at the par three 18th Blondel sensibly took the hazard out of play, favouring the back of the green with a four iron.

Ayre took a more lofted iron and came up short and right of the target. His recovery chip was almost impossible to get close and a four was the best he could do.

Having putted up from over 50ft away to a fifth of that distance a chuffed Blondel had the luxury of two putts for the title.