The Way forward is...
FORMER Ryder Cup men Paul Way and Steve Richardson got in 18 holes of important course-sounding yesterday as they and fellow one-time European Tour men Darren Leng and Chris Guy lined up in the Pro-Am that launched Ravenscroft Open Matchplay week at La Grande Mare.
Qualifying has produced an intriguing first-round match schedule which sees 2017 island junior champion Isaac Bate pull the short straw of facing two-time Ryder Cup man Way in the opening round this evening.
Way, seeded two, is slated to face another former Ryder Cup man, Richardson, in the semi-finals, but as well as overcoming Bate he would have to defeat either the in-form Jamie Blondel or Daniel Griggs in the quarter-finals.
Richardson, seeded three, has a potentially tough first-round clash against Jeremy Nicolle, with the winner playing either John Dent or Damian Bent in the last eight.
In the top half of the draw Bobby Eggo, who has yet to lose a Ravenscroft tie in four summers, starts out against former Guernsey and CI champion Garry McFarlane, who edged out Laurence Graham by one shot on back-nine countback after both posted 70s on Sunday.
The winner will play the tigerish Arthur Evans or Guy in the quarter-finals.
Steve Mahy, the 2016 island champion, may have to repeat his qualification form to get past another former European Tour pro in Darren Leng, hotly tipped to go a long way this week.
Danny Bisson, who headed qualifying on countback from Mahy, faces home club wild-card Dave Jeffery.
The full draw and today’s tee-off times:
5.20pm, Bobby Eggo (1) v. Garry McFarlane; 5.26, Arthur Evans v. Chris Guy (5); 5.32pm, Danny Bisson v. Dave Jeffery; 5.38pm, Steve Mahy v. Darren Leng (4).
5.44pm, Steve Richardson (3) v. Jeremy Nicolle; 5.50pm, John Dent (6) v. Damian Bent; 5.56pm, Jamie Blondel v. Daniel Griggs; 6.02pm, Isaac Bate v. Paul Way (2).
