Top players out in force for second Elite Men's Foursomes
'Steady Eddies' could come to the fore over the coming week in the second edition of the Guernsey Press Elite Men’s Foursomes Championship.
Organiser and Guernsey men’s team captain Dave Jeffery believes the key to success in the alternate-shot format is solid, not necessarily spectacular, golf.
‘It’s not so much birdies, it’s more about pars,’ he said.
‘Pars will invariably not lose you holes in foursomes, so keep the ball in play. You are going to miss the greens in foursomes, so a decent short game [is required] – chipping and putting.’
Following the success of last year’s event that was put on at just a few weeks’ notice to give the island team contenders competitive foursomes action, the competition has grown to 26 pairings this year, with the players choosing who they will partner this year rather than Jeffery coupling them up.
Watch a full preview of the event with island captain Dave Jeffery:
‘I think the guys enjoyed it last year – we did it in a rush, we only had 12 pairs with eight to qualify for the knockout stages, we’ve expanded it this year and gone up to 26 pairings,’ he said.
‘It’s nice to see the support, it’s nice to see a wide range of players. We’ve got steady, accomplished Island players, we’ve got some veterans in there and we’ve got quite a few juniors as well, so it’s a nice spread.’
He added that while some combinations were to be expected, such as established pairing Steve Mahy and Jamie Blondel as well as some juniors playing together, there are some partnerships that he would not have considered.
‘I’m excited to see how it pans out.’
In the absence of Jake Marshall, who has taken a step back from golf of late, the other half of last year’s inaugural winners, Jeremy Nicolle, will play with CJ Elmy.
Meanwhile, Jeffery himself will take to the course alongside the island’s lowest handicap player in Hampshire under-18 player Ollie Chedhomme.
The format sees all pairings play in tomorrow morning’s 18-hole scratch qualifier, with the top 16 progressing to the knockout stages, which start on Monday at 4pm.
The quarter-finals will follow on Tuesday (4.45pm), semi-finals on Wednesday (4.45pm), with the final taking place on Friday (4.45pm).
Sunday qualifier tee times
9am – Rory McKenna & Harrison Brown (pro), Dave Robinson & Andy Eggo; 9.06am – Jason Savident & Mich Davy, Jeff Domaille & Garry McFarlane; 9.12am – Graeme Falla & Neil Tanguy, Conor McKenna & Tanner Austin; 9.18am – Lewis Marley & Jayden Tucknott, Steve Mahy & Jamie Blondel; 9.24am – Danny Blondel & Sam Le Huray, Tom Le Huray & Wayne Moore; 9.30am – Adam Martel & Jim Cobb, Ross Bateman & Tim Halden; 9.36am – Daniel Griggs & Lindsay Boyd (pro), Roland Mills & Arthur Evans; 9.42am – Ross Haines & Ryan Gallienne, Will Davidson & Harry Bushby; 9.48am – Stuart Wallbridge & Alex Burns, Ian Hellens & Andy Treacy; 9.54am – Wasif Anees & Steve Birkett, Nigel Vaudin & George Melhuish; 10am – Mark Bertrand & Tony de Sousa, Ben Hibbins & Jason Winch; 10.06am – Danny Bisson & Tom Pattimore, CJ Elmy & Jeremy Nicolle; 10.12am – Dave Jeffery & Ollie Chedhomme, Wayne Harwood & Chris Walker.
