Kingsdown pair in final
The number of pairs that took part in this years R&A Coronation Foursomes were 17,000 from 850 clubs throughout United Kingdom & Ireland.
To qualify for the Grand Final, competitors have had to have won and qualified with enough points to enter a Regional Final, if this is won they are one of 16 pairs of ladies playing in the Grand Final at St Andrews.
The trip includes a two-night stay at the St Andrews Hotel, practice and competition rounds followed by dinner and presentation.
Katie and Andrea won the competition at Kingsdown with 40 points and qualified to enter one of the 16 Regional Finals being held throughout the UK. Chippenham hosted one of these finals and 64 pairs played on Thursday, August 12. The pair won with 36 points at Chippenham and earned their place among the last 16 pairs in the Grand Final at St Andrews.
Katie and Andrea came in with 34 points which placed them seventh, the winning score was 39 points.
It was a fantastic achievement and a wonderful experience and when leaving the Eden Club house on the day of the Grand Final they were recognised by their ladies club Uniforms by a gentleman from Salisbury & South Wilts who said: “Lovely to see a club from Wiltshire being represented at such an event.”
■ LANSDOWN Gloucestershire ended a 42-year drought when they won the English Men’s County finals at Remedy Oak Golf Club. And it came as no surprise that Lansdown’s vice-captain, Ed Butler was in the thick of it.
Following on from his wins at the West of England Open Amateur Championship and the South West Counties Amateur Championship, Butcher was a natural selection for the County Finals squad.
The Gloucestershire team beat Northumberland in a tight final encounter on the last day to clinch the Championship.
The occasion had extra special family significance for Butcher. The last time Gloucestershire won the Championship, way back in 1979, his father Simon, was a member of the squad.
Back at Lansdown, club captain Rod Thomas organised the annual Griffin Outing played this year at Cardiff Golf Club. There was a good turn-out and the weather was glorious all day. After a fierce but friendly competition, the
Griffin Shield was won by Gerald Horsman with 34 points. Alan Veitch came a close second with 33 and Neil Pirie was third with 32.
Last Saturday, the forecast for heavy rain all day proved correct, but a hardy group of members defied the appalling conditions and ventured out to play for the Super Straggler’s Cup. The competition is open to those who have played in the Lansdown Stragglers’ matches throughout the season and the golf is followed by a celebration dinner and prize giving.
The winner of the trophy was none other than Paul Blackmore, captain of the Stragglers’ team, who came in with 36 points, in spite of the weather. Runners-up were Melvyn Britton and Javan Harris with countback needed to separate them after both scored 34.
Other prize-winners were Giles Carre, Andy Gilson and Mike Creamer. Special awards were made to Chuen Lau as Player of the Year, having played eight matches and won six, and Bob Tregunna as the Captain’s Most Valuable Player for always being available to play, even at short notice.
The overall winner of the Midweek Stableford was David Moore with 39 points. Divisional winners were Terry Corbett (33), a point ahead of Roland Jenkins in Division One. David Moore was the winner in Division 2 followed by Mike Martin (35). Malcolm Payne headed up Division Three with 35 with Ron Harris coming second with 34.
■ BATH GOLF CLUB’S ladies played in a Stableford last week. The winner of Division One was Jill Carter with 35 points, one ahead of Samantha Robinson with Alison Rushgrove third on 31. Top of Division Two was Jeannie Willis on 36, again one better than Catherine Hughes, with Deborah Mcardle third on 33.
The overall winner and queen of Division Three was Judith Hellyer after she scored 36, but was yet again just one ahead of Janet Scilly with Rachel Brown third on 34.
The Whittuck Cup was competed for by players with 21-36 handicaps an was won by Ann Cook who beat Lesley Matthews in the final.
The seniors played in the Players Cup and the winner of Division One and the competition was Michael Noakes after his 41 points. That was three better than David Cox who in turn was one ahead of Ian Hull. Top of Division Two was James Dunlop with 39, just ahead of Chris Wait who beat Mark Moorfoot on countback.
On Monday, the seniors played a 4BBB Stableford in pairs, with the best score on each hole to count. In mainly fine conditions, with the
course softened by recent rain, scoring was excellent. The winners, with 45 points, were Chris Buchanjones & Terry Paterson ahead of trio of pairs on 43. Countback declared Roger Payne & Steve Ford were runners-up ahead of Ian Colville & Mark Oliver and Paul Selley & David Bull.
Last Saturday, Bath Nomads held their own Stableford. In poor conditions, with heavy rain soaking all contestants for most of the day, the hardy souls still managed good scores. Top of the leaderboard was Peter Norriss on 39, one ahead of Gary Mcardle with Phil Callan third on 35.