Richard Alker, Myles Jones, Richard Ramskill and Christy McLaughlin finished the competition 17 shots adrift of winners Guernsey and ten behind silver medallists Isle of Man.In the individual event Alker came within a whisker of playing extra holes for a bronze medal but the La Moye player missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the last to force a four-way play-off.Alker, who shot a final-round 73, eventually finished tied for sixth as Guernsey’s Bobby Eggo and Mick Marley made it a home one-two with Isle of Man’s Andrew Challener winning bronze.
Jones scored a fine level-par 70 to tie for ninth with McLaughlin, who had led after the first two rounds at La Grande Mare, while Ramskill placed 14th after a 74.
Said Alker: ‘I’ve missed six putts under six feet out there today and that’s cost me.
I didn’t even know that I had that putt on the last to be in the play-off.’I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole and that was it.
Tee to green, I’ve played as well as I could.’Team bronze is some consolation but I am slightly disappointed with that – I thought we could have won the silver.’Jones added: ‘Our aim at the beginning of the week was team silver but we’re not going to be disappointed taking any medal away.’It’s hard to beat Guernsey on their home turf – that’s a massive advantage for them.
We would like to have got silver but coming away with a medal is never disappointing.’I played well today but I’ve struggled on the greens all week.
I’ve made a lot of par putts but not enough birdies to be in contention.’Ramskill, who finished fourth in the individual competition in Isle of Man two years ago, said: ‘Local knowledge round L’Ancresse definitely plays an advantage and the course is in fantastic condition.’Trying to beat Guernsey round their home track isn’t easy at the best of times but when they are playing well it’s very hard.’A medal’s a medal at the end of the day but bronze wasn’t the colour we wanted.
We always knew it would be tough to win the gold.
Guernsey are deserving winners – they played some excellent golf.’McLaughlin said: ‘I got off to an all right start this week but I haven’t really been hitting the ball well.
I knew when I came here I had to hit the ball better.
‘We would have liked silver but it was always going to be hard to beat Guernsey.
We should have got silver – we’ve played here a lot more than the Isle of Man.’Team manager Jim Rotheram said: ‘They all played very solidly.
The first two days we were doing extremely well.
‘They tried very hard but we always thought Guernsey were favourites.
We tried and to be truthful we were nearly there.’I’m delighted for them as a team and I’m proud to be manager.
The boys have been impeccable all the way through.’
