Brean Golf Club have won the Somerset Bowl for the first time in 21 years.

IT HAD been 21 long years since the Somerset Bowl last resided at Brean Golf Club but the team of 2011 changed all that with a battling 3-2 victory over Wheathill at Enmore Park Golf Club on Sunday.

Brean were looking to complete a league and bowl double after securing their Avalon League title some weeks ago. In glorious summer conditions both sides were provided with an immaculate venue in the foothills of the Quantocks and it went down to the final green of the final match before the destination of the trophy was eventually decided.

Brean got off to a dream start as club captain Dave Bradley and Paul Jones produced some scintillating sub par golf to destroy their opponents in the top game which ended with a victory for them on the 11th green.

Wheathill took the second game to level the tie when Eamonn Wynne and Steve Jones lost a ball and with it the match at the 16th to go down by 3 & 2. Almost immediately the final game of the match reached its conclusion with Roger Vaughan and Steve Peates winning 6 & 5 to restore Brean’s slim advantage.

The third game was being shaded by Wheathill with holes running out but Brean now looked favourites as team captain Dave Barthram and club champion Roy Baker had opened up a four hole lead with just five left to play. A scrappy 14th hole was claimed by Wheathill but they then found water at the next to open the door for the Brean pair. But it was an opportunity they failed to take as Barthram missed a putt to win the bowl.

With Wheathill knowing nothing less than hole victories were needed to prolong the match they produced some spectacular golf. A 12ft putt was holed at the 16th for a winning birdie and at almost the same time they clinched the third game as Murray Parsons and Mike Hurman lost by 2 & 1 to square things up at 2-2. Things got even better for Wheathill at the 17th as they went within inches of holing out for an eagle 2 from 110 yards. The ensuing birdie again won the hole and they went to the last with just the one hole in it.

With the honour, Wheathill’s player hit a drive which was probably slightly too long as it left his partner blocked out from the green by a large conifer. Barthram found the middle of the fairway with a superb drive and Baker followed it with an excellent seven iron to the edge of the downhill par 5 green.

Wheathill’s second and third shots were affected by trees and by the time their fifth shot was still above ground they conceded Brean their 6ft uphill birdie putt and with it the overall match, much to the delight of the Brean players and the large band of travelling supporters who had congregated next to the final green..

In other events played at Brean this week, the Charity Open was contested and saw a notable achievement for one of the leading quartet. Tony Groves holed in one at the 8th hole for his first ace in 31 years on his way to helping his team to 87 points.

Dave Lockwood, Brian Read and Steve Peates made up the winning team who held a three point advantage over the runners up.

Two of the most senior seniors scored victories last week as Wally Pape took the September medal with a nett 70 whilst Pat Mullholland’s good form continued as he won the third round of the seniors eclectic, also with a nett 70 just two days later.

SUNDAY saw the last open competition of the year at Wedmore which unfortunately caught the last of the wind and rain before the heatwave arrived.

John and Julia Nuttall, from Burnham & Berrow, scored a husband and wife double, John taking men’s division 1 with 39 points and Julia taking the overall ladies trophy with 37. Simon Moore took the men’s division 2 honours with 40 points ahead of Andy Clifton (39) and Tony Robi (38).

The ladies’ divisional prizes went to Dawn Chadwick (36) ahead of Sue Chambers (35) and Louise Allen.

Undoubtedly the best round of the day though went to the men’s overall winner, Brian Webber, with a brilliant 42 points scored in the worst of the weather.

The seniors’ incorporated a Master Putter Prize in the monthly medal which was won by Tony Metcalfe with just 27 putts. His nett score of 61 was seven shots better than his nearest competitor, Richard Spinks.

Division 1 went to Geoff Brooks (69) on countback from Stephen Lawrence. There was a three way tie in Division 3 with Mike Hewart, Clive Williams and Dennis Howard all scoring 70 with the order being determined on countback.

The ladies again struggled a bit in their medal with perhaps too much heat on this occasion. Vera Ireland was best on the day with a level par 72 in the bronze division. This was one shot better than Ange Webber and Deidre Wheadon In the silver division captain Jane Hewitt had the best score of the day ahead of Liz Hill.

Pictured: Brian Webber receives the Yonex Trophy from club captain Bob Jones.

THE Worlebury Christmas Hampers event for pairs was held on Saturday in some balmy hot weather, and with little wind the conditions were just about perfect, and some good scoring was expected.

The format was better ball off three quarter handicap and a good field entered the event all in one division.

Result. Winners: Adam Day & Luke Matthews, 45pts. 2) Steve Gray & Stuart Lock, 44pts.

The Christmas bottles singles competition followed on Sunday in equally hot conditions. Another good field entered the event which was played in three divisions.

Result. Division 1 winner: Jim Skinner 41pts. Division 2 winner: Colin Cleeves 43pts. Division 3 winner: Paul McAdams 41pts.

The pairs Commemoration Cup final was played in late September. The winners were the junior pairing of Dario Flood and Lewys Charles.

Junior Golf lessons for girls from the age of seven will be available at Worlebury on October 15 through coach Sarah Burnell. Lessons start at 11am and all equipment can be provided.

* Worlebury Ladies’ president Jean Beat is pictured with the winners at her President’s Day Competition.

Winners: Helen Clarke, Shirley Horobin, Jill Hobbs, 58.66pts. Best Front 9: Janet Jamieson, Michelle James, Shiela Robinson 41pts; Jane Wakerley, Lisa Grifiths and Shirley Davies, 41pts on countback. Best Back 9: Janet Keight, Jan Simms, Judy Nichol, 44pts on countback. Ginette Baker, Megan Cochrane, Ciceley Johnson, 44pts.

WESTON Golf Club seniors’ autumn medal results: Peter Hardaway 79 (15) 64. Mo Sweeney 80 (15) 65. Graham Tripp 74 (9) 65. Tom Bacon 82 (16) 66. Nigel Jillings 80 (13) 67. Tony Chapman 77 (9) 68;. Matthew Duffin 93 (25) 68. Roger Preston 91 (22) 69.