Guernsey had never before gone into the Women’s Inter-Insulars singles level on points with Jersey and with all Sunday matches out on the course, a first ever Sarnian victory looked distinctly possible.
By the narrowest of margins, it was not to be, but nevertheless it was the best result yet for the Greens as a thrilling match fittingly ended 10-10 because no-one deserved to be on losing side in this one.
There was some brilliant golf played throughout the three sessions, with Jennie Ballay claiming the unofficial shot of the weekend having holed out from 176 yards with a six iron for an incredible eagle at the sixth during the Saturday fourballs, and all hung in the balance until the final hole of the last match out on the course with Sally Ingrouille holding her nerve to clinch the draw for the hosts.
It was no surprise to see the Channel Islands’ best female player Anabelle Lucas-Villar emerging with a perfect three wins from three record for Jersey, but on this occasion she had to share the MVP honours with Guernsey’s own Mary Bate.
She formed a terrific partnership with the returning Chloe Domaille on Saturday, picking up their side’s first point of the match in the foursomes before downing a very strong Jersey pairing of their matchplay champion Melissa McMahon and Lily Buckley in the afternoon fourballs.
Bate then came through a tough battle with Abi Harris in the singles to complete her 100% winning record.
The point earned by the Bate-Domaille combination against Helen Gray and Chloe Cadoret in the opening session was matched by Mandy Webber and Bonny Hamilton in the anchor foursomes match as they saw off Andrea Cunningham and Gloria Paradiso in 16 holes.
Trailing by a point going into the fourballs, Guernsey came out confidently in the afternoon and Goddard shuffled around a couple of her pairings to put youth with experience.
Behind the successful lead-off duo of Bate and Domaille, the combination of Veronica Bougourd and Lily McNeela proved an inspired one as they won in convincing fashion against Gray and Cadoret.
Meanwhile, Channel Island champion Chloe Gaudion and Ingrouille were also combining well to pick up a third point for their side in the session against Cunningham and Paradiso, which brought the match level overnight.
Gaudion and Ingrouille carried that momentum through to the singles, beating Suzy Cornic and Cunningham respectively, with the latter of those being the last match to finish.
Bougourd also maintained her form from the previous afternoon to come out a convincing winner over Paradiso in the lead-off match, with the singles starting from the 10th due to the travel timings, while Di Aitchison was the quickest Guernsey winner of all, requiring just 13 holes to win her point against Cadoret.
On a weekend when Hannah Scriven also enjoyed a perfect record for Jersey, it all made for a very exciting, and nerve-wracking, contest with the fairest of results.
‘It’s just been absolutely a fantastic weekend, there’s been some amazing golf, seeing eagles and birdies,’ Goddard said.
‘The girls have played absolutely fantastic – the best result we’ve ever had, so we can say that we didn’t lose it. We’ve had a half which is just fantastic, absolutely fantastic, really good.’
‘They’ve all earned their place in the team and we had a really, really strong team. I know Jersey were a little bit concerned about how our strengths – we’ve just been told in the locker room – they all said last night we were out to get them and we nearly did.
‘They all did amazingly, all of them. I couldn’t really ask for any more than they’ve done – absolutely incredible golf from the ladies.’
Looking to the future, if captain Goddard’s predictions are anything to go by, she has young golfers coming through the Guernsey Women’s Development Squad and the Girls Into Golf Squad who could soon be strengthening the side further, although the current players are improving too.
‘We’ve been going eight years now and I really do feel that we are seeing the results, seeing some really good results from the ladies. A lot of handicaps have been reduced, their whole mental part of their game that has changed as well. They like a challenge and I think we’re just going to go from strength to strength,’ she said.
‘I’ve got three or four in the development squad who I’m sure that there will be in the team next year and that the way that they’re playing and hopefully with our pros’ help that we’ll be able to get their handicaps down and we’ll see them in the team. Well, definitely in the future, that’s for sure.’
RESULTS
Foursomes (2-3)
L McNeela, J Ballay lost to A Lucas-Villar, A Harris 5 & 4; M Bate, C Domaille beat H Gray, C Cadoret 2 & 1; S Ingrouille, C Gaudion lost to S Cornic, H Scriven 5 & 3; V Bougourd, D Aitchison lost to L Buckley, M McMahon 3 & 2; M Webber, B Hamilton beat A Cunningham, G Paradiso 3 & 2.
Fourballs (3-2)
Bate, Domaille beat McMahon, Buckley 1 up; Bougourd, McNeela beat Gray, Cadoret 5 & 4; Aitchison, Ballay lost to Lucas-Villar, Cornic 3 & 2; Ingrouille, Gaudion beat Cunningham, Paradiso 2 & 1; Webber, Hamilton lost to Harris, Scriven 2 & 1.
Singles (5-5)
Bougourd beat Paradiso 6 & 4; Domaille lost to Scriven 4 & 2; McNeela lost to McMahon 3 & 1; Gaudion beat Cornic 3 & 1; Aitchison beat Cadoret 6 & 5; Ballay lost to Buckley 4 & 2; Webber lost to Lucas-Villar 9 & 7; Bate beat Harris 2 & 1; Ingrouille beat Cunningham 1 up; Hamilton lost to Gray 6 & 4.
Guernsey 10, Jersey 10
