Captain’s charity day at Weston and Worlebury

THE highlight of the week at Weston Golf Club was the annual captain’s charity day with 35 teams participating in glorious sunshine.

The winners were the team of Alex Larkin, Darren Henderson, Mark Wait and Peter Allen.

The men’s fourball betterball played in a stiff breeze saw 140 players take to the course. The winner was current club champion Sam Fernley together with partner Mikey Brueford with 42 points. Peter Allen/David Edwards and Mike Dyer/Ian Pitt took second and third places.

The Stragglers match against Enmore Park was even at three-all, setting up a great return match at the end of July. The Avalon A played the Avalon B with the B team victorious at 4.5-0.5.

Overcast blustery conditions greeted the Weston seniors and their guests competing in their annual invitation day. The greens have benefitted from recent rainfall and are now back to their usual high standard and a credit to the greenstaff.

The winning pair of Terry Holden and Bob Rischmiller scored a creditable 40 points. This was only good enough to hold off the second place pairing of Gary Homer and Ray French by virtue of countback. Victor Bush and Roger Blackwell were third with 39.

The ladies’ nine-hole medal was played in testing conditions, the early birds benefitting from calmer weather. Pauline Lancaster was first with 18 points with Di Walker and Jill Walker also on 18 points in second and third place by virtue of countback.

CAPTAIN’S day is one of the most important days of the year at Worlebury Golf Club, and this year it was Peter Phillips’ turn to provide a special day for the members.

Blessed with a sunny but windy day, Peter and his team ensured an excellent time was had by all, both on and off the course.

Winning the ladies’ competition, with a score of nett 66.2, were the team, fittingly led by the captain’s mother Jill, who is also the club’s lady president.

She was supported by former lady captains in Hazel Cox and Pam Burnell and bolstered with some Scottish steel in the form of Izzy Swift, to record a narrow, but deserved win.

The prizes in the men’s competition were won by the teams whose putters were hottest, and multiple birdies were needed to be in with a shout.

The winners were Julian Brown, Lee Grant, Martyn Chambers and Martyn Hinds with a nett 56.7. Following close behind were Jamie Crandon, Richard Exon, Leigh White and Tom Main with 57.4. Third with 57.8 were the experienced quartet of Tony Westren, Mick McManners, Roger Clarke and Nevil Horne.

Nearest the pin prizes went to Nevil Horne (2nd), Tony Westren (6th - just a few inches from a hole-in-one), Steve Beasley (12th) and Brian Thrupp (16th).

The clubhouse was packed at night time for a social evening, which included the prize giving, a charity auction and entertainment provided by Elvis tribute act, Dave Stevens, followed by a disco.

The auction of various memorabilia, excellently conducted by Julian Franks, raised £1,000 for the captains’ charity, Above and Beyond. A sum in excess of £1,000 was also raised from the golf entry fees and raffle, and in his speech, Peter thanked the members for their generosity in raising such a fantastic sum on the day.

He also thanked his family, friends and members who had worked together so well to make the day such a huge success.

He had fantastic support from his vice-captain, Paul Lintern, all his helpers manning the hospitality tent particularly Geoff and Marianne Nute who did a fantastic job on the barbecue, Andy Horsburgh and Joyce Marshall in the office, professional Gary Marks, Tim Needham and his greenstaff, Ginette Baker and her bar staff and Andy Purdy and his catering team.

Peter warmly welcomed some Weston Golf Club members including club captain, Scott McKechnie, to the hospitality tent on the eighth tee. Their visit and good wishes were appreciated.

The juniors have played three of their matches in the Somerset League. After two tough away games at Taunton and Pickeridge and Farrington, which both resulted in losses, by 2.5 to 1.5, they got back to winning ways with a resounding 4-0 win in the corresponding home fixture against T&P.

They have had to face the opposition without their inspirational captain, Charlie Camper, who has missed much of the season thus far due to illness. It was gratifying to see Charlie at the T&P match, playing a few holes and inspiring the team to a convincing win. The club wishes Charlie all the best in his comeback.

The two Avalon teams have had mixed fortunes in their recent matches. The Royals continued their impressive start to the season with two more wins to maintain their 100 per cent record.

Captain Nathan Talbot could not single out any of his squad for special mention stressing that their success has been down to the good team sprit that exists in the side.

The established team, having had mixed success, went down heavily to an away defeat against a strong T&P side.

The ladies held their weekend Stableford, which was won by Louise Goodrum with 36 points. Sam Hewlett, having had her handicap cut by five shots, came second with a creditable 34 points with Angela Bagley third on 33.

The seniors held the Centenary Vase and, for the first day of June, it was cold and windy, making for difficult golfing conditions which was reflected in the scoring.

Flying high was Nick Extence, who won with 38 points. David Murrant’s 37 took second place and John Yates came third with 36.

RICH Lambert played his first competition since joining Brean Golf Club and it ended in victory for him in the June medal.

His nett 65 was the best of the day and took top spot in Division 3 ahead of Tony Romeo’s 69. Another player who saw their handicap reduced was Division 1 winner Jason Kidley.

His 66 reduced his allowance to 10 as he relegated Dan Broom’s 68 to the runners-up spot. Closest finish of the day came in Division 2 as the countback rules were needed to decide the winner.

John Cullinan and Pet Dunn both had 68’s, but Cullinan shaded the back nine to collect top spot. Cullinan also scored the only two of the day which scooped him the pot of just over £50.

The Avalon League Division 2 team made the short trip to Wedmore for an away match. The match ended in a 4-1 defeat for the Brean team with Paul Jones and Dave Porter gaining the only Brean point.

The match was overshadowed by an unfortunate accident to club captain Stuart Wills when he was struck by a golf ball just above his right eye, which resulted in a trip to A&E and six stitches being required.

Stuart is grateful for the attention he received from his team-mates/opponents and the staff at Isle of Wedmore.

Back at Brean, Matt Haskins won the Super Series with a 40-point haul. Armed with a new putter, he led Graham Foy home by one point. Behind Foy came Nigel Ellis who edged out John Mardon on a countback for third after 38 point cards.

David Benjafield produced a stunning round to win the June seniors’ medal. He took just 79 strokes to compete his 18 holes and when his handicap of 17 was deducted, he was left with a winning nett 62.

In second spot was Roger Blackwell with 68. No-one else in the event managed to beat their handicap with third place being taken by Pete Douglas on 71.

Almost perfect weather brought out some good scoring in the seniors’ June Stableford to which the winner was also awarded the Vic Rowe Trophy.

The winning score was 39 points as Pete Douglas and Colin Roberts both posted that score, with Douglas edging out Roberts to claim the silverware on the back nine.

Another countback was required to decide the third place finisher between a couple of octogenarians. Charlie Hastie was declared the winner over Pat Mullholland with the superior back nine in their cards of 38 points.

Les Clutterbuck was the winner of the first midweek Stableford of June with a 40-point score. He led the way by two points from Eric Jones on 38.

Four players all handed in scores of 37 points on a day of good scoring, with Jason Kidley edging out Pete Barton, Mike Smith and Matt Haskins for third spot on countback.