Winter league held at Weston

THE first round of the Winter League took place at Weston Golf Club, despite atrocious weather.

With no exceptional scores recorded, it is all to play for in the next two rounds. The leader on 38 points is current vice-captain Roy Schubert, followed closely by Nigel Browne on 37.

New members Eileen and Fred Donbavand have had great start to their year. Eileen was the highest scorer in the ladies’ competition and Fred claimed third place in the latest seniors’ Stableford.

Played in dry, breezy conditions and in spite of recent heavy rainfall, the course was in perfect condition and the greens excellent and true. Scoring was high with five scores over 40 points. Fred came into the clubhouse with 41, captain Brian Whiddett took second place with 42 and the winner was Nick Bohin with an impressive 44.

Challenging conditions resulted in some rather unexciting scores for the ladies’ medal with Tessa Williams in first place with 80 points, closely followed by Julie Ward and Moira Parish.

However, dry weather returned and players recorded some fine scores. Zena Balcombe took first place in the nine-hole competition with Pat Rowlands close on her heels both scoring 18 points. Eileen Donbavand came in with 19 points on Tuesday with Julie Ward a close second on 18.

Thirty-six ladies enjoyed a light lunch following the competition. Lady captain Di Walker launched their weekly weight loss challenge with all proceeds going to the captains’ charity, WestonHospice.

PETER Tomlinson won the monthly medal at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, just edging out Stephen Haines on count back after the pair had tied with net scores of 73.

Marino Griffiths was third with 74 and junior vice-captain Dan Solomon tied fourth with John Whitcutt and Adrian Deakins.

On a day of persistent and often heavy rain, it was a weekend when the unique benefits of the championship links at Burnham, being based on sand, comes into its own.

Most of the competitors struggled in the atrocious conditions, reflected in the higher than usual scores, with John Nuttall winning Division 2 with a nett 78.

The best gross score of the day was returned by club vice-captain and one handicapper Adrian Deakins with a 77. Playing later in the day, in possibly the worst of the conditions, Adrian made it to the turn in one under before turning into the back nine, which was playing straight into the stiff wind and lashing rain.

In better conditions, Tony Pearman won the previous week’s seniors’ Stableford with 38 points, ahead of Bryn Jones (35) and Martin Plant (34).

Players will be hoping for better weather conditions on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the West of England Open Winter Foursomes, with several local pairings still in the hunt for the title.

THE weather was an important factor at Wedmore, while the seniors also had a touch of mystery in their competition.

Some teams were a player short for the bowmaker and therefore were boosted by a mystery player. He clearly played well because both the first two teams were helped by him. In first place were Terry Stew and Phil Rogers with 90 points. James Robertson and Tony Metcalfe came second with 85. The first genuine three-man team came in third when John Russell, John Sim and Barry Stone recorded 84.

Not for the first time, the weather had taken a turn for the, causing the ladies’ four-ball betterball to be reduced to nine holes. There was a tight finish with Sue Hughes and Pauline Warner just getting the better of Caroline Patterson and Joan Peck on countback after both pairs had scored 20 points. Rachel Lockley and Jan Jenkins were a close third with 19 points.

The sun shone brightly for the mixed greensomes, but the effects of the earlier rains were still evident, reducing the playable holes to 15. From a group of players on 34 points, Sue Chambers and Nick Parker claimed third place, beaten on countback by Alison Dodkin and Peter Roberts.

Well ahead of the bunch though with 37 points were the clear winners, Vera Ireland and Jim Dobbs.

Prizewinners from the Wedmore mixed greensomes receiving their prizes.

IT takes a lot to see the course closed sign deployed at Brean Golf Club and this was shown again as the Percy Underwood Trophy went ahead as planned.

The course was very wet underfoot, but the 19 pairs set about the task of securing the silverware in the foursomes Stableford competition. The winning duo were Graham Foy and Steve Jones with an excellent score of 44 points.

They won by three from Steve’s brother Paul and his partner Mo Sanders. The only other pair to top 40 points was Roger Vaughan and Barry Fisher, who took third spot.

Not many players ventured out on to the course for the Winter League round. Despite the wet weather, only one temporary green was in use as the Brean drainage again worked well.

Stewart Garrett totalled an impressive 36 points including the only two of the day, while Gordy Wheelaghan was second with 25.

Mike Allen added victory in the January seniors’ Stableford to his recent medal win to make him the man to beat at present. He carded 39 points to hold a one-point advantage over Pete Douglas in second place. Tony Roper was the third placed finisher with 37 points, being the only other competitor to beat their handicap.

Brean head professional Andrew March enjoyed a top five finish in the Gloucester and Somerset PGA medal at Burnham and Berrow.

Returning to the venue he worked at for 12 years, he shot a five over par 76 on a difficult day for scoring to share fifth place, five strokes behind winner David Dixon from Enmore Park.