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GOLF - Disappointment for the Blues

Most Cambridge players had long been looking forward to playing the first two links courses of the season on the Norfolk coast. However, strong winds were the defining feature of a weekend which saw the CUGC Blues suffer two more losses against Royal West Norfolk (or Brancaster) and Hunstanton Golf Clubs.

At Brancaster, a beautiful links course rated 13th in the UK, the incoming road through the dunes is underwater when the tide comes in. This little fact is well known to the Cambridge golfers and is one of the many things that makes the club so special, but it also meant that in order to avoid the incoming tide in the early evening, the morning tee off was pushed to an early and prompt 8am start.

Experienced CUGC players Adam Lewicki and Carl Rietschel led the way, winning an excellent point off first in the order. Having trailed in the game for most of the way, Rietschel holed a 161-yard 8-iron for an eagle 2 on the par-4 14th to square the match, giving the pairing the stroke of momentum needed to close out the match 2/1 three holes later. The pairing can now find itself in the club's record book, which dates back to 1919 and keeps track of such noteworthy occurrences on the golf course. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was not so lucky, and Cambridge trailed 1.5 - 3.5 at lunchtime.

As the wind picked up in the afternoon, the seasoned Brancaster members found their element, and despite halving afternoon play, the fixture was lost 4 - 6.

On Saturday evening, the Cambridge players stayed at Bob Carrick's and Dai Rowley-Jones, who gave the team a very warm welcome and without which the fixture list the CUGC enjoys would simply not be possible. Dai and his wife cooked a wonderful dinner for the entire team, and the evening concluded with either Match of the Day or Topos Theory, depending on each player's preferences.

Unfortunately, the Cambridge golfers could not capitalise on the restful evening, as in Hunstanton they only reached the now traditional lunchtime score of 1.5 - 3.5. However, for some players on the team the fixture was a truly special occasion, returning to the venue of the 2012 Varsity Match against Oxford for the first time. Inspired by this, Adam Lewicki stormed to a win in the morning, needing only the afternoon match for a legendary 4-point-weekend.

But the Hunstanton opposition was too strong. Cambridge continued to struggle in the wind, and the only afternoon point was won by Carl Rietschel and Henry Ellis, whose putter was red hot on the fast links greens. Nevertheless, the Light Blues will be looking to improve their form next weekend, with matches at Aldeburgh and Royston.

Cambridge 4 - Royal West Norfolk Golf Club 6

Cambridge 2.5 - Hunstanton Golf Club 7.5

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