Tenby GC’s premier matchplay, final, the Scratch Cup, took place last Sunday.

Although it did improve after lunch, the weather during the morning was miserable - heavy drizzle and a stiff south-westerly breeze.

This year’s finalists were Johnny Morris who had already won the Scratch Cup on 10 occasions and Richard Morton who lost in last year’s final against Luke Harries.

Hole 1 - Johnny’s huge drive ended resting against a rake in the bunker. After two more shots he was only just out of sand and eventually conceded to Richard who had a putt for a four.

Hole 2 - Johnny three-putted from off the green, but a good chip and putt by Richard put him two up.

Hole 3 - Johnny got up and down from 60 yards and pulled one back after Richard missed the green on the right with his second shot.

Hole 4 - Halved in fives after Richard three-putted from some distance.

Hole 5 - Both missed birdie putts from 12 feet.

Hole 6 - Halved in threes following a delicate chip by Johnny.

Hole 7 - Another big drive and a drilled four-iron plus an 18ft downhill putt for a great birdie by Johnny. Match now all-square.

Hole 8 - Johnny blocked his drive out of bounds and eventually conceded.

Hole 9 - Richard misshit his tee shot and Johnny took hole with a par. Match all-square again.

Hole 10 - Richard three stabbed from off the green and lost to Johnny’s par.

Hole 11 - Halved in bogey fives.

Hole 12 - Both missed the green, but Richard’s chip was too strong, whilst Johnny’s was perfect.

Hole 13 - Johnny sliced onto the fifth fairway. Richard drove left and failed to find his ball. Johnny now three up.

Hole 14 - Halved in textbook pars.

Hole 15 - Halved in fives after neither could chip and putt.

Hole 16 - Johnny duck hooked his drive and had to play for a five. Richard only had an eight-iron for his second, but missed on the right, chipped and three-putted to lose another hole.

Hole 17 - Richard hit a poor tee shot and could not get up and down.

Hole 18 - Halved in standard pars.

Johnny was therefore five up after the first round. Richard struck the ball as well as his opponent, but was let down by his indifferent short game.

Hole 19 - Richard fell further behind after pulling and losing his second shot.

Hole 20 - Johnny conceded after hooking his tee shot and failing to find his ball in thick growth.

Hole 21 - Halved in bogey fives after both found trouble off the tee.

Hole 22 - Richard’s first drive ended up on the beach and he consequently conceded.

Hole 23 - Johnny boomed his drive, but then fatted his pitch into a bunker and ended up with a six. Richard won with a bogey five after pulling his approach.

Hole 24 - Both had par threes.

Hole 25 - Johnny hooked into deep rough off the tee and could not find his ball.

Hole 26 - It was Richard’s turn to lose his ball after a hooked drive. Thus, five of the first eight holes in the afternoon were conceded before play reached the green.

Hole 27 - Johnny failed to get up and down from the bank on the right and lost to Richard’s par. Johnny was now four up with nine to play.

Hole 28 - With Johnny looking good for a par, Richard chipped in for a birdie from just off the green.

Hole 29 - Both got up and down for par fours.

Hole 30 - Johnny’s tee shot fell short and Richard’s two-putt par reduced the deficit to just two holes.

Hole 31 - Johnny hooked into trouble and could do no better than a five, whilst Richard had an easy four. Johnny now only one up again.

Hole 32 - Richard’s momentum disappeared when he hooked his tee shot over the railway line. Johnny back to two up again.

Hole 33 - Halved in par fours.

Hole 34 - As he did in the morning, Johnny snap hooked and had to settle for a five. However, this time around, Richard secured his four and was therefore only one down with two to play.

Hole 35 - The downhill 17th was dead against the wind. Richard just missed the green on the right-hand side. However, Johnny pulled off the shot of the day, finishing about eight feet from the hole. Richard could not chip, a single putt and thus Johnny claimed the match by two and one.

The match was rather scrappy on occasions. No doubt both competitors would have liked to perform better, but pressure and weather conditions played their part.

Johnny consequently continues his remarkable record in the Scratch Cup.

He is now in his mid-50s, but he is fit and realistically he is likely to be a principal contender for some years to come.

In his presentation speech, Johnny thanked his caddies Darren Griffiths and his sister Jane plus his family for their support throughout his golfing career. He also stated that Richard has many more years in which to achieve his goal.