Derbyshire on top as Irish twin club match back at last
AFTER the trials and tribulations of the last two years, Ashbourne Golf Club in Derbyshire were delighted to welcome their counterparts from Ashbourne County Meath, in the Republic of Ireland for a weekend of friendly competitin.
The weather was largely kind and much banter and a few drinks were exchanged around the golf.
And, after a four-year wait, the local club were able to reclaim the Ashbourne Trophy.
Leading 7.5-2.5 after Saturday’s four balls, the Sunday four ball players did not disappoint, winning 6-4 for an impressive final result of 13.56.5.
County Meath will have the chance to win the trophy back on their own territory next year, all being well.
Particularly pleasing for the club was the involvement of so many new and younger members over the weekend, both as players in the match and as part of a 60-strong group which sat down for dinner at the club on the Saturday evening.
Club captain Barrie Ritchie was the proud recipient of the Ashbourne Trophy on Sunday afternoon and thanked all those who had assisted in organising and preparing for the weekend for all their efforts, as well as those who had played in the teams.
The whole weekend was a real team effort, reflecting the positive and welcoming atmosphere at the club.
THE most notable performances as the club’s men’s competition season got into full swing in May were from Ian Ward, who bagged 44 points in the May Day Bank Holiday Stableford and a four under par nett 67 in the May Medal to beat Ross Forbes, who started like a train with birdies on the first two holes.
notable scores were from Sean Fernihough, who had four birdies in his nett 68 in the first division of the Bank Holiday Medal, Andrew Dutton with a nett 68 in the third division of the May Medal and Paul Padden, who had reason to rue a quadruple bogey eight on the final hole of his round in division two of the same competition with a nett 72 which included three birdies. SCORES:
May BH Stableford, Division 1: Steve Smith 38pts Mark Knight 37, Ken Mckeown 35.
Division 2: Arnie Hackett 36, Stuart Smalley 35, Niall Simmons 34.
Division 3: Ian Ward 44, Peter Lane 39, John Leedham 39.
May BH Medal, Division 1: Sean Fernihough 68, Ryan Overton 71, Will Austin 73.
Division 2: Eric Cashmore 69, George Ditchfield 70, David Nash 70.
Division 3: David Branson 70, Howard Frost 70, Phil Green 72.
May Medal, Division 1: Ross Forbes 67, Paul Bebbington 70, Nick Hamblin 70.
Division 2: Anthony Bates 71, Paul Padden 72, Mark Powell 73.
Division 3: Andrew Dutton 68, Connor Hodgkinson 69, Ian Ward 72.
Irish Weekend 4 ball better ball: 1 Stuart Cooper and Mark Burford 46 points, 2 Martin Murphy and Mark Beresford 45 points, 3 Peter Lane and Niall Simmons 45 points.
● THE club will be hosting a team charity event run by Ashbourne Rotary Club in aid of the air ambulance and other local charities on June 10.
There are a couple of morning tee times left and any golfers interested in entering a team of four should contact John Griffiths on 01335 343963.