Walden scratch team, from left, Steve Plumb, Stuart Hall, Andy Dann, Olly Tuck, David Burt, Ryan Hunt and Graham Goodman

SAFFRON Walden Golf Club scratch team started their pre-season friendly swing off with a decisive 4-1 victory away at Bury St Edmunds.

It was a huge statement of intent from Walden as they strive for promotion to Division 1 of the CAGU scratch league.

Leading the way, Tom Duggan and Richard Southall ran through the Bury opposition of with Nicholson and Nicholson, and won 6-up. They ran up two birdies and two bogeys, finishing level par. It capped a great week for the Walden pair after they won the Nazeing Pro-am prior to the Bury game.

Next up, captain Graham Goodman and Olly Tuck traded early birdies with Graham and Cole. Both the Walden players complemented each other well, Tuck fizzing his irons stone dead and Goodman’s straight driving and a vital birdie putt on the 15th hole sealing a 2-up victory. They went through the 18 holes in one over par.

Steve Plumb and Archie Adams found themselves 4-down early on but fought back and lost 2-down in the end to Smailes and Verchest.

The experienced pairing of Andy Dann and CAGU seniors champion David Burt were never down against Wyer and Sykes and won 3-up.

The victory was more than complete when Stuart Hall and debutant Ryan Hunt sealed a 1-up victory on the 18th hole against Nicholls and Duffety.

Goodman was delighted with the victory.

“It was an exceptional to start the pre-season off for the challenges ahead. To win by this margin on an away course that we had not seen before was a credit to the team,” he said.

“It was also really positive that the new players who played won as well.”

Walden now look forward to the next friendly against St Neots.