By Mark Jackson
ESSEX has reached the national finals of the English Men’s County Championship for the first time in 34 years.
ESSEX has reached the national finals of the English Men’s County Championship for the first time in 34 years.
County captain and team manager David Miller praised his young side after they qualified at Suffolk’s Aldburgh Golf Club on Saturday.
Star player Dale Whitnell, based at Five Lakes, set a new course record of
65 gross - even after losing a ball at his first hole.
Mr Miller said: “This is one of the best squads we have been able to put together in years.
“I’ve worked with all these players over the last three years in Colts and County teams and we had managed to develop a fabulous team spirit.
“We knew what our goals were before start of play, felt they were achievable and were really optimistic that we could do well this year.”
“We knew what our goals were before start of play, felt they were achievable and were really optimistic that we could do well this year.”
Eleven counties compete in a six man team 36 hole medal, all scores to count.
The Essex win was only the third time in the county’s history, the last in 1975 when Henry Weber was County Captain and Sir Michael Bonallack was a team member.
Four counties will compete in the finals, which will be held at Chipping Sodbury on September 25-27.
Four counties will compete in the finals, which will be held at Chipping Sodbury on September 25-27.
