Staff WriterAfter two decades of near misses, heartbreaks, and “almost” moments, Lincolnshire finally claimed their first-ever Senior Men’s County Finals title in a dramatic conclusion at Harrogate Golf Club.
It was the kind of Sunday that makes golf such a maddeningly beautiful sport. Four teams began the final day level on match points. By the end of play, only one would stand tall—Lincolnshire—after a nail-biting showdown with Sussex that came down to experience, nerve, and one captain’s perfectly timed heroics.
Cheshire did their part with a 5.5–3.5 win over Cornwall, but all eyes were on the Lincolnshire–Sussex clash, where both sides needed 3.5 points from six singles matches to take home the title. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t easy. But it was pure sporting theatre.
And fittingly, it was 67-year-old captain Richard Latham who delivered the decisive blow. His point sealed Lincolnshire’s long-awaited coronation as champions of England—a reward for the team’s grit and redemption after narrowly missing out in 2024.
“It feels wonderful and means the world to everyone,” said Latham, still soaking it all in after holing the clincher. “Last year really hurt when we just missed out. It’s been a long season to get here, we prepared well and here we are – we are champions of England and it feels very good to say that!”
Asked about the shot that sealed the deal, he admitted with a grin: “I did know the situation although I pretended I didn’t, and I probably hit the best drive of the day I could, and the second shot just flew straight at the flag and stopped six feet from it. I knocked it in and won the match there and that was it!”
If Latham’s cool head and steady hand guided the team, then Adrian Allen was their engine. The Lincolnshire stalwart became the only player all week to win all six of his matches—a flawless record that anchored the side’s campaign.
“I don’t know what the secret was,” Allen said modestly. “I had very good teammates and a great foursomes partner, but I had belief in the team and just had to keep on playing and keep in the zone. I’m amazed myself!
“We’re going to be going back to Lincolnshire and I’m hoping Richard is going to be putting something on for us – a big celebration!”
From first tee to final putt, the 2025 Senior Men’s County Finals at Harrogate Golf Club delivered everything fans could hope for: tension, talent, and timeless stories of camaraderie and redemption.
For Lincolnshire, this was more than a trophy—it was the end of a 20-year wait and the start of a legacy.
Read the full match breakdowns and day-by-day reports below:
