LANCASHIRE began their defence of the Daily Telegraph Northern Counties League title when they breezed to an emphatic 15-3 victory over Cumbria at gale-lashed Royal Birkdale.
And it was a dream start for new captain Paul Williams, a member of the adjoining club Hillside, as his charges whitewashed their opponents in the foursomes then continued to dominate the singles.
A freezing wind accompanied by penetrating rain whipped across the famous links in the morning before sunshine offering some respite later in the day but the Red Rose men defied the elements with some impressive stroke making.
“The course bared its teeth but we stood our ground and equipped ourselves better than Cumbria,” said Williams as he saluted his players.
He singled out 17-year-old debutant Adam Stone who combined with Royal Lytham’s Henry Tomlinson to eclipse Ulverston pair Craig Morrow and Andrew Edwards 3&1 in the foursomes then dispatched the latter 5&4 in the afternoon.
“He showed great maturity,” added Williams.
Lancaster member Stone, who plays off scratch and had his first lesson as a five-year-old at Myerscough College in his home town Garstang, revealed that he recently quit playing football, rugby and cricket.
“I want to focus solely on golf,” said the Lancaster Grammar School pupil who later in the year will commence his studies in marketing at California’s East Bay State University and will miss the start of next season.
Despite the conditions, there was no shortage of memorable moments at Birkdale, the most notable provided by county champion Mark Young, from Longridge, and Pleasington’s Jonathan Hurst, who finished eagle birdie to win their foursomes by one hole.
FOURSOMES: Mark Young (Longridge) & Jonathan Hurst (Pleasington) bt Will Bowe (Workington) & Adam Chapman (Windermere) 1h; John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) & Paul Kinnear (Formby) bt Nicky Bell (Eden) & James Atkinson (Kendal) 2h; Ian Kenwright (Haydock Park) & Ciaran Doherty (Bury) bt Kieran Waters (Carlisle) & Carl Johnstone (Carlisle) 4&3; Michael Hunt (Pleasington) & Steven McGlynn (Preston) bt Andrew Millray (Windermere) & Stephen Jobson (Carlisle) 2&1;Sean Towndrow (S&A) & Richie Blundell (Hillside) bt Geoff Nixon (Brampton) & Ryan Shuttleworth (Workington) 5&3; Henry Tomlinson (Royal Lytham & St Annes) & Adam Stone (Lancaster) bt Craig Morrow (Ulverston) & Andrew Edwards (Ulverston) 3&1. SINGLES: Young bt Bowe 4&2; Carroll bt Chapman 3&1; Hurst bt Waters 4&3; McGlynn halved with Bell; Kinnear by Atkinson 2&1; Kenwright lost to Johnstone 7&5; Hunt lost to Millray 1h; Doherty bt Jobson 4&3; Towndrow bt Nixon 5&3; Blundell bt Shuttleworth 2&1; Tomlinson halved with Morrow; Stone bt Edwards 5&4.