Challenge Team 2025

Challenge Team V Middlesex
Wyke Green Golf Club
31st August 2025

Two county games on the same day with the County Squad needing to win against Hertfordshire, plus the Southeast of England Links Championship, holiday commitments, plus three withdrawals from the initial selection gave us the opportunity to select several new faces and include some who have been on the fringe of the team. Oliver Lovejoy and George Woodhead both of Colchester made their first appearances for the County, while Harry English, Jake Hinton and Michael Gilbert made their first league appearance this year.

Essex Team as follows: Sam Carter, Harry English, Michael Gilbert, Jake Hinton, Oliver Lovejoy, Dominic Piccolo, Zac Taylor, George Woodhead.

As anticipated the morning foursomes were close but home advantage and some solid golf gave Middlesex 2½ to 1½ lead. Oliver and Zac won the opening match and Dominic and Michael gained ½ a point having been two up with two to play when their opposition produced two putts of a significant distance to win both of the last two holes. Sam and George took the opponents to the eighteenth green before missing out.
Traditionally we have always performed well in the singles, and I was confident we could still win the match.
Unfortunately, on this occasion Middlesex proved too strong finishing the eight singles 4½ - 3½. Four of the eight singles went to the 18th green. Zac gained a half and there were wins for Michael Gilbert, Sam Carter and Harry English. It was excellent to see Michael’s return to form gaining 1.5 points out of his 2, Sam played some excellent golf in the afternoon winning 8&7 while Harry defeated probably their best player Joe Smith on the 18th green.
There were many notable performances, and the standard of golf was excellent. As always, the Middlesex Team captained by Joe Smith were a pleasure to play and every match was competed in great spirit.
A big thank you to Wyke Green GC who superbly hosted the event.

Match Result Middlesex 7 Essex 5

VIEW THE FULL RESULTS HERE

Challenge Team V Bedfordshire
Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands Golf Club
10th August 2025

No problems with the weather as experienced in our home match with Bedfordshire conditions could not have been more ideal for golf. Although, by their own admission, not in its usual pristine condition, it’s certainly an attractive course to play. Very tight and bouncy a challenging environment for match play. Bedfordshire needed a win to have any chance of progressing to the final and they had picked an extremely strong team.

The Essex team included Ben Humphrey and Mitch Wellington both making their first appearance for this team and both Tim Moncur (who made the final Open Qualifier) and Will Wright (Semi Final of the English Amateur and winner of the South England Boys Championship) there were high expectations of some quality golf.

Essex Team as follows: Ben Horton, Ben Humphrey, Timmy Moncur (C) Eoghan O’Connell, Dominic Piccolo, Zac Taylor, Mitch Wellington, Will Wright.

As anticipated the morning foursomes were close but home advantage and some solid golf gave Bedfordshire 2½ to 1½  lead. Ben and Mitch won the opening match and Will and Timmy gained ½ a point. Both the other matches finished on the seventeenth. Traditionally we have always performed well in the singles and the afternoon was no exception. Although singles players went out in pairs, when the last group teed off on the 18th the overall score was level at five points each. With Will one up and Zac one down, it was all decided on the final green where Will managed to win his match and Zac holed a difficult putt to halve his match. Earlier Ben had won on the 18th to gain a vital half point.

With wins for Timmy, Mitch, Dominic and Will this gave us the 6½ points we needed to win.
There were many notable performances, and the standard of golf was excellent. A particular mention for Timmy who had numerous birdies on the front nine to win his match and Zac who early in his match was five down and came back to gain a vital half point.

A big thank you to Aspley Guise and Woburn Sands who superbly hosted the event.
The game was played in superb spirit.

Kevin Prince, Challenge Team Manager

VIEW THE FULL RESULTS HERE

Challenge Team V Bedfordshire
Brentwood Golf Club
6th July 2025

With the threat of thunder and lightning arriving in the afternoon we were keen to make an early start and hopeful we could complete the morning session in the dry.

With a very different team from the previous week, we had several players making their first appearance for the Challenge Team. Only Will Wright had played the previous week when he came in at the last minute to play against Middlesex. Again, we had late withdrawal but fortunately Will’s brother Lewis stepped in and was able to partner his brother in the foursomes.

Essex Team as follows: Sam Carter, Joe Dobbyn, Ben Horton, Andy May, Shay McQueen, Tim Moncur (Captain) Lewis Wright, Will Wright.

Bedfordshire had won their first two matches against Middlesex, and we knew they would be a strong side. Looking at the team sheet it was apparent they had chosen three players who had earlier in the month played against the Essex Team. As anticipated the morning foursomes were close with three matches going down the eighteenth. However, Essex ended the session in a strong position with a three one lead.

Despite some rain in the afternoon, we managed to miss the torrential rain, thunder and lightning which struck most of Essex and completed all eight singles. Essex dominated the afternoon sessions winning seven of the eight singles. There were many notable performances, and the standard of golf was excellent. Andy May, Sam Carter and Joe Dobbyn all defeated players who had previously played against the men’s First Team. All players contributed to an outstanding win.

A big thank you to Brentwood Golf Club who superbly hosted the event. The game was played in superb spirit, and we look forward to the return match in August.

Kevin Prince, Challenge Team Manager

VIEW THE FULL RESULTS HERE

Challenge Team V Middlesex
Colchester Golf Club
29th June 2025

The sun was certainly shining on Colchester Golf Club as we arrived early morning for our home fixture against Middlesex. To my knowledge this was the first time Colchester had given their course for a county fixture, and they were excellent hosts. Having selected five players from Colchester Golf Club we were confident local knowledge would increase our chances of winning. In total five of the team were on scholarships in the United States so it would be interesting to see their improvement having had a year in college. With Timmy Moncur (the current captain) winning the regional Open Qualifier and subsequently playing Final Qualifying the following Tuesday at Royal Cinque Ports, Will Wright was drafted into the team.

Essex Team as follows: Ollie Baker, Theo Baker, Mason Barningham, Ed Mason, Marley Read, Zac Taylor, Freddie Warn, Will Wright.

It’s always a pleasure to play Middlesex led from the front by Joe Smith who both captains the team and plays. The morning session was relatively close, but Essex proved too strong in the latter stages winning the session 4-0. Essex dominated the afternoon session winning 7½ points to a 1/2. There were many notable performances, and the standard of golf was excellent. Freddie Warn won 10/8 having had seven birdies and three pars. Mason Barningham was six under at the conclusion of his match on the fourteenth. Zac Taylor and Marley Read both won their games comfortably 6/5 and 6/4. There were also wins for Ed Mason 3/2, Will Wright 3/1 and Ollie Baker 1 up. Theo Baker was one up going to the eighteenth, but Joe Smith played a superb chip to win the hole and salvage half a point for Middlesex.

The game was played in superb spirit, and we look forward to the return match in August.

Kevin Prince, Challenge Team Manager

View the full Results here

Challenge Team V Romford Golf Club

Romford Golf Club
12th April 2025

Romford v Essex Challenge Team.

In glorious spring weather we played our annual fixture against Romford’s Thornton Cup Team. This match gives both teams the opportunity to experiment with new combinations in the foursomes and introduce new players into the team. With the relaxing of the age restrictions this has given us the opportunity to reintroduce some players that had played as juniors then ceased to partake in county golf at the age of 18. It also allows some younger players to represent one of the men’s county teams. Nine different clubs were represented from all parts of the County.

Essex team as follows: Timmy Moncur (C), Harry English, Michael Gilbert, Teddy Hobbs, Ben Horton, Frankie Morton, Callum Newton, Eoghan O’Connell, Toby Peters, Zac Taylor, Will Wright.

The morning session through the first nine holes looked extremely tight with a high probability that we would start the singles on level on points. However, Eoghan and Harry had a superb back nine to turn a deficit of three down to a one up win to give the county a 4-2 advantage. There were significant wins for Zac and Teddy going out last and Timmy who played with Will. The Orsett combination of Frankie and Callum had a solid win over their opposition 3&2.

Essex dominated the afternoon session winning nine of the twelve games. Freddie continued his excellent early form winning the lead game 3&1. Ben (4&3), Callum (5&4), Frankie (3&2), Will (7&6), Timmy (4&3), Eoghan (4&2), Harry (6&5), and Zac (8&6) all gave us maximum points. A special note to Will Wright who during the week had played the Scottish Boys Open travelled back on the Friday and still made the 6.50am meet time on Saturday.

As always, the match was played in excellent spirit in a competitive but friendly way. Romford’s course was in excellent condition and their hospitality superb. I am confident both teams will have an excellent season to come.

Kevin Prince, Challenge Team Manager