Argyle Legends vs Exeter Legends 2009

The return golf challenge between an Argyle Legends team and their Exeter counterparts was played in glorious sunshine at the splendid Exeter Golf & Country Club on 19^th March.

The players gathered bright and early (well, some weren’t too early due to the Exeter traffic) and the ‘dressing room’ banter soon began over coffee and bacon rolls.

The action began with a 9 hole morning Stableford event, which included a number of sponsors, but it was after lunch that the serious stuff began with 12 ‘Ryder Cup’ style matchplay singles.

Argyle made a number of changes to their line up after their crushing defeat at Elfordleigh last September in the inaugural match, but did not reckon for the experience the Grecians added to their line up, including 71-year-old Alan Banks and 79-year-old Arnold Mitchell.

It soon became clear that the match would be closely fought, with fortunes ebbing and flowing as the day progressed. As the players began to come off the 18^th, the early signs looked encouraging for Argyle as they were victorious in three of the first four matches but then the tide began to turn. As everyone waited for the last two pairings, the score stood at 5 - 5 but victories for Banks and ex-Scottish international, Dave Gibson, ensured the Tom Finnie Memorial Trophy stayed in the St James’ Park trophy cabinet.

Another highlight of the day was a hole in one by Adrian Pike, an Exeter sponsor. His euphoria soon waned when the thought of a large bar bill brought him out into a cold sweat.

The day ended with a presentation dinner and entertainment by comedian, Jimmy Quinn.