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The winning team (L to R): Ian Rennie, Alan Harlow, George Theodore, Scott Pluthero, Dougie Hunter, Jason Allocca.

Many congratulations to the Men’s Scratch team who have won the 2014 Surrey Scratch Plate. The team defeated Malden over the East Course at Wentworth on Sunday last, 15th March. The final was delayed from its original October date.

Team manager, Alan Harlow, reports on the 4-1 victory.

The first two matches always looked like being split 1-1. In the opener, things went against Dougie Hunter right from the off, with his opponent holing his second shot to the par 4 first, chipping in on the second and birdieing the third. He found himself three down early and despite managing to get back to one down a couple of times he couldn't ever quite get back on terms and ended up losing 2&1.

Second match was Ian Rennie, playing the Malden captain and past County captain, Gareth Lashford. Ian played his usual solid golf, getting ahead early and never looking in trouble, winning his match 4&3.

The remaining three matches were all close affairs, with the lead changing hands a few times.

Match three ebbed and flowed early on, until Scott Pluthero eased into a three hole lead around the middle of the back nine. Three holes won on the spin from the 12th took him three up and despite falling foul of the tricky pin position on the 15th, it was always going to be enough, with Scott executing a neat up and down at the 17th to seal his match 2&1 and secure the all important winning point for the team.

Jason Allocca, in match four was ahead early and always looked in control of his match, but couldn't get clear water until the middle of the back nine when some solid play saw him finally edge decisively ahead, winning 4&3 when a very good two putt from long range saw him home at the 15th.

In the final match George Theodore struggled to find his game on the early holes and got himself a couple down, but again, solid play on the back nine highlighted by a magnificent pitch to a few inches for birdie at the 15th saw him finally get his nose in front. With his opponent finding the trees at the 16th (and news coming through of the victories ahead), a solid par put him two up with two to play and he was able to complete the 4-1 victory, winning his match on the 17th.