Taylor wins at Burnham

BURNHAM & Berrow held its junior championship and this was followed by the annual presentation of trophies.

One young man stood out, winning the championship and three other trophies. Taylor Stote, who plays off a handicap of six, won the Gordon Wilcox Trophy for the lowest gross championship score and also collected the Spring and Autumn Cups and the Hatcher Cup.

Taylor, aged 13, attends Kings College, Taunton, and plays for Somerset Under 14s. He will be captain of the Under 14s next year. Thomas Barker won the Summer Cup and Peter Faragher the Crook Trophy.

Miles Richardson recorded the best nett score in the junior championship, with Arthur Dickson-Bell runner-up and Past Captain’s Trophy winner.

Taylor Stote with his haul of trophies.

THE annual award ceremony for all of this year’s cup winners took place night at Worlebury Golf Club.

These were presented by Andy Nicholl, for the juniors and respective captains Kevin Pendergast for the seniors, Sylvia Cook for the ladies section and Pete Nuttall for the men’s awards, with a speech from the most successful junior this year Jack Partridge, and club champion Simon Dempsey, who also addressed the gathering.

There was a trophy day competition held on the same day. The winners on the day were - Division 1: Dave Mellor +4;, Ken Hanson +4, Steve Taylor +4. Division 2: Rob Clarke-Hall +7; Kelvin Betts +4; Mike Knight +4. Division 3: Chris Taylor +6; Dave Blackhurst +6; Andrew Ullyott +3.

The seniors held a monthly Stableford and unfortunatly picked the worst conditions of the week. However, Brian Mathews didn’t let it affect him recording a superb 41 points to win Division 1 by seven points,. Gerry Miles was second on 34, with Mike Parfitt on 33 in third.

The second division was a bit closer, with Ken Lohmann recording the best score of 31 in first place, followed by Colin Johnson on 29 and Barrie Hodson on 28.

WITH the competition season coming to a close for the winter, Weston Golf Club captains Mark Short and Carol Harris selected their teams for the annual Ryder v Solheim challenge, one of the last mixed competition events of the year.

The men’s Ryder team won the competition, fielding a strong team of players for this friendly, but competitive matchplay event.

Weston seniors 6-6-6 competition is supposed to be one of the more entertaining events of the year. However, for the 22 hearty souls who braved incessant rain, wind and mist, it was a battle to get round a wet course.

It turned out to be a close-run contest, with the leading team scoring a creditable 62 points to win on countback.

Results: Colin Dummett, Jim Ness & Nick Bohin 62; Robin Webb, Tony Barry & Brian Whiddett 62; Allan Tucker & Ian Freeman 60; David Andow, Nigel Jillings & Dave Snowdon 58; Rob Yeomans & Terry Holden 57; Mike Hill, Ray Chambers & Mo Sweeney 57; Tony Cooksley, John Atherton & Chris Kelly 57.

Lady captain Carol Harris congratulates club captain Mark Short and presents him with the commemorative golf club.

LAST week’s seniors AGM at Wedmore Golf Club was more significant than usual, as it saw the retirement of Geoff Lunt after 14 years as section secretary.

Geoff is the only senior who knows every single member and is equally known and feared by each one as well and his retirement leaves a huge hole.

Indeed, his departure has left such a gap that an extra committee member has been drafted in to help out. New captain Paul Burkhill should have few qualms as he takes over from Peter Laney.

He certainly had no problems in the annual captain v vice-captain match which precedes the meeting. His side romped home by 474-439 to receive the new trophy kindly donated by Lunt. Best pair of the day were Mike Munns and Philip Wren, who scored 38 points.

The inaugural holding of the Olive Bowl is an individual Stableford competition for a trophy donated by outgoing captain Cathy Olive. For a long while it looked as though she might win her own trophy, but eventually fell one point short. The winner was Vera Ireland, whose 37 points was matched by Eunice Bond, but managed to win on countback over the last six holes.

The club Stableford saw some great scores, most notably from Ian Elkins who scored 46 points to win Division 3, chased home by Kevin Osman and Nigel Young who both scored 41.

Division 1 was equally competitive with Geoff Fisher going round in 73 shots to score 44 points, four ahead of both John Wormald and Pip Nichols. The scores were slightly lower, but the competition even tighter in Division 2, won on countback by Dave King with 39 points, equalled by both Mike Munns and Richard Tye with another five players just one point back. Desiree McGowan was the best lady in a small field.

Finally, the club captains team beat the vice-captain’s by 11 matches to seven in the season finale.

Retiring secretary Geoff Lunt is flanked by outgoing and incoming captains, Peter Laney and Paul Burkhill.

PAUL Jones and Matt Haskins both topped the 40 point mark on a day of low scoring in the John Smiths Trophy at Brean.

After everyone had completed their rounds, they all gathered in the clubhouse for the blind pairs draw made by club captain Stewart Garrett.

Steve Foy had the best round of the day with 44 points, with Haskins, Steve Mason and Ian Adams all had 42. Foy unfortunately drew out a low score putting him out of the running for the trophy, but when Haskins and Jones were drawn together their 82 point total proved to be a winning score.

Four pairs tied on 77 for second spot with Dave Lockwood and Brian Read second on countback. The Kevin Davies /Barrie Tucker, Jason Kidley /Ian Adams and Dave Bradley /Roger Phillips combinations took the next positions.

Barrie Tucker claimed another seniors’ win when his nett 68 won the November medal. He finished clear of Tony Richards and Roger Phillips.

Ken Ponter, Charlie Hastie and Tucker were the winning trio in the seniors’ Winter League bowmaker. They ended up with a four stroke winning margin after they combined to score 134. Runners-up were Roy Snell, Wally Pape and Pete Douglas on 138, while Mike Haskins, Dai Wood and Barrie Yearsley were third with 140.

The first of Brean’s Christmas competitions saw the first seven holes being played on temporary greens. Former club captain Steve Bateman paired up with the captain-elect Brian Read to return a stunning 49 points.

They ended the day as victors by three points ahead of two pairs on 46. Eamonn Wynne and Russell Shaw took second on countback, ahead of Nigel Ellis and Steve Foy.

In the second event, 44 points was the winning score for Dave Barthram and Mike Hurman, as they secured a one point win over Wally Pape and Tony Roper.