Golf: Radyr through in Shield clash

May 1 2008 by Anthony Woolford, South Wales Echo

RADYR are through to the first round proper of the Welsh foursomes championship for the Victory Shield after a 3&2 win over former title-holders Pyle and Kenfig.

Brothers Brent and Chris O’Neil, who both play for Glamorgan, were too steady for Matthew Peet and David Phillips.

They will now face Whitchurch, who had to pull out all the stops to overcome RAF St Athan.

Whitchurch had their big guns out – Walker Cup star Nigel Edwards and former Welsh Championship runner-up Bradley Knight – but still found Craig Sherman and Brian Hawkins tough to beat.

Grove’s Derek Edwards and Colin Rumbelow were well beaten 7&6 by Gower’s Phil Balfrey and Steve Waters, while Royal Porthcawl, with Jeff Thomas and Jonathan Bale representing them, edged out Wenvoe Castle on the home green.

Among others through are Glamorganshire and Mountain Ash, but Caerphilly are out – just beaten on the last by St Pierre.

Preliminary round: Caernarfon beat St Deiniol 3&2; Abergele beat Conwy one hole; Holyhead beat Denbigh 6&5; Royal St David’s beat Betws-y-Coed 7&6; Northop beat Henllys 4&3; Maesdu beat Padeswood and Buckley 4&3; Porthmadog beat Penmaenmawr 3&2; St Giles beat Ashburnham 4&3; Borth and Ynyslas beat Builth Wells at 20th; St David’s City beat Trefloyne one hole; Haverfordwest beat Glynhir one hole; Glyn Abbey beat Tenby at 19th; Llandrindod Wells beat Summerhill 3&2; Milford Haven beat Cradoc one hole; Monmouthshire beat Parc 5&3; Monmouth beat Woodlake Park 4&3; Mountain Ash beat Bargoed one hole; St Pierre beat Caerphilly one hole; Pontypool beat Dewstow 8&6; Celtic Manor beat Werndu 7&6; Greenmeadow beat Bryn Meadows 3&1; Whitchurch beat RAF St Athan 3&2; Gower beat Grove 7&6; Royal Porthcawl beat Wenvoe Castle two holes; Cardiff beat Morriston 3&1; Radyr beat Pyle and Kenfig 3&2.