Bann ousted from the Barton Shield after a tie hole defeat to the hosts

Banbridge are out of the Barton Shield, beaten by the narrowest of margins by near-neighbours Tandragee.

Tandragee had the home advantage as a series of first round games were played last Sunday over on their course.

The Barton Shield, of course, is played by the low handicappers in the notoriously difficult format of Foursomes.

There are two pairs in the team with both matches played over the full 18 holes. Whoever is ahead on holes after both matches wins.

Rory Leonard and Colin Wilton played Stefan Greenberg and James Hewitt in the opening game.

Rory and Colin were three down early on in the game but fought back brilliantly to finish all square.

Connor Doran and Jim Carvill had a very tight game against Ross Dutton and William Small.

There was never more than one hole in it all the way round. This game also finished level after 18 holes.

And so it was a sudden death playoff.

Connor and Jim, despite a wayward tee shot, parred the first hole. But, all credit to Ross and William, who managed to come up with a winning birdie three at the downhill par four.

Bann did very well to push the hosts so close on their own patch.

It’s a pity there had to be a loser in such a hard-fought match but that’s the game of golf.

Let’s hope that Tandragee go on to win the Barton Shield.

They have a team capable of doing just that.

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