Hales clinches title by a single shot
Leigh Hales made a triumphant return to the amateur ranks by claiming the Club Champion title at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Golf Club.
Teenager Millie Thompson, meanwhile, clinched the Ladies Championship honour in emphatic style.
The weekend of July 25/26 saw 171 competitors taking part and, although they were playing on a beautifully presented course, conditions proved incredibly testing as rain lashed the competitors on Saturday and there was a strong breeze the following day.
The standard of golf remained superb and as usual, both the ladies and men played nett and gross competitions over 36 holes, with the lowest totals winning.
Hales, who has spent the last few years plying his trade on the professional circuit, claimed his third title after edging out Jake Bacon by a single shot.
His first round of 76 in wet conditions left him five shots behind overnight leader Bacon. With the second round tee times decided by first round score order, it was Hales who set the clubhouse target after firing a fine score of 68 (-3) for a total of 144.
It left Bacon requiring a 72 to take the title. Agonisingly for the recently joined member though a couple of 3-putts on the final nine holes saw him miss out by the narrowest of margins. Defending champion Lloyd Edwards finished a shot further back in third place. In the nett competition, John Cullinan (h9), won by two shots over second-placed Danny Urquhart.
In the Ladies Championship, Thompson claimed her first title over defending champion Nicola Smith. The ladies nett event was won by Hannah Eves with a total of 145.