Hectic few days for Worlebury lady captain

Worlebury Golf Club’s lady captain, Michelle James, has had a hectic few days with competitions and a match to keep her busy.

There was little time for Michelle to rest following the club championship last weekend, when she presided over a highly enjoyable waltzing bowmaker competition. Played in teams of three, the format was for one player to score on the first, two players on the second and all three on the third, with this sequence being repeated over the 18 holes.

This resulted in the team of Angie Bagley, Lorna Macivor and Julie Stafford dancing with joy after a comfortable win with 69 points. Michelle, Maxine Gardiner and Lisa Griffiths were runners-up with 64, just edging out the trio of Emma Bourton, Lynn Pope and Anne Davidson on countback.

Next on the agenda was the Stella Hammond Salver, a greensomes competition for teams consisting of a senior and lady member. This led to a photo finish, the top three each scoring 38 points.

The partnership of Wendy Larner and John Ratajczak got the verdict over the pairings of Jane Wakerley/Stuart Lock and Julie Stafford/Mike Knight

Wendy has made a welcome return to the ladies’ section and after a recent run of good form, is beginning to make her presence felt.

Michelle capped the week by leading the Alliance team to a highly creditable draw in damp and soggy conditions against Tracy Park. The team of Emma Bourton, Sue Kinch, Claire Bayliss, Amanda Cook, Izzy Swift and Julie Stafford all performed well in difficult conditions.

The seniors had two away fixtures lined up against Wheathill and Clevedon. Unfortunately, the Wheathill match was cancelled, as part of their course was flooded.

There was no such problem at Clevedon and the team enjoyed a pleasant afternoon although the result was not quite as captain Ron Stevens, had hoped for. Due to an administrative error, Worlebury took to the course two-men short which put them immediately on the back foot.

A fine 3&1 win was recorded by Colin Dale and Alan Woodford. Dave Treleaven and Stuart Macivor fought hard, only to succumb on the 18th, but the other matches, despite fine efforts, ended in rather heavier defeats.

The men’s invitation day drew a decent field with Paul Kemmish and his guest, Simon Woodfine narrowly taking the first prize with 45 points. Kevin Fudge and A Saunders just missed out with 44 points.

The lesser places were closely contested, with Colin and M Dale coming third, pipping Julian Winn and Adrian Deakins on countback, both pairs scoring 41. A further point adrift were Colin Rides and T Barker, who edged out vice-captain Andy Collard and his guest Tony Walker, on countback, to take fourth place.

It was a good weekend for the Avalon teams with the Royals continuing their quest for back-to-back promotions with a comfortable 4-1 win against Vivary Park and Graham Hewlett’s team in Division 3 recording a rare win.

The Royals avenged their heavy reverse against the Taunton club in the first match of the season. There were convincing wins for the pairings of Mick Keen/Mark Puddy, Terry Santo/Craig Young and team captain, John Melwani partnering Ben Main.

Dave Collard and Will Denyer had a fight on their hands, but eventually came through 2&1. The only reverse was the match involving James Marshall and Tom Main, who narrowly lost their unbeaten record in a tense encounter, 2&1.

The Royals next match is a vital and tricky one, away to Isle of Wedmore, and a good win there will go a long way towards securing promotion.

Graham Hewlett’s team finally came good with a hard-fought home win against a youthful Enmore team, packed with low handicappers. Graham, partnered by Somerset Bowl captain, Mark Otterburn, led the way recording a fine 5&4 win in the opening match.

The combination of youth and experience came good with Jack Partridge and Tony Westren winning 3&2. Two fighting halves were secured by Keri Allchurch/Rich Godwin and Martin Green/John Wright.

The only loss of the day was in the final match for Stuart Fawcett and Rob Furlong against particularly tough opponents.

Although Graham’s team are fighting relegation in a tough league, this result will give them some heart and optimism that the season is not yet over.

Ron Kelley is the Weston seniors’ champion for 2016, winning by two shots from Steve Thomas.

On a day which saw early rain, sunshine and later, a considerable breeze, the talented Yorkshireman handled all challenges to win his second championship in two years shooting a gross 76, playing off five handicap.

The runner-up was Steve Thomas, also five handicap scored a gross 78. Steve Strange was third with 82. The winner of the Captain’s Cup for best nett score was Nick Palmer with 72.

Weston’s Avalon B team entertained Brean A and continued their run of wins triumphing 4.5/0.5.

First out, Darren Henderson and Neil Urch gained a creditable half despite giving lots of shots. Ian Goldsworthy and Chris Homer continued their impressive form winning 5&4.

Unbeaten pairing Steve Dowden and Steve Corrick won 3&2 against stout opponents. Gary Homer and Andy Zanelli won 5&4, leaving the last word to Paul O’Hara and Alan Harris gaining a one up win.

The Brean visitors were complimentary on the greens and catering and thought the whole course was in superb condition.

A depleted field of just over 100 played in the Fullers London Pride gold medal and club medal, with many members away on a club trip to Shropshire.

Division One winner was Eddie Langford on 68 nett, followed by Roger Magor (70), junior captain Thomas Holyday losing on the back nine holes and Mark Fozzard, both on 70.

Division 2 and winner of the overall event was Dave Hall on nett 66, with John Codd second on 67, Sean Frost and Nick Bohin both finished on 70 respectively.

The ladies’ seniors’ open was well supported with 15 teams competing in a bowmaker competition.

Cathy Preston and her team organised an excellent day’s golf for members and visitors alike, serving a delightful cream tea at the halfway house.

The winning team with 81 points was Chriss Read and two visitors, Jacqui Richards and Jenny Hay. Angela Cook, Joan Jenkinson and visitor J Sargison were the leaders in the clubhouse for most of the day, but were pipped into second place with 77.

In third place were the all-visitor team of Jane Cornelius, Marilyn Slater and Judie Barton-Hill with 76 and fourth place, again all visitors, were Pauline Thorogood, June Mills and Jane Clark with 74. There were three twos all won by visitors, Sue Slade, June Mills and Elizabeth Sloman.

Lastt week saw the first of the weekend open competitions at Wedmore and despite a good smattering of visitors, it was home players who dominated the prizes.

An exception to this was Arthur Morton from Tiverton, who took third place in Division 2 with 37 points. Runner-up on countback was Dale Worthington, with John Sims taking the divisional prize with 38 points.

There was a similar outcome to Division 1 with Joe Joyce from Worlebury in third on 38 points, just losing out to Tom Smith on the same score. Sean Gray came in with 39 to win the division, only just failing to retain the trophy he won last year. This year that went to Tim Harris, also with 39, which equated to just two over gross.

In the ladies, there was a tie for second place with two players both on 31 points with Cathy Olive just beating Chris Simpson on countback. Clear winner of the trophy though was Dawn Chadwick, five points ahead of the rest on 36.

The ladies’ own competition earlier in the week had been another Stableford. In a close finish, Alison Dodkin parred the last hole to edge out Cathy Olive on countback after both scored 39 points.

This was three better than third placed Wendy Lucas, with Liz Hill just beating Linda Roberts on countback for the final prizes, both scoring 34 points.

Two competitions in one weekend was a struggle for some, resulting in a low turnout for the monthly medal. It was good for the Vowles family with James on 69, beating brother Rich to win Division 1 with Chris Norris in third.

Best score of the day was Malcolm Tanner on 65, winning Division 2, ahead of John Sims and Roger Griffin. Division 3 was won by Robin Knight with 68, ahead of David Poyner and the final Vowles, father John.

The seniors are still going well in the inaugural year of the Avalon Seniors League. Although still early days, their 5-0 win over Wheathill during the week was sufficient to take them into first place in their division.

Many sports celebrities from a variety of sporting backgrounds graced the greens of Brean Golf Club for its annual sports celebrity am charity tournament.

This was the 26th staging of the popular event which saw 25 teams of four compete for the Tom Childs Memorial Trophy.

This year, the players were raising money for two good causes with The Wooden Spoon Charity being added to the events’ long standing beneficiary, The Injured Jockeys Fund.

Former England and British Lion hooker Mark Regan MBE, led the celebrities taking part in the day and he was joined by Somerset cricketers Pete Trego and Max Waller.

Radio Bristol’s ex-footballer Geoff Twentyman and his former Bristol Rovers team mate Tony Pounder, represented football, while Speedway’s Grand Prix race director Phil Morris was joined by referee Ronnie Allan.

A sprinkling of PGA golf professionals and National Hunt jockeys also joined up with teams for an enjoyable afternoon on the superbly prepared course.

At the end of the day, The Injured Jockeys Fund took away more than just the money raised for them as the team they entered scooped the winning prize. Led by the charity’s vice-chairman Jonathan Powell, his team comprising of ex-jockey and now racehorse trainer Anthony Honeyball, Roy Wilfort and Francesco Gregorace, carded an impressive 91 points for a one-point winning margin.

Runners-up were the Brean quartet led by club captain Andy Thomas, along with Roger Vaughan, John Mardon and Aaron Puddy.

No other team reached the 90-point mark with 87 being good enough for the PKF Francis Clark team led by Max Waller to secure third spot. Waller played superbly and he was ably backed up by his team of Martin Rogers, Colin Knight and Richard Hussey.

A countback was required to decide the final two prizes with three teams ending on a score of 84. Fourth place was awarded to the team led by National Hunt jockey Tom O’Brien from Phillip Hobbs Sandhill Stables, including Tim Dennis, Saul Woods and Richard White.

They had the better back nine to relegate Tony Pounder’s AA Flooring team of Brian Read, Jeff Read and Paul Tomlinson into fifth place, with the Sport Associates team led by Mark Regan just missing out on the prizes.

Once all the monies had been collected, organiser Julie Brown was delighted to announce that £4,747.90 had been raised for the two charities. Julie said: “A big thank you goes out to the celebrities, all the teams who participated and the companies who kindly supported the event and helped make it the success it was.”

The second staging of the Boom Boom Cup, in memory of former member Keith Porter, was played at Brean.

The weather was kind and the course excellent for the 20 teams taking part to remember their good friend who left us far too soon.

The Texas scramble event was always one of Keith’s favourites, giving him the opportunity to boom the driver out there and this format has been adopted for this event.

The inaugural winners of Steve/Paul Jones and Steve/Alec Bateman were back to defend their title and came close to doing just that. In the end they had to admit defeat by 0.5 of a stroke to Roger and Jenny Vaughan, along with Chris Fairchild and Gordy Wheelaghan as they scored an impressive 55.2.

The Jones/Bateman finished second ahead of Nigel Hodges, Graham Foy, Eamonn Wynne and Jordan Harris who posted a score of 55.9. The final prize on offer went to the self-proclaimed dream team consisting of captain Andy Thomas, Stuart Wills, Martyn Cahill and Paul McLanaghan, but they were a little way back on 56.5.

Following an away whitewash defeat last weekend at the hands of Cricket St Thomas, the Avalon League Division 2 side had the chance for immediate revenge when they faced the same opposition at home.

They ran out victors in the game by 3.5 to 1.5 in the damp conditions to collect nine league points overall. The wins were gained by Pete Barton/Dan Broom, Russell Shaw/ Leighton Jenkins and Andy Thomas/Murray Parsons, with Stu Wills and Matt Shaw halving.

At the same time, the Avalon League Division 5 side made the short hop to Weston to play a league match. The team unfortunately returned defeated with just half a point to their name which was gained by the Chris Fairchild/Mike Carter pairing, with all the other close games going the way of the hosts.

Stewart Garrett was the winner of the Super Series round played back at Brean on a busy Sunday for all. He carded 41 points to win by one from a duo on 40. Trevor Pitt won a countback with the better back six to claim the runners-up spot ahead of Tony Groves.

Ian Miller entered the midweek Stableford for the first time and promptly romped to a four-point victory. His 43 points, which also saw a shot deducted from his handicap, finished well clear of CJ Organ, who ended up second. He had to win a back nine countback with Kevin Davies though, after they both handed in 39 point cards.

When the main day and the alternate day scores were combined, Sue Wright was declared the winner of the ladies’ June Stableford. She beat captain Suzanne Hatfield by one point, with Lesley Millard finishing third.