Worlebury ladies enjoy busy day on and off the course

It was a busy day for the Worlebury Ladies, with an American greensomes competition followed by captain Michelle James, hosting a bring and buy sale for the club’s charity.

The competition, run over 15 holes, resulted in a narrow win for the pairing of Janet Jamieson and Lynn Pope with 29 points. Captain Michelle, partnering her vice-captain Sue Kinch, were edged out by a single point and took the runners-up position. Angela Bagley and Janet Keight came third, pipping Maxine Gardiner and Sue Sokol on countback, both pairs scoring 27 points.

The bring and buy sale, with a bric-a-brac stall, raffle and lots of delicious home-made cakes on sale, was a resounding success, with £260 being raised for the club charity, Above and Beyond.

The mixed section experienced bright, if blustery conditions, as they held their final winter greensomes qualifier in the build-up to the Philpott Trophy, which will contested in late March.

It was a good day for club captain Paul Lintern, who, partnered by Marnie Sweet, took the honours with 42 points. Sam Hewlett and Darrell James came second with 40.

Three pairs came in with 38 points, but it was Craig Buck and Julie Knight who took the honours on countback from Claire Bayliss and Merv Kinch and Maxine Gardiner and Graham Hewlett.

There was cause for celebration for match and handicap chairman Jim Skinner. A Worlebury member for almost 30 years, Jim has had many close shaves but, until this week, had never savoured the joy of a hole-in-one in his golfing career.

He finally came good, with a beautifully struck eight iron into a strong wind at Worlebury’s short par three, 12th. The achievement was witnessed by his long-suffering golfing partner Pete Wyatt, who has shared Jim’s golfing frustations over many years.

A reasonable February morning with a light breeze and spasmodic sunny spells set the scene for the Weston Seniors three-man Bowmaker.

The conditions, combined with good greens, played into the hands of the lower handicap players, with all of the first three teams largely made up from single figure handicappers.

Winning by seven points was the team of Dave Garrett, Steve Thomas and Steve Corrick with a combined score of 85 points. Second place went to Philip Humphries, Stephen Burrough and Mark Frisby on 78, followed into third spot by Steve Strange, Ron Kelley and John Stokes, whose 76 was decided after a countback.

A bitterly cold east wind wasn’t enough to deter over 100 golfers competing for the first honours board competition of the year. The Bob Riddell Bowl was donated many years ago by the former club secretary.

In foursomes format scoring was tough with no players breaking par. The overall winners were Martyn Forman and Steve Roberts with nett 70.5. Oliver Bliss and Chris Disney took the second slot with 71 and Eddie Langford and Glenn Taylor were third also on 71.

Jerry King and Colin Lawton were fourth and Nick Bohin and Graham Osman fifth, both pairs scoring 72. There were 11 two recorded, showing just how true the greens were running.

The ladies played a nine-hole qualifier on the sunniest Tuesday of the year and the weather was just too good to stop halfway for some of the players.

The winner was Gay Long with an excellent 37 points, followed closely by Lynn Perry also on 37. Carole Menzies took third place with 36 and Glenda Latham and Sally Irlam were fourth and fifth with 34 points decided on countback.

Youth was very much to the fore at the PGA Open Championship at Wedmore, with both winners coming from the junior section.

Sean Gray went round in a gross 74 to score 45 points and take the overall men’s trophy. Ten-year-old Harriett Lockley continued her amazing run of form to take the ladies’ title with 40 points, reducing her handicap to 15.

There were good scores all round with Brian Fry only one point behind Gray to win Division 2 with 44 points, five clear of Marcello di Mascio, who beat Jim Crick on countback.

Danny Guyett won Division 1 with 42 points, two clear of Simon Moore with Jim Dobbs a further shot back in third.

Scores were also good for the ladies, despite a depleted field which saw Janis Lawrence take the runners-up spot with 37 points.

There were more ladies around for the competition on Thursday, but only one managed to beat her handicap. This was Ange Webber who scored 39 points to win by four points from a group of five players, who all finished on 35 points.

Countback decreed the finishing order was Audrey Cowlin as runner-up, Judy Cutter in third followed by Claire Biggs, Shirley Turner and Desiree McGowan.

For those not already sated, there was a final competition with the monthly medal. Josh Barwell and Dom Smith fought out Division 1 with Barwell just getting the better on countback after both scored 66. John Wormald was two back in third place.

Best score of the day was in Division 3 with a 63 from Jay James, which put him seven clear of second placed David Bedford with Pete Beavan a further shot back in third.

There were no outstanding scores in Division 2, but a tight finish with Lyndon Knight just beating Ian Robson on countback after both scored 71. David Coggan was two shots further back in third.

Kevin Davies made it a double win over the weekend as he added the Loxton Trophy to his monthly Stableford win just 24 hours earlier at Brean.

Sunday morning’s shotgun event was a pairs betterball medal with Davies being drawn to play with Matt Shaw. Both players contributed to the winning six under par score, but the highlight of the round was Shaw’s eagle two at the par four 12th hole.

They held a one-stroke advantage over Jason Kidley and Gordon Wheelaghan who posted a 65, 5 under par. Next best in third was a nett 68 from Matt Haskins and Paul McLanagahan as they saw off the challenge, via a countback, of no less than six other pairs who also scored 68.

Davies had the best round of the day in the February Stableford as he took top spot in Division Three. The 20 handicapper was the only player to top the 40 point mark with his card of 41 bringing him a five-point advantage over Marc Birt.

The next best score on the day came from Division 2 victor Scott Lismore. His 39-point effort disappointed a trio of players on 38 who just missed out. Dave Bradley was the best of those three on the back nine as he claimed the runners-up prize.

The lowest winning points total came in the top flight with Roger Vaughan claiming the win after a countback with Russell Shaw after they had both handed in 37 points.

Ian Welch was again in the winning team in the seniors Winter League as he joined forces with Chris Stephens to win the greensomes Stableford. Last time out Welch was a winner, while Stephens ended up second.

Played again over 15 holes, the duo scored an impressive 33 points to win by two from Ken Ponter and Bob Toller. Barrie Tucker and John Sherwood finished third on 30.

In the second helping of seniors Winter League action, the winners were David Benjafield, George Stratford and Mo Sanders. They scored 67 in the three-ball yellow ball event to win by one from Ian Raymond, Pete Douglas and Mike Allen.

Tony Roper was joined by Tuesday’s winning pair Ian Welch and Chris Stephens to score 65 and take third spot.