Turvey's men aim to prevent whitewash

TWO down, one to go. Can Steve Turvey's full island men's golf team save the whitewash at Grouville this weekend?

Yesterday, Jersey's over-55s overwhelmingly retained the Garenne Seniors Challenge Trophy - 14.5-0.5 - less than a month after the Caesareans claimed the junior spoils.

History points to another Jersey win on the Royal Jersey links and Guernsey non-playing captain Steve Turvey knows it.

He is honest enough to admit that the record books do not lie when it comes to the annual clash.

The norm is that if you are at home, you win and Guernsey away wins are as rare as a Conservative government.

You have to go back to 1980 for the greens' last win at Grouville. 'That's six visits ago,' said Turvey before the squad headed off to Jersey for a full day's practise.

Bobby Eggo and island champion David Rowlinson are the solitary survivors from that famous 12.5-7.5 back in 1980.

Guernsey won all five fourballs on day one and never looked back.

On that glorious Sunday afternoon with Mont Orgeuil Castle hovering in the background, Eggo won his singles against Alan Pearce, as did Rowlinson - 5 and 4 against Tom Carter.

Over the last quarter-of-a-century, there have been some big defeats for the Guernsey team, most notably four years ago when Jersey swept to a 16-4 victory.

Yet, Turvey and his men are confident while being realistic about the task ahead.

The 2004 Guernsey squad could be said to be the best ever to tread a CI links course.

The side is stacked with experience, they are all in form.

Turvey said learning the vagaries and pace of the greens is his team's biggest task.

'They are much quicker than ours. The pace of the greens is something we will have to come to terms with and we will be working hard in practice.'

Turvey has already informed the team of his fourballs and foursomes pairings and their batting order.

He also has an outline of his decisive singles order, but recognises the need to throw those plans out of the window if required.

The pairings remain a secret as every possible advantage can be squeezed.

'It's like a game of chess. Who is going to be paired with whom and what the order will be?' said this well-respected captain.

Turvey is happy to have familiar caddies on every bag.

Gordon Rowlinson, Micky King, Gary King, Mick Fustic, Kerry Moon, Ray Blondel, Danny Blondel, Chris Thompson, Geoff Renouf and Andy Hearse all work well with their appointed players.

The hosts have six Royal Jersey golfers in their line-up, four from La Moye, including the two new caps - Geoff Ramskill and Andy Clarke.

Also among their number is Trevor Gray, appearing for the 31st successive time.