Cott make hot start in Victor Hurdle defence
JOHN NICHOLSON reports from the greens of East Yorkshire
LESS than one month after Cottingham Parks successfully retained their lockdown-delayed H&DGA Victor Hurdle title in a cliffhanger, the new season has got underway with the holders already demonstrating their intent in ensuring that the trophy remains at the Woodhill Way club for a third consecutive season.
After Rounds One and Two at Sutton Park and Withernsea, Cottingham jointly lead the standings in company with Hessle on 125.
Hull, who had been Cottingham’s chief protagonist last season, missing out on a share of the Victor Hurdle title by a single shot, occupy third place, a stroke shy of the two front runners.
The start of the new season proved to be a lucrative one for Burstwick professional Luke Bell who picked up the leading professional’s prize at both Sutton and Withernsea as well as being amongst the better ball prizes at Withernsea with partner T. Bailey.
At both Sutton Park and Withernsea better ball scores in double figures under par were required to top the standings.
At the East Hull municipal course Hessle’s Andrew Dibnah (9) and partner Dusty Miller (18) just edged the honours on a count back, scoring 20 on the back six, denying Cave Castle’s Richard Bird and Phil Nolan, both teams finishing on 10-under-par 60.
At Withernsea it was Hull Golf Club’s Jeff Slade (8) and Paul Sullivan (15) who were on fire, posting an 11-under-par 61 to deny the home club pairing of Martin Thurkettle and Neil Baxter by a shot.
Slade and Sullivan had five threes in a row, including two nett eagles, as they made the turn in 29.
On the run for home the best they could count on the penultimate hole was Sullivan’s nett bogey five which could have been costly, but the 15 handicap player redeemed himself on the final hole signing for a birdie three that saw them into the winner’s enclosure.
H&DGA - Leading scores from Rd 1 at Sutton Park: 60 D. Miller & A. Dibnah (Hessle), R. Bird & P. Nolan (Cave Castle), 61 P. Ashton & J. Crichton (Cottingham), 62 J. Hanson & S. Pearson (Hornsea), 64 R. Logan & D. Mitten (Cottingham), M. Bird & M. Duggleby (Cottingham).
Leading Professional: 66 Luke Bell (Burstwick).
Rd 2 at Withernsea: 61 P. Sullivan & J. Slade (Hull), 62 M. Thurkettle & N. Baxter (Withernsea), 64 N. Giblin & D. Coggin (Springhead Park), L. Bell & T. Bailey (Burstwick), M. Bird & A. Birch (Cottingham), 65 L. Newman & H. Hussain (Springhead Park).
Leading Professional: 64 Luke Bell (Burstwick).
Victor Hurdle - Positions after Round 2: 1st= Hessle & Cott Parks 125, 3rd Hull 126, 4th Cave Castle 127, 5th= Hornsea & Withernsea 128, 7th Burstwick 130, 8th Hainsworth 131, 9th Springhead Park 132, 10th Ganstead Park 134, 11th Beverley 135, 12th Sutton Park 136.
The EYLWGA got its 2020-21 alliance season underway with its customary Pro/am, this year hosted by Ganstead Park.
It was Beverley Golf’s professional Richard Pace who shone with a double success, firstly guiding his team of three Beverley ladies to success in the Pro/am section with a score of 137, this after a count back when their back nine of 67 proved decisive.
Pace then shared top individual honours alongside Snainton’s Alex Belt, both players returning threeunder-par scores of 69.
Ganton’s assistant professional Olly Adamson continued his recent run of good form, posting a 70 to take third spot.
Pace’s victorious ladies team comprised Liz Hodgson, Lynne
Bray and Jane Myers.
Losing out on the count back were the team of Forest Park ladies led by Cottingham Park’s assistant professional Will Webster.
The next EYLWGA event is the Matchplay with Rounds 1 and 2 being hosted by Filey on October 5 with the semi-finals and finals at Fulford one week later.
EYLWGA Pro/am Results at Ganstead Park G.C: Team Competition - 1st. 137 (B9-67) Beverley & East Riding (Richard Pace, Liz Hodgson, Lynne Bray & Jane Myers): 137 (B9 -70) Forest Park (Will Webster, Mary Stephenson, Maggie Stockdale & Sam Beattie); 138 (B9-66) Driffield (Cobie Atkin, Tina Fethon, Barbara Brown & Christine Atkinson-dell); 138 (B9-70) Ganton (Olly Adamson, Louella Hitchcock, Sharon Clipperton & Penny Hepworth); 139 (B9-67) York (Tom James, Judith Twist, Judy Baines & Gay Enos).
Leading Professionals: 69 Richard Pace (Beverley), Alex Belt (Snainton), 70 Olly Adamason (Ganton), 71
Will Webster Cottingham Parks), Gareth Traynor (Oakdale).