Outgoing Worlebury Golf Club captain Paul Gardiner held his last competition of his tenure.

IT WAS changeover time at Worlebury Golf Club, with the outgoing captain, Paul Gardiner, holding his swan song competition and incoming captain, Peter Phillips, having his maiden voyage.

For his final competition, Paul opted for a three club and a putter format, played in teams of four. Brothers David and Jon Blackhurst, who teamed up with Jason Dean and Simon Cowgill, recorded a narrow win with 89 points.

One point behind were the team of Cameron McLeod, Graham Horrell, Danny Sanderson and John Dyer, who kindly donated their winnings to Sarcoma Research, in memory of a member who had recently passed away.

Third with 87 were Jamie Crandon, Dave Collard, Nathan Talbot and Dale Rendall. Fourth with 86, Dougie Woods, John Wright, Julian Claydon and Ian Irvine, followed by Nick Carter, Andy Nicholls, Chris Mannings-Hill and Russell Priest on 84.

Peter’s first competition, as per club tradition, was a greensomes. This had a shotgun start which ensured a full clubhouse for Peter and his vice-captain, Paul Lintern’s debut.

A draw was held to predict the distance Peter would achieve with his drive off the first tee which was won, ironically, by his father John, with club steward, Ginette Baker and Jim Walton sharing the kitty. Peter was delighted to raise over £300 for his captains charity, Above and Beyond.

The golf was won fairly comfortably by Jamie Crandon and Derek Pounsberry with 44 points, two ahead of Graham Hewlett and Paul Marsh. Several pairings were bunched together with little between them, but Ron Ganfield and Paul Coumis pinched third place with 39 from Richard Brown and Dave Pope on 38, who pipped club president, Keith Wharton and Paul Lintern on countback.

President Keith, playing in the Saturday roll-up, bagged his first hole-in-one on the 12th using a nine iron. Sadly it counted for nought as temporary greens were in operation due to a heavy frost.

Generous to a fault, he did however, do the honourable thing and provided a drink for the assembled throng in the clubhouse.

WESTON ladies held their annual friendly team supper with team captain Melanie Rossi handing over after three years to Di Brown.

The ladies play a host of matches throughout the year, both at home and away, introducing players, especially new members, to courses in the area. Melanie was presented with a bouquet to thank her for her commitment and organisation during her time as captain.

The ladies braved arctic conditions to play their second medal of the year. Zena Balcombe scored a nett 77, Sue Andow 82 and Sue Garrett 82 (cb) in the weekend competition.

The Tuesday competition was played in slightly better conditions, bringing in scores of nett 73 by Tessa Pitt, Di Brown (79) and Sue Osman (80).

Fifteen three-man teams contested the seniors bowmaker in wintry conditions. Despite the freezing temperature, the course was presented in great order and although the greens were hard for the early starters, they eventually thawed out enabling reasonable scores.

The winners with 76 points were Graham Tripp, Mo Sweeney and David Snowdon, who took the honours from club captain Roy Schubert, Jim Ness and Ron Kelley by virtue of countback. The third place went to Jim Blackhurst, Allan Tucker and David Rowland with a score of 74.

A BUSY week at Wedmore Golf Club kicked off with the seniors Stableford and a rash of 40+ point scores.

Martin Peakman lived up to his name with a highest score of the day to win Division 2 with 43 points. This was five better than runner-up Dennis Howard with Derek Osborn a further shot back in third.

Martin Easton was another player to reach 40 and this was enough to win Division 1 by two points from John Vowles and Calvon Poulton-Sadler, with Vowles taking second place on countback.

There was a blanket finish in Division 3 with the first three all scoring 40 points. A birdie on the 16th secured a win on countback for Barrie Gardiner, with Roy Tomlins second and Mac Hargraves third.

The ladies played 18 holes in a bowmaker. The leading team was Sue Tarry, Saybria Sims and Desiree McGowan with 68 points. Runners-up on 65 were Deidre Wheadon, Rachel Lockley and Claire Biggs, who earlier in week had a hole-in one at the ninth hole.

Their score of 65 was equalled by the third-placed team of Liz Hill, Gina Falcon and Betty Norman. There was disappointment for the ladies when they lost a close match away at Burnham in the first round of the Mail on Sunday competition by 3-2.

The club Stableford attracted a large field enjoying the cold, but bright conditions. In Division 1, Graham Sugg led the way with 39 pointsm ahead of a group of six players on 37.

Countback gave second place to Jim Dobbs on his birthday, with Bill Lander in third. Top score of the day came from one of several promising youngsters, Sean Gray with 42 points. John Vowles took second place on 40 points on countback from John Rowland.

There was another blanket finish in Division 3 with the first three all on 39. Terry Simpson claimed first place on countback from Pete Beavan with Mark O’Regan in third.

Best lady was young Harriett Lockley with 34, ahead of Chris Simpson on 30 and Saybria Sims on 28.

RICHARD Triscott led the way at a frozen Brean Golf Club as he won Saturday’s round of the Winter League.

Playing on the temporary greens due to yet another overnight frost, he notched 46 points to win by a couple of points. Finishing second to an Englishman, just like his national rugby team did the previous night, was Tony Richards with 44 points, while Stewart Garrett continued his recent hot run of form with third spot on 43.

Neil Barker didn’t feature in the prizewinners, but as he scored the only two of the day at the ninth, he collected the rolled over pot of £39 on offer.

Following his runners-up finish on Saturday, Tony Richards went one better on Sunday as he topped the Winter League scorecharts.

After a fog delay, a depleted field took to the course which was still using the temporary greens due to the frost. Richards matched his 44-point haul of the previous day, but this time no-one beat it.

Mike Carter came close as he matched it, but dipped out on a countback with Richards. Jeff Read won another countback for third with 40 as he beat his father Brian and Stewart Garrett on the back nine.