San Miguel Golf Society

The best turnout of the year so far saw 52 members and seven guests arrive at La Finca to take on a course that seems to prove tougher each time we play it.

Whilst the front 9 was not overly difficult, the back 9 was set up very long with many of the yellow tee boxes just a few metres ahead of the whites.

On some holes, such as the stroke index 18 the 12th and following par 3, which also had the flag right at the back of its very long green, this turns them in to very different beasts. Quite clearly from the results posted the course favoured the longer hitters and better players, with improvements in the winning scores apparent between bronze and silver categories and silver and gold. Only Mark Preston really took control of the course and his round, scoring a superb 39 points, some 6 ahead of the chasing pack.

On an unfortunately sombre note, a number of SMGS senior members made the trip to Pilar de la Horadada on Tuesday to attend the funeral service for Brian Staines, a member of many years standing, and to give support to his wife Jenny. Brian will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

La Finca winning results, by category and in reverse order, were the following:

Bronze Category: 5th Mike Inns (25), 4th Ian Parkinson (27 on CB), 3rd Ken Flaherty (27 on CB), 2nd Norman Padmore (28) and 1st Brian Butler with 30.

Silver Category: 5th Russ Bond (29), 4th Hugh Reilly (30 on CB), 3rd Adrian Roberts (30 on CB), 2nd Mike Kaylor (31 on CB) and 1st Steve Hart, also with 31.

Gold Category: 5th Simon Speak (31), 4th Norman Cahill (32), 3rd Mark Russell-Smith (33 on CB), 2nd Mike Leonard (33 on CB) and 1st, with easily the day’s best score, Mark Preston with 39 points.

Nearest the pins (sponsored by Mick Roscoe’s The Property Shop): Hole 3 Gordon Meikle, Hole 6 Tony Smale, Hole 13 Ken Hearns, Hole 16 Mike Inns.

Abacus (sponsored by Mike Kaylor): Ray Smithers

Best Guest Winner and Runner-up: Geoff Philips (28 on CB) and Denis Ryan (28 on CB) respectively.

Our thanks go to all La Finca staff for their contribution to a very enjoyable day

Next be we will be at Las Ramblas, then on following weeks at Hacienda de Riquelme and Altorreal.

Keep up to date with all SMGS matters by logging on to our website www.smgs.org or simply give Captain Tony Smale a call on 628 227 687.