Competitions for all sections at Worlebury

It has been an exciting two weeks at Worlebury Golf Club, with all sections having competitions.

It all started with the Battle of Britain Cup, a men’s board competition. The scoring reflected the conditions with six players recording net 65s with Stuart Fawcett winning on countback, from Danny O’Connor, Pete Gilpin, Tom Lennon, Simon Demsey (who carded a gross 66) and Ben Main.

The ladies played for the Prunier Cup, which is played for by the winners of the previous 12 months medal competitions. This year’s winner was the ever youthful Hazel Cox, with a respectful nett 70.

An alternative medal was also played for those players not in the Prunier Cup, with the winners being – Silver Division: Janet Fear; Bronze Division: Lisa Griffiths and Copper Division: Joyce Tinney.

The juniors played for the Eric Snow Trophy. The competition being won by five handicapper Jack Partridge with a nett 68, the runner-up being junior captain Ryan Thrupp with a 72.

The mixed away day, which this year was held at the Kendleshire Golf Club, saw 11 fourballs play a bowmaker competition, the winners being club captain Paul Lintern, Claire Bayliss, Louise Goodrum and Kelvin Betts.

The seniors played two competitions, both away. The first was at the Isle of Wedmore when they took a 5-3 advantage from the home fixture earlier in the year and despite captain Ron Stevens and his partner winning 6&4, the team lost 2.5 to 3.5, thereby giving them an aggregate win. The second match at Shirehampton saw a 4-3 win.

Bote Avalon teams travelled to Minehead for a double header, which unfortunately they lost both, the Royals losing 2-3 to the last putt in the last game on the 18th.

A monthly medal was also played. Division 1 saw Mickey Nicholls (nett 65) pipping his father by one shot in Division 1. Division 2 was won by Tim Barden with a 65, with Division 3 being dominated by the Welsh, with Andy Francis’ 62 beating Eifon Price’s 63.

The Centenary Cup was dominated by low handicappers. The eventual winner was head greenkeeper Tim Needham, playing off four, who carded a nett 66 to win his first major at Worlebury, beating Lewys Charles by one shot.

The lady captain’s day, hosted by Michelle James, saw nine teams of three play in dismal conditions, which necessitated the competition being curtailed to 15 holes. The winners were Hazel Cox, Joyce Tinney and Helen Clark.

At the evening dinner, Michelle thanked her parents, Shirley Horobin, Jan Simms and Jaqi Harris for all their help. Sue Kinch announced that Lorna Macivor would be her vice-captain next year and £207 was raised for charity.

The seniors played two matches, losing 1.5-5.5 at Henbury and winning 4.5-1.5 at home to Wheathill.

The juniors played their annual 36-hole Stableford competition which was won on countback by Jack Partridge, from Charlie Camper, who won the best nett with 79 points.

Weston Golf Club’s first team were promoted to Division 4 in the Bristol & District Golf League, under the guidance of the club’s vice-captain Glenn Taylor.

They came close last year to promotion, but this season the team went one better and achieved promotion with a game to spare.

A win for county first teamers Sam Fernley and plus 3 handicapper Matt Pearson had a convincing win 6&4 win. Chris Homer and Darren Henderson suffered a surprise loss, but the final points came from Chris Evans and Rob Chalker winning 4&3, with Ashly Collis and Geoff Sinclair winning 3&2 to seal the promotion. At the end of the field, a dead game of Glenn Taylor and Roy Turner was lost 4&2.

Taylor said: “I’m over the moon with the promotion and want to thank all players who have played for the team this season. Hopefully we can carry the momentum in the clubs 125th year next year.”

Gerald Taylor won the Mallen Cup with a nett 65, playing off a 12 handicap. Second in Division 1 was John Stokes on 66, followed by Jack Radcliffe (67), Aussie Denison (68) and Joe Neary (68).

In Division 2, Steve Dowden took the honours with a 69, winning on countback from Derek Cook, Peter Davie and Phil Humphries.

Weston’s mixed team travelled to Warminster for their annual match against West Wilts. In breezy but clear conditions, Weston members were challenged with having to give a total of 58 shots to the home side.

The team maintained great spirit and determination securing four halves and two wins, with the final result favouring West Wilts 6-4.

A dull start to an August morning which turned to rain, greeted the Weston seniors for a par/bogey format, requiring the players to card a plus for scores better than a par and a minus for over par.

The winner, with an excellent score of +4 was John Atherton. Three players carded +3 and, after countback, the runner-up place went to Gerald Taylor with Chris Kelly third and Anthony Barry fourth.

The ladies’ Brockenshaw Bowl and Grass Roots Trophy competition was played in wet conditions. The winner with a score of 70 was Zena Balcombe. Pat Rowlands was runner-up with 72 and Jean Cooper third with 75.

Wedmore hosted the ladies’ County Bronze Championship with 65 players from across the county taking part.

June Smith took full advantage from playing her home club by taking the overall trophy, the Eileen Irlam Salver, with 37 points in a close finish. This was also enough for her to win the Barlow Cup for the best home qualifier.

It was a good day for the club all round with the course in excellent shape and Wendy Lucas winning plaudits from everyone for her organisation.

This was the second trophy on offer for the ladies as the previous day had seen the monthly Stableford, which incorporated the Grannies Cup.

Winner of both the cup and the Stableford was Ange Webber, continuing her run of good form with 37 points. This put her a point clear of Sue Edwards, another in-form player with Shirley Turner third on 33.

The other places were filled by three players on 32, with Ruth Pearson just edging ahead of Cathy Olive and Sue Painter on countback.

The seniors’ held their monthly medal with some excellent scoring, particularly in Division 3 where James Robertson led the way with a nett 64. He was pressed hard, though by Ron Barrett on 65 and Barry Stone who was third on 67.

John Bennett was another low scorer, his 66 good enough to win Division 1 by three clear shots from Frank Denniston, who just edged out Mike Smth on countback.

There was a blanket finish in Division 3 with the top three all finishing on 69 points. Countback over the back nine holes was needed and birdies on the 11th and 12th were enough to give David Rusell first place ahead of runner-up Philip McMahon and Robin Knight.

Roger Hurrell was the big winner at the annual seniors’ away day which this year again visited Long Sutton.

Hurrell, the younger brother of current seniors’ captain Bob, scored an impressive 38 points in damp conditions. He won the individual Stableford which emulated his brother’s victory of 12 months earlier. He won by three from Brian Read, while Pete Dunn defeated Roger Phillips on a back nine countback for third after they both had 34 points.

In addition to the individual event, a blind pairs competition was also included with the cards being drawn out at the end by the captain Bob Hurrell and away day organiser Mike Allen.

Early leaders were Roger Phillips and Roger Blackwell on 63, until Bob Hurrell picked out his brother’s scorecard and Allen drew out his own score to match that total.

A swift countback was done and the winners were declared as the Hurrell/Allen partnership with the better back nine. Third place went to Allen Fellingham and Ray Byatt on 62.

Steve Martin claimed both the Super Series Stablefords that were contested over the weekend. He won with a 43-point card, holding a two-point advantage over Tony Richards and Nigel Ellis, but he had to give second best to fellow Welshman Richards on countback.

The following day, Martin was again in the winner’s enclosure. His second win of the weekend came courtesy of a 42-point return which this time gave him a three-point cushion over his nearest challenger.

Brian Read was the runner-up on 39 and club captain Andy Thomas was the best of a trio on 38 to claim third position.

Worlebury maintained their recent stranglehold on the Breanbury Trophy as they won the annual mixed match by 4.5 games to 3.5 at Brean.

Trevor Searle set an early target that would not be beaten the midweek Stableford. Early starter Searle scored an impressive 42 points to win by five points on the day. Three players returned 37 points with John Rabbetts being awarded second place on a countback ahead of Matt Haskins and Bob Smith.