Redlibbets Golf Club’s Edward Richardson helps England to senior men’s European Team Championship title

Edward Richardson of Sevenoaks-based Redlibbets Golf Club played his part to help the England senior men’s team to European Team Championship glory in the Czech Republic.

Richardson was part of the squad that defeated France 3-2 in the match play Final at Marianske Lasne following a third-place finish in the stroke play stages.

Andrew Atkinson, England senior men’s captain, said: “From pillar to post the guys have all just played amazing golf this week. It was a fantastic week where everything just fitted into place. We were up till 2am Saturday night so it was very quiet on the bus on Sunday!”

England were 4-1 up over France after six holes but the game swung the other way quickly.

Ian Ashenden (Northwood, Middlesex) and Richard Jones (Rotherham, Yorkshire) managed to win one-up after the French went into the trees and couldn’t get up-and-down, while Trevor Foster (Pleasington, Lancashire) romped home 6&5, as he was six-under for his round.

However, Adrian Firman (Luffenham Heath, Leics & Rutland), lost 2&1 in a tremendous match with Christophe Muniesa and Richardson was defeated 4&3 by Albert Galloy. That left Stephen Creed (Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire) needing to win the final match, despite falling ill during the contest.

Atkinson explained: “I got a call on the 12th from Stephen’s caddy saying he had double vision, stomach cramps and a headache, so we asked the referee for a 15-minute timeout and got a pair of sunglasses and some sugary drinks into him. He went out and lost on 12 and missed a short putt on 15 to win. The match went down 18 and the French’s approach hit a tree and ricocheted onto the green, just 15 feet from the hole!”

However, Creed managed to sink a 38-footer for birdie and the French missed