Local player David Gregory captures the West of England matchplay championship held at his home course at Burnham and Berrow.

NOW established as a R&A world ranking event, the West of England Matchplay Championships at Burnham & Berrow attracted some of the country’s top amateur players, as well as entries from Belgium and Germany.

The qualifying event was headed by local player Sam Day of Mendip Spring Golf Club with a 36 hole total of 142. However, he was to be knocked out in the matchplay stages by Matt Sheehan of Cobtree Manor Golf Club, who went on to be the losing finalist.

The eventual winner was David Gregory of Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, who had himself been losing finalist in 2009 and was the first win for a home player since 2001.

? FOR once, the weather behaved itself for the final ladies’ open of the year at Wedmore Golf Club.

Over 140 players from across the county gathered for a four-ball better-ball competition. Better weather generally generates good results and this was the case with 39 Stableford points required to get into the prizes.

This was the score achieved by both the pairings of Shirley Turner and Jane Midgley, both from Wedmore and also Sue Hughes with Sue Worthington, her playing partner from Bristol and Clifton.

The two Sues took fourth place on countback. The highest placed pair of visitors finished in third place. This was Sue Gibson and Diane Carol from Henbury who scored 40 points.

Second place went to last year’s captain Claire Biggs, partnered by Helen Clarke from Worlebury, who amassed 41 points. It was a Wedmore pair who took the main prize scoring an incredible 45 points. This was the pair of current ladies captain Jane Hewitt with her partner Ange Webber.

? THIS year is turning into a memorable one at Brean Golf Club with plenty of notable achievements already secured and the Somerset Bowl final to follow next month.

The latest success is the news that the Avalon League Division 3 title is heading Brean’s way. Their nearest rivals for the title, Burnham and Berrow failed to gain enough points to overtake them at the top of the table. Also, Brean’s second team in the Avalon League maintained their Division 6 status.

Phil Hodgson continues to produce some excellent golf and last weekend claimed the prestigious D&C Open crown. He produced a nett 63 in the individual medal event and relegated Tony Richards into second place with his score of 66.

Four players tied for third on 69 with Pete Barton winning on a countback from Roger Phillips and John Owen. Steve Bateman was the fourth card of 69, but his gross 74 took the first prize in that category.

The seniors’ had a mixed week of results with two games ending in 5-1 scorelines. Firstly they were victorious by that margin in an away fixture at Cannington, but on the receiving end of the same score in another away fixture at Woodspring.

Barrie Yearsley won the seniors’ medal with a superb nett 67. Second place went to Bill Griffin on 70 and last year’s seniors’ captain Dai Wood was third on 71.

? WESTON Ladies EWGA Medal: Zena Balcombe 72; Alysia Rees 73; Wendy Thomas 77.

? THE WD Payne Flag Cup took place at Worlebury Golf Club and was won by Steve Buckley.

This is a medal event where entrants use all of their allotted handicap shots to get as far around the course as possible. In a large field of well over a 100 entrants, Buckley, playing off a handicap of 14, got to the end of the round with 10 shots to spare, hitting an excellent 74 gross. He eventually checked out on the third hole, 110yds from the green to take the title.

Results: Steve Buckley 74 (60); Lee Grant 72 (64); Jamie Spence 78 (66); Joe Dale 74 (67); Malcolm Summers 79 (67).

Midweek Stableford: Ian Smith 39 pts; Josh Freeman 39; Trevor Smith 38.

? WESTON Juniors Golf Club championships took place in fine weather conditions, a contrast to the previous week when the event was abandoned due to heavy rain.

Fifteen juniors took part with the winner Sam Fernley shooting an impressive gross 76, with runner-up Josh Freeman scoring 79.

The Victoria Cup for the best nett score was won by Jack Partridge (65) and Jade Cope, runner-up with (67). Eleven-year-old Ryan Tate won the 10 hole competition for higher handicap players with a nett 37.

The final of the Blackheath Trophy was won by Sam Fernley, who beat Keith Davie with a convincing win, being three under after the front 10 holes.