Kingsdown hosts day for SOS Kit Aid
Billy Horschel became just the second American to win the BMW PGA Championship after a superb final round at Wentworth.
Horschel carded seven birdies, including a decisive one from two feet on the 18th, to finish 19 under par, a shot ahead of Bath player Laurie Canter, Jamie Donaldson, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The 34-year-old American joins the late Arnold Palmer in winning the European Tour’s flagship event, the seven-time major winner claiming the title at Royal St George’s in 1975.
Aphibarnrat had been the first to set the clubhouse target after covering his first 16 holes in nine under par, only to bogey the 17th after almost hitting his second shot out of bounds. Donaldson birdied the 17th and 18th for a 66 and joined Aphibarnrat in top spot before Horschel birdied the last to edge in front.
The world number 28 appeared to have driven into the ditch which runs through the 18th fairway, but his ball stopped on the grassy bank and, after pitching on to the fairway, he span his third shot to within two feet of the hole.
Canter was unable to find a birdie on the 17th or 18th to force a play-off, the 31-year-old thinning a chip from just short of the green on the 17th and just missing from 15 feet on the last.
■ KINGSDOWN Last Friday saw 144 players assemble at Kingsdown Golf Club for the annual SOS Kit Aid Charity Golf Competition. This is a registered charity aimed at providing rugby kit, which is recycled from schools and rugby clubs, to underprivileged children across the globe.
The event was supported by exprofessional players as well as some who would generously refer to themselves ex-amateur players split into 36 teams.
Pride of place for the day went to the Ventatour Team who managed an impressive 102 points. The individual prize went to Simon Gully with a credible 46 points in team Barry’s Bashers.
Commenting on the event Richard Westaway, the organiser, said: “SOS Kit Aid exists because sport changes lives, our vision is to give all children access to sport.
“Our mission is to recycle sports kit for the benefit of young people in the UK and overseas so they are given a sporting chance and in doing so, reduce the volume of sports kit being dumped into landfill sites.
“We make a positive and tangible impact on youngsters’ lives by giving them the chance to participate in sporting activities; promote social inclusion; and protect the environment.
“With the support of the World Rugby, kit that has been donated by schools, clubs and kit manufacturers is distributed across the UK and the globe. So far more than £6m worth of rugby kit and equipment, which amounts to 700 deliveries has been distributed to 44 countries. Since the charity was set up back in 2001, more than a quarter of a million disadvantaged young people have been able to play rugby in recycled kit provided by SOS Kit Aid.
“Over 250,000 youngsters in 44 developing countries around the world have received quality used and new kit, and there are a further 20 countries on the waiting list
“Thanks to the recycling efforts of volunteers, the charity has diverted more than 250 tons of material from environmentally damaging, scarce UK landfill sites and saved over 1,500 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions.”
Westaway added: “This is an extremely important date in the SOS Kit Aid calendar and we like to thank all our ambassadors, sponsors and supporters and everyone who played and joined in the fun, special thanks to everyone at Kingsdown Golf Club who were fantastic hosts.”
If anybody is interested in getting further information, visit www. soskitaid.com.
■ BATH ladies played in their Autumn Meeting Medal last week. In warm dry conditions, scoring was good with the overall winner and of Division One Stephanie Anderson scoring nett 70, just pipping Helen Oliver and Sandra Notton countback.
Division Two was topped by Louise Blake with nett 71, again just beating Rachel Brown and Anne Hitchin on countback.
Top of Division Three was Anne Love with nett 73, just ahead of Helen Brown and Susan Clamp, who both had nett 75.
On Monday, the seniors played in a three-man Bowmaker Stableford. In fine warm-weather conditions, scoring was excellent with the team of Rob Rixon, Patrick Rogers and John Moore scoring an impressive 87 points. Second on 82 were John O’mara, Chris Waite and Neil Callaway with the team of Richard Morris, Ken Smith and David Ryder third on 81.