Countback needed at Worlebury

WESTON Golf Club’s second four-ball better ball of the season had a great entry from representatives from many golf clubs throughout the Midlands and South West of England.

The winners were Ian Hudson and Anthony McEvoy of Weston who, despite a shaky second hole, blended well and played some great golf to return a good score of 43 points.

Results: Ian Hudson & Anthony McEvoy (Weston) 43 pts; Joe Neary & Richard Harris (Weston) 42; James Lane & Andy Gill (Weston) 42; Geoff Sinclair & Nigel Napier (Weston) 42; Mark Stevens & Pete Gilby (Bowood) 41; Bryce Hodgson & Trevor Jenkinson (Weston) 41; Martin Gimber & David Baxter (Saunton) 41.

The first mixed open, rescheduled from earlier in the year, was won by Andy and Zena Balcombe of the host club and are winners of the GH Evans Trophy.

Results: Andy & Zena Balcombe (Weston) 39 pts; Nick & Kath Farrant (Weston) 38 pts; Trevor & Joan Jenkinson (Weston) 38 pts; Andy Skinner & Melanie Rossi (Weston) 38 pts; Ian Freeman & Nikki Clarke (Weston & Tall Pines) 37.

The top four pairs of this competition together with the top four pairs of the second mixed open (held in August) will be invited to play for the Claude Lalonde Trophy knockout foursomes on October 13-14.

]The top qualifiers are: S Clifford and S Mardell (Weston); G Hicken and J Bishop (Weston); T & L Lee (Minchinhampton); J & K Stevens (Dewstow); A & Z Balcombe (Weston); N & K Farrant (Weston); T & J Jenkinson (Weston); A Skinner & M Rossi (Weston).

The first autumn seniors’ Stableford had a good entry of 56 players and was won by Peter Holyday with 41 points.

Results: P Holyday (19) 41; R Preston (23) 38; M Hill (20) 37; T Latchem (14) 37; D Snowdon (12) 36; D Andow (11) 36; N Jillings (13) 36; G Tripp (9) 35.

Weston Mixed Open winners Andy and Zena Balcombe pictured with club captain Mark Short.

IT was an extremely tight affair for the Bert Dunstan Trophy played at Worlebury Golf Club.

In the four-team play-off, only countback on the back nine could determine the winners of the cup.

Four pairs had all posted equal scores previously, and couldn’t be separated on the day, and again in the play-off, it was amazingly close in the fourball betterball stroke play event, but eventually the pairing of Tom Lennon and Gary Williams just pipped Chris Mannings Hill and Andy Nichols, both teams recording nett 64s on the day.

Unfortunately, the other two pairs were only able to go out in singles due to unavailability of partners. Matt Blackman was third on 82, with Andy Hurne fourth on 83.

On the weekend of the Ryder Cup, Worlebury held the annual captain versus vice-captain match. Skipper Pete Nuttall matched up his side against Keith Wharton’s men in a fourball betterball match play

Again it was close throughout the event and by the margin of one point, victory went to Nuttall’s side, who wrestled the trophy away by a score 7.5-6.5.

Photo Keith Wharton presenting the trophy to Pete Nuttall.

DESPITE the pro shop and part of the clubhouse being flooded, golf went on as usual at Isle of Wedmore Golf Club.

Highlight was the final open competition of the year, the Yonex Trophy. This attracted an entry of just under 100 players. The men’s competition was dominated by home players. Division 2 was a close affair with Nick Sarjant coming third on countback with 36 points, just one point behind Mark Sweeting, with Kevin Osman claiming first place with 38 points.

Division 1 was even tighter with Tony Biggs losing out on countback to Graham Sugg for second place, both players scoring 36. Terry Edwards managed one point more to claim the divisional win with 37. There was a clear winner of the overall Yonex Trophy and that was Steven Cainey, whose 40 points put him two ahead of any other player in the field.

The visitors came to the fore in the ladies’ section where 16-year-old Christina Williams from Ridgeway in Caerphilly romped ahead of the field to win with 37 points, despite scoring only one point on the last two holes.

Sue Tarry won Division 1 on countback from Chris Simpson, both scoring 34 points. Hazel Gough was the Division 2 winner.

Earlier in the week, the ladies held their monthly medal with the wind again a factor. Alison Dodkin just held off Sue Tarry on the back nine to take first place, both scoring net 74. Sarah Mathews was one shot back in third.

The other prizes went to Claire Biggs and Liz Hill both on 76, and Jane Hewitt who was sixth on countback from a group of players on 77.

Photo shows Chistina Williams and Steven Cainey winners of the Yonex Trophy together with other prize winners.

ACCORDING to the prestigious biennial Golf Monthly course rankings, Burnham & Berrow Golf Club has risen five places to 37th in the UK & Ireland.

It is now the top ranked course in the South West of England. This continues the upward trend established since the rankings began in 2004 and it is hoped this will continue with planned improvements taking place over the next 12 months.

Burnham & Berrow is a member of the Atlantic Links Partnership, together with Royal North Devon, Saunton, St.Enedoc and Trevose and all feature in the top 100 courses, as ranked by Golf Monthly.

Further details of the rankings can be obtained at www.golf-monthly.co.uk

OCTOGENARIAN Wally Pape showed the youngsters the way home when he claimed the silverware on offer in the re-arranged Captains Day at Brean.

After being washed out back in July, captains Stewart Garrett and Gail Mason were thankful for the dry day. It also agreed with Pape as he walked away with the Captains Cup after his nett 68 proved to be the best of the day.

This also secured him Division 3 success one ahead of Graham Foy. Division 2 winner Paul McLanaghan matched Pape’s score of 68, but had a slightly poorer back nine. Dave Lockwood was the runner up in that sector with a 69.

Division 1 was won with 70 by Alan Cooke, leaving him two clear of Steve. Jenny Vaughan pipped Shelia Rouse to take the Ladies Captains Cup.

As is tradition with Captains Day at Brean, the afternoon consisted of a cross-country scramble over a nine hole layout devised by the professionals.

Dennis May, David Hunter and Nigel Ellis just edged out Ali Haskins, Matt Haskins and Steve Mason after both had scored 29.

Brean’s bar manager Les Byrne boosted the captain’s charity by running in the Bristol half-marathon. He completed the course in 2.5 hours.

The seniors have had a barrage of competitions completed in the last week or so. First up was a victory for Tony Tissington in the Veterans Trophy after 41 point haul. Pat Mullholland scored 70 to take the seniors’ medal, while Barrie Tucker recorded another win as he took the seniors’ Chairman’s Cup with 36 points.