His team mates didn’t quite set the scoreboard alight but neither were they out of the reckoning. The solid team spirit was personified by Nick Raybould who recovered from a disastrous 7 over after 7 start to complete the rest of his round in 1 under to post a 78 on the par 72 layout. Lunchtime arrived and talk across the table was positive. Disappointed with some of the performances, it was clear that the Union were still in it. Bradford led at half time on 457, closely followed by Harrogate and Sheffield on 458, Leeds on 459 and the East Riding 6 back on 463.
Following Maxey in the afternoon was Burstwick’s Lewis Hunt, a bundle of boundless enthusiasm, who was disappointed with his morning 77. An afternoon 3 over 75 was 2 better, Raybould was 4 better on 74. Brough’s Dan Digby put his morning disappointment behind him when he was 9 better on 73. The excitement was building as the 2nd round scores came in and were posted on the screen. It was always going to be close, it was a question of who would hold their nerve. Into the back nine the East Riding, on the Howard Palmer “shot watch,” were only 7 over par collectively. Could they go on and win for the first time in 45 years? Shots started to drift away as tired bodies hindered golf strokes and putts.
Hornsea’s Leigh Gawley, ever consistent, posted a 5 over 77 to beat his morning score by 2. In the clubhouse East Riding topped the leaderboard after first man out Maxey posted a superb 2 under 70 – one better than the morning. Out on the course in the last group, President and Team Manager Andy Woodhead was fighting his own demons on a mentally demanding back 9. A birdie would be followed by a couple of bogies. Everyone knew it was tight, the tension was palpable.
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