COED-Y-MWSTWR
SOME household names on the Coed-y-Mwstwr scene figured prominently at the top of last week’s Senior Stableford tournament.
It was a case of cream rising to the top, as Richard T Commander took command of the event on a 37-point countback card from three other big guns.
Commander last won back on October 25, and his latest success was on the back of nine pars.
Runner-up Jonny McEachen went birdie on the difficult par-four 12th and got seven pars, but the downside was a blob on number four.
The burden of captaincy has led to David B FordWilliams last tasting victory back in November, and his 37-point score displayed a magnificent seven pars.
He was going well until failing to score on the penultimate hole and a blob on the 14th, led to Philip Davies having to settle for fourth spot.
Fifth-placed Mark Raybould entered the clubhouse with 35 points (four pars) and on the same mark were William Jones and Philip Weston (nine pars, no-return on hole eight).
Four players then finished with 32 points – Ada Asquith, David Holloway, Brian John and Byron Cox.
Wet conditions led to just 32 members teeing it up, and none of them managed to sink a putt for two.
Last Saturday, Coed-yMwstwr staged an England PYO Texas Scramble that was won by Leyton Bennetta, Brian Day, Stephen Hesketh and Barry Lewis.
Their winning score was 58–4.7 = 53.3 with runners up Phil Davies, Jonny McEachen, Mark Phillis and Andrew Pick carding 62-5.4 = 56.6.
Geoffrey P Evans, Dermot Keegan, Stephen McAllen and Stuart Wilson signed for 64-7.3 = 56.7 to secure third spot.
And in fourth place came Charles Caddy, Gareth Jones and Keith Jones courtesy of a score of 679.3 = 57.7 nail par 36 Stableford points last week to take a Balls Competition that doubled up as an Order of Merit event.
A better-back nine score resulted in him mounting the victory rostrum ahead of Tony Jones with Ed Channell just one point in arrears.
Carpenter then moved on to glorious North Devon, accompanying master golfer Colin Rumbelow, in the annual Saunton Seniors event.
Dick Bourne was down to play alongside the charging Springbok, but had to withdraw owing to an Achilles tendon injury.
Carpenter and Rumbelow were looking for a repeat of four years ago when they won the event.
Meanwhile, yesterday (Tuesday) Grove Seniors were contesting a lovely St Valentine’s Day Balls competition. signed for 38 points, Ian Wilson, and he registered six pars.
Last Saturday, the England Stableford contest proved more clear-cut with James McGrath sweeping to victory with a toasty 39 points (birdie on hole 11 and nine pars).
Runner-up Mark Grant shot five pars in 34 points while Gethin Brown bombed 33 points courtesy of two tasty pars.
This weekend sees the continuation of the Winter League with League A table-toppers Donnachie and Paget making it seven straight wins courtesy of an 8 & 6 victory over Luke Foster.
But the match almost ended in disaster for the unbeaten duo, as Paget was so taken aback with the length of a Donnachie drive that he walked into a tree.
Medical staff were called to repair his damaged face, but they soon had their noses in front with three birdies and five pars ending in an eyecatching win.
There were also sound victories in this league for Chris Cotter and grandson Owain Cotter, winning 2 & 1, while veterans Jonny Bugler and Haydn Tallis also won the day.
In League B, match of the day saw captain Neil Channell lean heavily on Nigel Morgan for their latest success.
Morgan was the dominant partner, sinking four sizzling 20-foot putts, to set up a 4 & 3 victory over Dick Evenden and Stanley Locke.
Thomas and Brearly won 4 & 3 while James McGrath and Neil McGrath gained a oneup win over lone gunner Colin Dando. Walker triggered a bright and breezy move.
A crisp Walker pass found top Gunner Poupon, and her assist led to Louise Jones restoring the Bridgend lead.
It was 2-1 to Bridgend at the break and though Howardian equalised, the game seemed to be drifting towards a 2-2 outcome.
But that all changed close to time when the Cardiff side bagged the winner from a short corner ploy.
Bridgend host seventhplaced Dowlais this Saturday in another league fixture.
But Bridgend Seconds got the cold shoulder from Cwmtawe last Saturday through a frozen pitch in South-West Wales.
Next up is a home game on Saturday with Whitchurch Saints Fourths.