Full field for ladies’ invitation day

A FULL field of players, playing in spring sunshine attended ladies’ invitation day at Weston Golf Club.

Lady captain Di Walker welcomed all guests from visiting clubs to the course for an enjoyable day with in-house fund-raising competitions and a presentation supper.

Winners this year with a one point lead were Gay Long and guest Julia Paul from The Temple Golf Club in Berkshire with a highly commendable 43 points.

Second on countback was Jan Bishop and guest Alison Dodkin from Isle of Wedmore with 42, followed by Sally Brosnan and guest Carole Manson from Minehead 42, Julie Ward and guest June Smith also from Isle of Wedmore 42.

Nearest pin guest prize: Hazel Gough from Isle of Wedmore and nearest pin member: Glenda Latham.

Second millenium qualifier: Gay Long 38 pts; Jade Cope 38; Teresa Blackhurst 38.

Ladies’ Barstow Shield winners: Angela Cook and Carol Harris 72; Di Walker and Melanie Rossi 72.

Margaret Buckley Gross Cup and Jenny Carter Toast Rack for best nett silver: Jade Cope 72; Margaret Buckley Cup for best nett bronze: Carol Harris 69.

EG medal: Zena Balcombe 78; Wendy Thomas 78.

Betty Butler Cup: Sue Andow; runner up: Wendy Thomas.

Weston Ladies beat Worlebury at Bath Golf Club with a strong 5-2 win taking them through to the second round of the Rogers Cup at Enmore.

Melanie Rossi and Kath Farrant secured a solid first round 4-2 win in Centenary Plate against Minehead at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club.

Tony Chapman won the seniors St George Trophy with a gross 77 (67) from Steven Bennett and new member Bob Clarke-Hall.

Results: Tony Chapman 77 (67); Steven Bennett 91 (68); Bob Clarke-Hall 82 (69); Idris Woodfine 95 (70); Trevor Knott 78 (70); Colin Dixon 84 (70); Tony Willis 92 (71); Tony Cooksley 93 (71).

Left to right: invitation day winners at Weston: Gay Long (Weston) with lady captain Di Walker (centre) and guest Julia Paul.

IT was a busy golfing weekend at Worlebury, with 120 competitors in the Coronation Cup.

Veteran Pete Cornish found the conditions to his liking. Playing off 11, his net 64 won the cup, fending off Graham Hewlett, who came second with a 65 and Pete Gilpin with 66.

Spare a thought however, for first team captain, Chris Davidson, who, playing off three, shot a fine 69 gross, but could only come fourth on countback. His round included an eagle at the par four, eighth hole.

Chris was in action again when the Order of Merit took place. This is a new competition for the club’s low handicappers and he once more had an eagle, this time on the seventh.

His 70 however, gave him third place behind the winner, young Alex Winn on 69, who pipped one handicapper Simon Demsey on countback.

The Avalon team had their first match of the league season, which saw them hosting old rivals Stockwood Vale.

It was a close match and many of the games could have gone either way. It ended up a draw, with the pairings of Stuart Fawcett and John Wright and Martyn Chambers and Cameron McLeod winning for Worlebury and Keri Allchurch and captain Tony Westren securing a draw.

FIFTY-TWO golfers left Wedmore for Bodmin in Cornwall for the captain’s weekend at Lanhydrock Golf Club.

Captain Tom Bennett laid on three days of good weather much enjoyed by golfers and the 10 non-golfers who joined them for the weekend.

First up was an individual Stableford with Alan Chambers taking the honours for the men and Vera Ireland for the ladies. The better-ball saw a brilliant round from Mike Garbutt, who together with partner Ann Search amassed 46 points.

For the Bowmaker, the remarkable scoring came from Jim Vearncombe, who led his team of Saybria Sims, Tony Phelps and Dom Channon to 98 points, putting them nine shots clear of the rest.

The seniors were back at Wedmore for the twice postponed pre-Christmas competition. Winning early Christmas drinks and meat vouchers was the team of Jim Sims, Gordon Newbery and Philip Springfield, who cruised to 89 points for a resounding victory.

Runners-up was a two-man team of Chris McGowan and Eddie Parlour, aided by a mystery player who remains anonymous except to the organisers, thus saving on prizes.

The ladies held a four-ball better-ball and turned in some good scores. Leading the way were Audrey Cowlin and Hazel Gough who scored 39 points to put them two clear of Ronnie Follenfant and Shirley Turner, who just edged out Sue Painter and Esme Gulliver on countback.

Wedmore golfers pictured at Lanhydrock.

IN A BUSY week of matches, Brean seniors secured a win and a loss in their first two games of the three fixtures played.

They hosted Minehead Warreners and enjoyed a resounding 5-1 victory. The following day they travelled up the A38 to Woodspring Golf and Country Club, but returned home on the back of a 4-2 defeat.

The seniors team then matched the victory of the main club team in their first round of the Somerset Bowl. The club side won 3-2 at Enmore against Long Sutton to progress to round two, but the Seniors triumped that with a superb 4-1 victory over their Oake Manor counterparts at Taunton & Pickeridge.

The Division 2 Avalon League side faced a double header of home games and they got off to a great start with a win over Vivary Park. The home team overcame the late loss of team captain Steve Bateman through injury to record a win.

Captain-elect Paul Jones ably stepped into the skipper’s role and a good all-round team effort saw them return a 3.5-1.5 winning scoreline.

Unfortunately the following day, they couldn’t repeat the result and went down to a heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Windwhistle. Paul Jones and Tony Richards were the only winners for Brean.

Tony Romeo won Saturday’s Super Series round with a score of 42 points. This gave him a two point winning margin over Graham Exton, who himself shaded a back nine countback with Vince Ford to take the runners-up spot after Ford also matched his 40 point card.

A three-way countback was needed to separate the trio of 41 point scores handed in during Sunday’s Super Series round. Pete Dunn emerged the winner, with Kevin Davies relegating Martyn Cahill into third spot.

On a day of good scoring both Barrie Tucker and Gordy Wheelaghan also topped the 40 point mark as they finished in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Andrew March finished tied for third in the G&S PGA medal played at Minehead. He ended the day with a level par 72 to help consolidate his sixth position in the Total Triumph Order of Merit with the season drawing to a close.

Brean assistant pro Roy Baker was headed for a similar score until the tough closing hole at the West Somerset course caught him out and he signed for a 76 and a share of eighth place with his boss David Haines.

BLEADON Hill Golf Course held its monthly Stableford competition in cold conditions.

Paul Dolbear, an original member of the club, had one of his best-ever rounds and recorded 24 points. Runner-up position went to Mark Williams with 20 and third place went to Ben Aylott with 17.

Ben deserves a special mention as he recorded a gross score of one over par, the lowest of the day. The nearest the pin competition was won by Dolbear.

The Platinum Golf Academy which is based at Bleadon Hill Golf Course helps many Weston golfers to improve their game. All categories are taught from beginner, through to professional.

Each month, the academy runs a competition for student of the month and the April award went to Adam Day.

For your chance to become student of the month or just to improve your game, please contact Scott Thompson on 07875 236731.