GOLF: BINNS HOLDS OFF CHALLENGE

Canterbury Golf Club’s Ladies’ March Medal took place on St David’s Day with a few daffodils around to brighten up the course. The winner was Val Binns (h13) with a round of 71. Lizza Berry finished second on countback, playing off 16. Amanda Pilbeam was third, five shots back, playing off 14. In Division 2, Anne Arnold came first with 76 playing off 21 with Bettie Morton (h33) second a shot back and 23-handicapper Jack Barons in third with a 79. There was also a nine-hole qualifier, which was won by Doreen Whiting, with Sue Kerr in second place. Angela Le Breton, Berry and Sarah Wetherell won a team Stableford at Canterbury. More than 30 ladies played in relatively calm conditions and with two scores counting on every hole, the winning team came in with 79 points. Second place went to Gillian Bailey, Joy Flynn and Arnold, five points behind, while in third, on countback, were Binns, Cath Smith and Kim Atkinson with 72 points. The Ladies Aggregate Stableford winner was 13-handicapper Jacqui Mount with 35 points, with Binns three points back in second and Lyn Lee in third playing off 22. In Division 2, Whiting (h32) took first place, finishing four points clear of 25-handicapper Sarah Wetherell whose 28 points were one better than third-placed Diane Florence (h29).

Alan Hall came out on top as Chestfield Golf Club held a Saturday Stableford. Hall’s 38 points topped the 12-and-under handicap section with Gianni Vitiello a point back in second. Third was Peter Newman with 36 points with fourth-placed Steve Albin another point back. In the 13-and-over category, there was some exceptional scoring with Billy Kohler carding 42 points to pip Duane Harrison by a point. Third place went to Sally Jemmett with 39, while in fourth place was husband Terry with 37. Finola Paul won the Ladies’ Stableford last Thursday with a 29 points. In second place was Maureen Fentiman a point back, beating Jo Sillitoe on countback.

Maz Garlinge, Janet Arnold and Louise Tucker edged to victory in a Texas Scramble at Whitstable & Seasalter GC. They finished 0.8 of a shot clear of Sue Pout, Helen Foad and Ann Milner. Milner went one better to win the club’s latest Stableford with a birdie and four pars helping her to an impressive 37 points. Tucker was second on 35 and Garlinge third on 34. In Division 2, Stella Lakin’s two pars helped her to 28 and first place, with Judy Butcher second on 26 and Inge Parry third on countback with 24. Sheila Wyles, Sally Lawson and Milner romped to victory in a waltz competition with a better-than-par score of 73 points. Teams of three saw one score count for the team on the first hole, two on the second, three on the third, which is then repeated. Second were Helen Foad, Garlinge and Tucker with 66 points.