U’s hero swaps boots for clubs

FORMER Oxford United footballer Steve Jenkins will be battling for top honours with Studley Wood clubmate Will Clark when the Daily Mail Foursomes finals start today. The 51-year-old, who has qualified for the showdown at the Marriott St Pierre alongside some of the country’s best club golfers, was a centre forward during the golden era at the club in the Eighties. He was there when Jim Smith took the side from the third division to the top flight and says he was in awe of stars like John Aldridge and Dean Saunders. He joked: ‘It was good to be there then, but not so good for my footballing career.’ Jenkins will draw on his big-game experience in the finals. He said: ‘It does help. When I used to play against a centre half, no matter how good a game he had, you’d never let them know. It is the same here. If you lose a hole you don’t let him know if he’s hurt you.’ Jenkins added: ‘In figures, 150,000 golfers start off and you’re in the last 16. It’s a serious achievement.’

FINALISTS Men Astbury, Blyth, Boston, Carden Park, Coed-yMwstwr, Copsewood Grange, Douglas Park, East Kilbride, Fulford, Goodwood, Haste Hill, Honiton, Studley Wood, Uttoxeter, West Kent, Westhill.

Women Belton Woods, Blackwood, Chigwell, Crondon Park, Duddingston, Gosforth Park Ladies, Honiton, Kemnay, Kirkintilloch, Leatherhead, Lilley Brook, Morecambe, Oldham, Saline, Worfield, Worthing.