The miracle at L’Ancresse

Jersey?s Wayne Stephens attempts a long putt in his singles win during the senior men's inter-insular at L'Ancresse Golf Course Picture: GARETH LE PREVOST

JERSEY produced a comeback to rival Team Europe’s Miracle at Medinah to claim the senior men’s inter-insular on Sunday.

Hosts Guernsey had enjoyed the near-perfect fourballs session on Saturday afternoon at L’Ancresse as they picked up four-and-a-half points from a possible five to put themselves in an extremely strong position going into the 10 singles rubbers.

However, a new day brought with it a complete change of momentum and, once Jersey got on a roll on Sunday, they proved irresistible, earning eight-and-a-half points to claim an extraordinary 9-6 victory overall.

‘Where do I start?’ asked playing captain Michael Le Feuvre.

‘We were obviously in a big hole after Saturday, but I don’t think the score reflected the golf we played.

‘Guernsey were typically very strong around the greens and that session was no different.

‘Their short game is remarkable and it was certainly on display across the matches.

‘Honestly, no one even thought about the overall result that evening.

‘The aim was to go out and try and win the singles session, but to actually win the match overall was astonishing.

‘We knew we had the talent in our team to get a result, but recording eight-and-a-half points from ten didn’t cross our minds – especially in their back yard.

‘After I finished my singles match, I was told we were up in every single match still out there. I was speechless.’

Ex-professional golfer Wayne Stephens once led the famed Open Championship, but the magnitude of his senior side’s comeback was not lost on him.

‘It was incredible really,’ he said.

‘Saturday was difficult as we were up early for the trip over and only got in a few holes practice during the morning.

‘But that being said, I think we performed a lot better than the score suggested.

‘I don’t think anyone even thought about winning ahead of the singles. It was more about pride and focusing on our individual matches.’

Stephens top-scored for the Caesareans, after he and partner Paul Walters were the only visitors not to lose during the fourballs.

He then added to that half-point with a 2&1 success over Andrew Boyd in the singles.

He said: ‘It was a match I knew I shouldn’t have lost and halfway through I was one-down.

‘To go from that and reel off four holes in a row between the 11th and 14th was brilliant and from there I knew I would go on and win.

‘Vic Bourgoise [Jersey assistant captain] did a great job of relaying the scores around the course, so we were all aware that the other matches were going well. ‘

Ex Walker Cup player and plus-three handicapper Bobby Eggo provided the hosts’ only success during the singles, beating Walters 3&1 in a rematch of the Channel Island senior final.

Results

(Jersey names first)

Fourballs

S Bowen & R Messervy lost to M Marley & M Allez 7&5

B Wickings & T Smith lt R Eggo & A Boyd 7&5

G Kean & M Le Feuvre lt N Tanguy & M Hamon 1dn

T Gray & S Rafferty lt N Vaudin & G Falla 3&2

W Stephens & P Walters halved L De Carteret & A Le Noury

Singles

T Gray beat M Marley 1up

T Smith bt M Allez 1up

P Walters lt R Eggo 3&1

M Le Feuvre bt M Hamon 5&4

R Messervy bt N Tanguy 3&2

W Stephens bt A Boyd 2&1

G Kean bt G Falla 5&3

S Bowen bt N Vaudin 2&1

B Wickings bt A Le Noury 2&1

S Rafferty halved L De Carteret

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