Simon wins the Presidents Trophy at Worlebury

THE Trounsen Trophy, a long standing Somerset Golf Union competition, was held at Worlebury for the second year running after Clevedon had to withdraw.

Twenty teams of four competed, with the top three scores in each team counting towards the trophy. Although it was warm and sunny, a stiff breeze together with tricky pin positions set by head greenkeeper Tim Needham, tested the competitors to the full. The course bared its teeth and only five out of 80 played below their handicap.

Player of the day was Worlebury’s Simon Dempsey, who won the Presidents Trophy with the best nett. Playing off one, his gross 68, nett 67 was a brilliant performance and the best score in both formats.

He was ably supported by Jim Skinner, a last minute replacement, who recorded a fine 68 nett to put Worlebury B in a strong position to take the trophy, but their team mates failed to capitalise and they finished equal third on 216.

Burnham & Berrow, with three ex-Worlebury members in their ranks came through to take the trophy with a score of 212, pipping Worlebury A by two shots. Burnham were represented by Neil Darby, Adrian Deakins, Chris Hll and Martin Wilkins. Worlebury A were represented by Alex Winn, Josh Freeman, Tony Westren and Pete Gilpin. With Dempsey taking the nett prize, Deakins was awarded the gross one with a score of 72.

Winning captain, Neil Darby, in being presented with the Trounsen Trophy by Somerset Golf Union president Brian Evans, thanked the SGU representatives who organised and ran the day and paid tribute to the quality of the course, particularly the greens which he opined had improved a great deal in recent years.

The WD Payne Flag Cup is one of Worlebury’s premier competitions. Competitors play a full round and any shots left on their handicap are used to go down the first again.

The winner is the one who gets furthest round the course. Flags are planted at the point when the surplus shots have been used up. The winner was Danny Marshall, who pipped his usual golfing partner, Simon Gilpin, into second place.

Danny, with five shots in hand, played his tee shot on the second to lift the cup, while his competitors finished in varying positions on the first.

Ross Coyne was third, Dean Nute fourth and Ben Dolbear fifth. Simon Dempsey continued his fine form, his 69 being the best gross score of the day

Left to right: Worlebury club captain Paul Gardiner, Adrian Deakins, Neil Darby, Brian Evans, Simon Dempsey, Josh Freeman and Alex Winn.

THE Weston ladies pairing of Jade Cope and Glenda Latham played in the final of the Bristol & District LGA scratch foursomes.

Playing at Bristol and Clifton, the Weston girls got off to a wonderful start against a pair from Knowle, building an impressive lead four up on the ninth.

The two teenagers from Knowle fought back, but Jade and Glenda held on to win on the 17th. Barbara Cuff, chairman of the BDLGA presented the trophy.

The ladies’ summer fours knockout was won by Pat Murray and Zena Balcombe. They were up against strong opponents, Sue Andow and Di Brown and the match was secured on the 18th green.

The medal saw a fine win for Zena Balcombe with 76, closely followed by Wendy Thomas (77) and Kath Farrant (84).

Weston hosted the ladies’ County Rogers Cup final when Lansdown Golf Club beat Taunton & Pickeridge 4&3.

Weston juniors won 3-2 at Farrington and halved their match against neighbours Worlebury.

A team from the oldest golf club in the UK, the Royal North Devon, enjoyed two rounds of golf in wonderful weather against a Weston team.

Played over two rounds, a four-ball betterball in the morning and greensomes in the afternoon, the result was a halved match and a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Barbara Cuff, Weston captain Tessa Williams, Glenda and Jade.

Pat Murray and Zena Balcombe.

THERE was a large field at Wedmore as the ladies held their open bowmaker, when all teams were required to include at least one guest player.

As it turned out, this produced a close finish as well as some excellent scores. Fifth place went to Jane Wright from Enmore, Di Walker from Weston and Jean Booth from Burnham, teamed with Deidre Wheadon, who finished with 86 points.

This was one point less than Eileen Gillibrand, Judy Brooking-Clark playing with Diane Ramsey and Glynis Slater from Wells, who took fourth.

Katy Lane, also from Wells, with the local threesome of Wendy Lucas, Jenny Cornwell and Carol Pinks took third place with 88 points, which left two teams tied at the top with 89 points.

Countback determined that the winners were Moira Paish and Ann Tancock from Weston, with locals Eunice Bond and Vera Ireland, who just edged out Lesley Moore and Kath Shiells from Farrington, with their Wedmore players Carol Lewis and Aileen Robertson.

The Wells pairing of Diane Ramsey and Glynis Slater had featured earlier in the week when they beat the Wedmore team of Cathy Olive and Ann Adams in the final of the Centenary Plate, a county-wide KO foursomes competition.

After a bright start, the Wedmore pair fell behind in the middle of the round and were not quite able to fight back in a disappointing finish to a nonetheless successful campaign.

The weekend saw the 14th holding of the Wedmore Ryder Cup between teams led by professional Nick Pope and former club champion John Russell.

After three days of intense competition at Lanhydrock, Nick Pope’s team reversed last year’s disappointing form to claim a convincing victory and level the series at seven wins each.

Photo shows prizewinners at Wedmore ladies’ open bowmaker receiving their prizes from captain Ange Webber and event organiser Ann Adams.

THE second annual Somerset Rebels golf day held at Brean Golf Club proved to be another great success.

Brean’s PGA professional and director of golf Andrew March, who is a long-standing fan of the shale sport, and his assistant Jordan Jones, who used to work at the Oaktree venue, were again the driving forces behind the event.

It was very well supported with almost 70 golfers taking part as well as former riders, club officials and many fans taking part.

The winning quartet were Andy Thomas, Stuart Wills, Martyn Cahill and Paul McLanaghan with 88 points. Second place went to a team led by Brean captain Paul Jones with 86 points. He was joined by his brother Steve, Pete Barton and Phil Hodgson.

Rob Nigh, from Somerset team sponsors, Cases Ltd, Tony Manlow, Mark Blackwell and Jordan Blackwell helped themselves to third place on 85 points.