Golf by Alan Booth PALS Paul Burr and Joe Conway showed their liking for Ryder Cup format as they held off the challenge of Herts rivals to win the Samuel Ryder Trophy at Verulam Golf Club, St Albans, by two strokes. In a record field of 48 pairs, Burr,

Golf by Alan Booth

PALS Paul Burr and Joe Conway showed their liking for Ryder Cup format as they held off the challenge of Herts rivals to win the Samuel Ryder Trophy at Verulam Golf Club, St Albans, by two strokes.

In a record field of 48 pairs, Burr, 2 handicap from South Beds, and Joe Conway, 3 handicap from Eaton, Norwich, had rounds of 74 in foursomes and 70 in fourballs for a 144 total, with Greg Schmidt (West Herts) and Mike Ready (Old Fold Manor) runners-up, 78-68.

Third were Sam Claridge and his father Dean from Harpenden Common, 77-70.

Burr and Conway were tied for the lead after the morning foursomes on 74 with Dick Dew and David Kyle (Harpenden Common),

Neil Franklin and Jonathan Lipton (Beaconsfield) were handicap winners on 140, with Mark Bosher and Alan Thomson (Verulam) on 140.5.

Former Verulam club champion Doug Brodie, now at Nairn, who has made the journey from Scotland to take part every year since the event was launched in 1997, finished in third handicap place with Verulam partner John Rea, 144.5.

Prizes were presented by Yvonne Larg, great niece of Samuel Ryder, the club's most famous member, captain three times, and donor of the Ryder Cup.

l CHARLIE DOUGLASS produced a champion's performance in the girls' Home Internationals at Irvine in Ayrshire, but her efforts were not enough as England finished third as defending champions Wales retained the title unbeaten, with Scotland runners-up, England's only success being against Ireland.

In England's three matches Charlie gained four points, and England captain Julie Otto said: "Charlie is a real star. We are a young side and were beaten by experience."

Against Wales on the opening day, English ladies champion Charlie from Brocket Hall, and her partner Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) gained their team's only foursomes points in a 7-2 defeat, the pair, one down with two to play, winning by one hole with a birdie at 17 and Charlie holing from 6ft to win the 18th with par. Charlie was then the only singles winner, staging a birdie, birdie, par finish to win by two holes.

There was a setback for Charlie and Holly with a 2&1 defeat as England lost all three foursomes against Scotland, but Charlie won her match by 3&2 as the team hit back to win the singles 31/2 to 21/2 for an overall defeat 51/2 to 31/2.

England finished with a 7-2 victory over Ireland, winning all foursomes and three singles, with Charlie and Holly again combining well to win by one hole, but Charlie losing by two holes against Irish stroke play champion Danielle McVeigh, who holed a long putt at 17 and hit her approach to 18, inches from the pin at the 18th.

l CHARLIE joined her Herts team mates at Pleasington in Lancashire on Monday as they bid to become England's champion county, competing as East Region champions in the English county finals against five other regions, but met with a setback, only able to halve their first match against Lancashire, 41/2 - 41/2.

In foursomes Charlie and Lucy Williams halved, Alison Franklin and Harriet Key lost 5&4 and Charlie Field and Tina Jeary won by two holes. In singles Charlie Douglass lost 5&4, Lucy won 4&2, Harriet won by one hole, Charlie Field lost 5&4, Steph McEvoy won 3&2, and Alison lost 3&2.

Herts hopes were dashed on Tuesday when they were beaten on the final green by Gloucestershire, whose 5-4 victory gave them the contest lead.

The foursomes were shared, with Charlie Field and Lucy Williams winning 3&1, Charlie Douglass and Steph McEvoy halving, and Alison Franklin and Harriet Key losing 3&2.

In singles, there were wins for Lucy by 4&3 and Steph 3&1 and defeats for Charlie Douglass 3&2 and Alison by one hole, and with the match depending on the final match Charlie Field saw her opponent hole a testing 41/2ft. putt at the 18th to halve the hole and give her team victory.

Herts go on to play Surrey, Warwickshire and Lincolnshire.