Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Kirkham’s superb comeback
Golf round-up WEATHER AND COURSE HELP MAKE CHESTFIELD’S GOLF WEEK A SUCCESS ON ALL LEVELS
Two remarkable second- round performances determined the destination of the Pilgrims and Rogerson Cups at Canterbury on Sunday when the club held their tri-trophy 36-hole tournament.
Liam Kirkham came from eight strokes off the overnight pace to snatch a remarkable victory in the prestigious Pilgrims Challenge Cup (for 0-8 handicaps).
After a first-round net 73, eighthandicap Kirkham found himself way down in 11th place and trailing onehandicap Josh Bristow by a fair distance after Bristow had carded an eagle and five birdies in a net 65.
Starting his second round from the 10th tee, the 24- year- old Kirkham suffered a series of setbacks, dropping five strokes in three holes, including a triple-bogey at the 12th.
He recovered with a birdie at the 13th and dropped only one more shot to turn in 40.
Then, after dropping a shot at both the first and the fifth holes, Kirkham produced a burst of three birdies in a row from the seventh to finish in style and sign for a net 67.
Bristow, meanwhile, just couldn’t make a putt and a four-over 75 meant both men closed on two-under-par 140, with Kirkham gaining the verdict on countback.
An even more impressive comeback saw Kevin Elliott overhaul a nine-stroke first-round deficit to win the Rogerson Cup, for players with handicaps of nine to 17.
Sixteen-handicap Royston Gough posted the lowest score of the three competitions being held at the weekend.
He shot a net 64 on the Saturday to lead Trevor Stannard (handicap 14) by two strokes.
Neither player was able to replicate that form the following day, Gough shooting 76 and Stannard 77.
But 15-handicap left-hander Elliott followed up his opening round 73 with an excellent 67 to move alongside Gough on 140 and take the title by virtue of his better second-round score.
The Redford Cup (handicaps 18 and over) produced the most clear cut result of the three competitions, with 20-handicap Brian Whybrow finishing three strokes clear of runner-up David Brindle (h18).
The two men shared the lead after shooting 67s in the first round but Whybrow went on to add a 74 in the second round, while Brindle could manage only a 77. LEADING SCORES Pilgrims Challenge Cup: 140 L Kirkham (h8) 73 67, J Bristow (h1) 65 75; 143 T O’reilly (h4) 73 70, A Evans (h8) 72 71; 144 T Grove (h9) 67 77; 145 P Herron (h6) 70 75, M Pilbeam (h6) 68 77; 146 A Wigg (h5) 72 74, R Askham (h8) 71 75; 147 S White (h5) 70 77; 148 Peter Johnson (h7) 71 77; 149 M Rutherford (h8) 77 72; 150 A Bundock (h9) 82 68, S Leggatt (h6) 76 74, J Shiel (h7) 76 74, M Williams (h6) 74 76; 153 D Pilbeam (h8) 76 77, M Lambton (h6) 71 82; 154 P Bundock (h9) 75 79, R Beer (h7) 74 80; 159 M Cunningham (h9) 76 83. Rogerson Cup: 140 K Elliott (h13) 73 67, R Gough (h16) 64 The weather, course conditions and competitors helped to make Chestfield’s Open Week an even more successful event than in previous years.
Four hundred and 36 competitors took part in the various events during the week, including visitors from 11 different clubs.
The feedback was positive, with especially good comments relating to the condition of the course, the speed and trueness of the greens and also the organisation of the events, 76; 141 T Place (h13) 73 68; 142 S Plews (h12) 73 69; 143 T Stannard (h14) 66 77; 144 P Tyler (h15) 69 75; 146 M Scott (h11) 76 70; 147 J Letts (h17) 71 76; 148 D Williams (h17) 77 71, T Wenham (h10) 74 74, D Tottman (h13) 72 76, G Lee (h17) 69 79; 150 K Bryant (h12) 77 73, A Dance (h11) 74 76, I Cusselle (h14) 74 76; 151 A Brockman (h14) 73 78; 152 D Simmonds (h11) 79 73, S Bowles (h17) 75 77; 153 B Dancer (h11) 79 74, B Whyte (h14) 77 76. Redford Trophy: 141 B Whybrow (h20) 67 74; 144 D Brindle (h18) 67 77; 146 A Kirkland (h20) 76 70; 152 N Williams (h20) 75 77; 154 A Williamson (h24) 76 78; 159 K Sampson (h19) 82 77, J Webb (h20) 77 82; 160 K Nicholls (h19) 86 74; 165 T Martin (h20) 83 82, P Newbury (h19) 81 84. 4 other scores.
Whitstable and Seasalter Golf Club’s Grandparents Trophy was always a well supported event but it was the new pairing of Pat Bensted and Brian Ridley who came away on top.
Bensted and Ridley finished the foursomes with an impressive 40 points, followed closley behind by Sheila and which was administered by David and Yvonne Bridge, along with their team of assistants and helpers.
Winner of the veterans stableford on Monday was David Barnard, with second place going to Mike Smith. Third was Graham Williams.
Fourball betterball winners on Tuesday were Mike Brockington and Graham Williams, with second going to David and Maria Eales and third to Janet Hall and Elaine Lee. Mick Wyles, with 37, and Linda Bawden and David Kinnersley in third, with 36.
Janet Henley won the Lady Captain’s Day individual Stableford competition with 37 points followed in second place on countback with 34 points by Joyce Jaynes.
With all players dressed in fancy dress, Shirley Dalton won the front nine prize with 17 while Margaret Barker won the back nine with 19.
Perhaps, the most fiercely competed event for the best dressed went to the ‘Fallen Angels’ followed behind by the ‘Bunny girls’.
After a close Wren Trophy played by Division 1 players, Louise Tucker edged out Mary King with a score of -2 with the latter managing -3.
The Woodhead Trophy for Division 2 players was nowhere near as close as Helen Foad ran away with the competition with a score of +1, one below her handicap.
The monthly medal saw Maz Garlinge claim victory after narrowly missing out in two of the previous competitions in the month.
Her net 67 managed to win Division 1 by two shots from Louise Tucker who finished with a net 69.
The Division 2 competition was won by Joyce Jaynes, who had also been unlucky not to win a competition previously in the month, with Marjorie Harris finishing in second with a net 78.
The last tournament of the month saw Sally Lawson win the Lowe Trophy’s medal with a net 68. Penny Perkins just missed out on victory with a net 69, good enough for second place on countback.
Wednesday’s Texas Scramble winners were Gill Palin, Mick Root, Keith and Carol Wakelin, who just beat Richard Miles, Phil Veness, David Wells and Richard Billings into second place.
Third place went to Ray Barford, Tony Busby, John Smith and Norman Clarke, while in fourth were Freddie Woods, John Lee, John Houghton and George Killick.
In the ladies team competition on Thursday, the winning team were Cathy Yates, Bron Henry and Vicky Lukehurst, with second place going to Elaine Lee, Alison Wood and Barbara Carpenter and third went to Jill Mundy, Margaret Cocker and Lyn Page.
Friday’s men’s team winners were Martin Malone, Jim Greenfield, Red Foster and T Hunt, who just pipped David Kefford, John Hillier, Iain Grant and David Fielon. Third place went to Ray Barford, Tony Busby, John Smith and Norman Clarke.