Simon shines in the wet at Worlebury

WORLEBURY Golf Club’s premier competition, the Club Championship was held last weekend in contrasting weather conditions.

Simon Dempsey, a three handicapper and regular player in the club first team took the honours on both the net and the gross scores and becomes this year’s club champion.

The course was in fantastic shape and Saturday served up a glorious warm summer day with a slight breeze, much to the liking of the majority of the entrants.

The leader after the first day was Matt Blackman, who shot a 78 to give himself a 66 net score, with Harry Rowlands close behind him on 67, and Richard Brown one shot further back on 68 in third.

The weather on the second day could not have been more in contrast, with high winds, driving rain and an alarming drop in temperature. Many players struggled to put a round together in the conditions, but Dempsey placed out of the top 20 from day one with a 75 (net 72), battled the weather to return a fantastic one under gross score of 69 to take the title.

Results - day one: Matt Blackman 78 (66); Harry Rowlands 72 (67); Richard Brown 86 (68). Day two: Simon Dempsey 69 (66); Gary Williams 86 (69); Adrian Wait 81 (71).

It is also noteworthy that the new drainage system put in under the greens this year, with the exception of a couple of low lying corners worked well and kept the course in play for the entire day.

The seniors played an away fixture at Tall Pines and came back with an excellent 4-3 victory, with John Taylor getting nearest to the pin again.

The Avalon team entertained Vivary Park and avenged the away defeat earlier in the season with a 3-2 win

The first team had a match at Clevedon and came away with a creditable draw, but lost their home fixture to a strong Kendleshire side, going down 4-1

The seniors played at Minehead and came away with a great 5.5-1.5 win, John Taylor won the nearest the pin competition.

Worlebury seniors’ monthly Stableford - Division 1: Alan Hartree 42; Frank Neill 38; James Eleanor 38. Division 2: Frank Woolman 41 pts; Colin Goddard 41; Brian Hollister 40.

The Jubilee Cup net competition play-off was won by Clive Wilson, who defeated competition gross winner Rob Berry in an 18-hole decider.

? IN POOR conditions, Weston’s Avalon B team captained by Steve Corrick won their first match of the season away to Brean.

First out were Graham Hicken and Tim James who prevailed one up. Andy Smith and John Lancaster fought well, but were edged out 2&1. Jack Radcliffe partnered by Kenny Dalton, despite going three down, won their match 4&3 with a storming comeback.

Kenton Simpson and Alan Harris went down 4&3 leaving the match all square. Captain Corrick birdied 14 to level the match after being three down and then won 15 to go one up.

The next two holes were halved and with Chris Stephens from Brean chipping stone dead for a par on 18. It was left to veteran Gary Homer to sink a six footer, also for par to win the match. Weston gained revenge for the 3-2 reverse at home by winning this one 3-2.

Special mention goes to Andy Smith who holed in one on the second.

Weston ladies held a nine-hole qualifier prior to their 36 hole Putting Championship, which was won by Wendy Homer (70 shots) on countback from June Phillips, with Carol Menzies in 3rd with 71 shots.

The nine-hole qualifier was won by Linda Papworth with 23 points, followed by Julie Ward and Di Walker each with 19.

Weston Captain’s Day results: A Hirst and B Hurrell 51 pts; C Hallworth, D Poundsberry 51; N Watkins, J Rimmer 51; B Swan, W Thomas 50; A Edwards, S Collier 50; S Wyllie, R Giles 50; A Tucker, T Marnock 49.

Nearest the pins: B Bates, I Hudson, Z Balcombe, S Irlam.

? JIM McLauchlan leads the way after the first round of the seniors’ Captains Cup at Brean.

His nett 68 was two ahead of the chasing pack. Runner-up was Pete Douglas on 70, while Jeremy Savill took third on 72.

In the June seniors’ medal, 68 was again the winning score. Mike Allen was declared the victor after a superior back nine holes with Jim Wotton having to settle for second place. Third place went to Wally Pape on 71 on countback from Keith Saunders.

Brean suffered their first home defeat of the season in Division 6 of the Avalon League. Weston made the short trip to extract revenge for their defeat in the recent reverse fixture, winning by the same 3-2 margin as the first game.

Simon Williams took maximum points in the latest round of the Super Series. He totalled 42 points to win by two from John Mardon in both Division 1 and also overall.

Division 2 was won by John Owen on 37 points as he recorded his first success since re-joining Brean. The runner-up was Nigel Hodges on 36.

On July 7, the Srixon and Cleveland Tour Tech truck will be visiting Burnham Golf Range. This will have all the latest equipment on board and experts can fully custom fit clubs on the day.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Burnham Golf Range on 01278 787979.

? A BUSY week at Wedmore started with the senior ladies’ open bowmaker.

Wedmore teams took most of the prizes and the visitors’ prize went to Brenda Michael and Debbie Svenson-Taylor from Farringdon, teamed with Loes ce Klevvers from Orchardleigh, whilst an all-Farrington team of Gill Russell, Jane Richardson and Peta Romaine claimed fifth prize.

The top place was contested by three Wedmore teams all of whom scored 80 points. Third place went to Winnie Burkhill, Janis Lawrence and Maggie Dommett. Runners-up were Shirley Restorick, Ann Search and Esme Gulliver, while the winners by the smallest margin were Hazel Gough, Nesta Hathaway and Vera Ireland.

The seniors’ held their invitation day. Squally showers kept scores low until a burst of good scores came in from the later starters. Third place went to Bill and Trevor Griffin (Yeovil) with 40 points, one point behind Peter Bendell and his guest from Long Sutton, Nigel Griffiths. The clear winners with an amazing 44 points were Ivor Monelle and Alan Wignall from Clevedon.

The ladies returned to action for their monthly medal which incorporated the Summer Bowl for the best gross score.

It also incorporated their inaugural putting competition which was won by captain Jane Hewitt with 29 putts. The Summer Bowl went to Sue Tarry whose gross 84 was also good enough to give her first place in Silver Division. Second and third places in this went to Cathy Olive and Jane Hewitt.

First place in Bronze Division, and best nett score of the day, was Margaret Rogers with a nett 70. This was three shots clear of Sue Painter who just beat Sarah Matthews on countback.

Saturday was the club Stableford with captain Bob Jones setting the pace with 45 points to win Divison 2, ahead of Chris Norris and Rob Davis. Geoff Poole had the same score in Division 3, winning from Steve Munckton and Pete Beavan.

Graham Sugg (40) won Division 1 on countback from John Wormald with Rich Vowles third. Best ladies’ scores were Val Webber (35) and Dawn Chadwick (34).

? THE Gertrude Johnson mixed foursomes medal was won by Lynn and Dave Pope with a remarkable net 66. Runners-up with 70.5 were Emma Limer and Russell Bourton.

The winner of the Daisy Payne Flag competition was Emma Limer with a net 70. Amanda Cook was second, also with a net 70.

The ladies’ weekend medal winner was Maxine Gardiner (69), second was Janice Hartree (71).

The overall winner of the June EWGA medal was Helen Clarke who returned a net 68. Runner-up in the Silver Division was Jane Wakerley (70), followed by Janice Hartree (72). Bronze Division: Jill Hobbs (68); Sue Kinch (72); Trish Smith (73).