Chris victorious after four-hole play-off

THE Jubilee Cup and Shield is one of Worlebury Golf Club’s premier events and the only 36-hole competition played in a single day in the club’s calendar.

First team captain Chris Davidson and team-mate, Pete Gilpin, were tied after 36 holes in the gross competition and had to endure a four-hole play off. Gilpin shot four straight pars, but was pipped by Davidson who birdied the third extra hole to win by a single shot and take the Shield.

Nick Carter, on his return to the club after a lengthy lay-off, won the cup with 76 points followed by Dave Collard on 73 and Steve Bellingham on 72. Spare a thought for head greenkeeper Tim Needham, who played steadily all day, but came fourth in both the gross and nett events.

It was a good week for Chris Davidson, who skippered the first team to a narrow 3-2 win over Weston in the Bristol and Distict League. The matches with Matt Blackman and Zac Shelford and Ross Coyne and Josh Freeman were pivotal, both pairings coming from behind to win vital halves.

The seniors played two social matches entertaining Minehead and Isle of Wedmore, gaining two comfortable wins.

The Stragglers entertained Weston Police Golf Society, who were captained by Worlebury member Phil Stone. The teams played for the Handcuff Trophy, which, unfortunately, was stolen two years ago. The matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation.

Chris Taylor was the talk of the evening after cannoning into the hole, off his partner’s ball on the 11th for a nett two. There were some close games, with Worlebury winning four and two games halved.

Worlebury Golf Club captain Keith Wharton with Chris Davidson (left) and Nick Carter with their respective trophies.

THE Worlebury junior open this year took place during the half-term week.

It was a huge success, attracting junior golfers from across the region. The winner of the competition was Thomas Hamilton from Lansdown Golf Club with an excellent gross score of 72, which included a number of birdies and an eagle at the par five 15th hole.

As the winner of the competition, Hamilton will be included on the Telegraph Junior Championship leaderboard.

Brothers Andrew and Steven Blake, representing Taunton Vale Golf Club, came first and second in the nett competition with scores of 66 and 68 respectively and the winner of the girls’ competition was Davina Xanh from Mendip Spring Golf Club.

The winner of the Worlebury Salver for the top Worlebury junior was Mathew Blackman with a fine gross 75.

The club wish to thank St Modwen Homes for their generous sponsorship of the competition.

Worlebury junior prize winners with club captain Keith Wharton.

WESTON Golf Club held its junior club championship on a fine day, but the rough made scoring difficult.

The field was made up of boys ranging from nine to 17 years and included Weston’s newest junior golfer, 11-year-old Tom Smale, playing in his first club championship.

The Stanley Biggs Trophy for the best gross score and overall club champion was won by Harry Turner with a fantastic gross score of 75 (nett 63). This was too good for junior captain and last year’s winner Sam Fernley, who came in second place, with a respectable gross 78 (nett 76).

Harry, who will be the next junior captain, putted beautifully and kept the ball in play to secure an unexpected win.

The Victoria Cup, for the best nett score, was won by nine-year-old George Holyday, who had a birdie two on the third hole and then scored steadily, making few errors and finishing with a nett 74.

Runner-up was Sam Cooper, who played well, but went out of bounds on the 17th and missed out by one shot with a nett 75.

Rear (left to right): Harry Turner, Sam Cooper, with Roy Turner and Matt Brosnan (junior organisers) Front: Sam Fernley, Tom Smale and George Holyday

THE holding of the King Alfred and Queen Elizabeth Cup competitions at Wedmore gave the chance for the lower handicap players to shine with the top prizes going to those with the best gross scores.

Perfect conditions made for good scoring and none were better than Ben Barwell, who scored a one over par gross 71, level on the front nine, one over on the back, to win by six clear shots.

Rich Vowles came in on 77 to take the runners-up place, leaving the seniors to battle out for third place. Keith Thomas and Bill Lander both went round in 79, with Thomas clinching third place on countback.

Taking the honours for the best nett score of the day was Alan Chambers, whose gross 82 off a handicap of 15 saw him clear of the field on 67.

There was a slightly disappointing turnout for the ladies’ Queen Elizabeth Cup, but an excellent performance from Cathy Olive saw her win the trophy with a gross 84.

Carol Jackson took the runners-up spot with 91, beating Jane Hewitt on countback. Janis Lawrence showed the value of playing as a higher handicapper by taking the nett prize with 74.

The ladies battled against strong winds in their monthly Stableford. Best score of the day came in bronze division, won by Hazel Gough with 33 points. This was one better than Deidre Wheadon, with Pauline Warner coming third a further point back.

Silver division was won by Liz Hill with 32 points, just holding off Liz Miller who was a point back in second with Judy Cutter third on 29.

Carol Jackson, Cathy Olive and Ben Barwell receiving their prizes from Wedmore Golf Club captain Tom Bennett following the King Alfred and Queen Elizabeth Cup competitions.

BREAN’S Division 2 Avalon League side enjoyed a profitable weekend points wise with an unbeaten performance.

They started off by dominating their Isle of Wedmore opponents at home and winning by a healthy 4-1 scoreline. The following day they travelled to Enmore Park and they recorded a halved game with each side winning two games and halving the other.

With Brean being the away side, this collected them some valuable league points in the division.

The Brean ladies also enjoyed success with an impressive whitewash victory over their Woodspring counterparts at Brean. Led by captain Sheila Rouse, they won all three games to secure the win.

Again it was a Hatfield at the top of the Super Series scorecharts when the competition. This time it was Mark who took the honours with his score of 41 points. In second place was Stewart Garrett on 40, with 10-year-old Ben Haines in third on countback.

Playing from the red tees, Haines, who is director of golf David’s son, matched the score of Garrett as well as scoring one of only three twos on the day when his tee shot at the short 17th ended just 18in from the hole.

Gordy Wheelaghan relegated Garrett to his second runners-up spot of the weekend as he won Sunday’s Super Series round. Wheelaghan was the only player to top 40 points as his score of 41 won by two from Garrett.

Garrett had company on 39 as Andy Chapple and Tony Romeo also ended on that mark, but Garrett had the superior back nine total, meaning Chapple took third and Romeo ended up fourth.

Jim McLauchlan was the victor in a low-scoring opening round of the seniors’ Captains Cup. He carded a superb nett 63, but only won by a shot from Barrie Tucker.

These two were a clear distance ahead of third-placed man Pete Douglas on 67.

Andy Thomas was in top form as he romped to a seven point win in the Pro Shop Stableford. He carded 42 points to ease him to a seven point win over Suzanne Hatfield, who just pipped her husband Mark on countback for second spot.