Fine back nine has Thurston in charge

George Thurston moved towards safety with what would become a comfortable victory over Terry Gleeson after a good performance on the back nine in Bath Approach Division 1. Both players struggled on the front nine but reached the turn all square. Coming back, Gleeson continued to have difficulties but Thurston improved considerably and took control by winning a further three holes without reply to succeed with two to play. Colin Lee moved up to second after achieving a late win over Alasdair Campbell, who was finally overcome by the cold. In Division 2, Brian Allen’s fine finish gave him a win over Craig Jones in a competitive but highscoring match with just one hole halved. Due in part to the cold conditions, neither could score well enough to take control with the hard-fought front nine ending 5-5. It continued in the same manner coming back but after Jones had edged ahead on the 16th, Allen bounced back to win the final two holes for the points. John Sercombe achieved a convincing win over Brian Lambern that keeps him well in the promotion hunt. Terry Selway inflicted a heavy defeat on Brian Woodford in League Cup Group B that puts him close to qualifying for the quarterfinals, but eliminated Woodford. Reg Morris qualified for the quarter-finals after an excellent final-hole win over the battling Graham Whatley, who didn’t deserve to lose. Mike Fear produced a magnificent one-over-par round that helped secure a surprisingly narrow win over the tenacious Danny Peel, who fell behind for the first time on the final hole. ■ BATH GOLF CLUB The ladies held an Odds and Evens pairs stableford xompetition last week. The winners with 37 points were Honor Jones and Samantha Robinson, followed by Mary Perkins and Pippa Western on 30, with Sue Morton-jenkins and Elizabeth Brealey third on 28. The men’s section held a fourball better-ball stableford in wet and windy conditions. The winners with a great score of 43 were Sam Gardiner and Andy Cox, second on 42 were Keith Thomas and Tom Baines, just ahead of Matt and Will Warman’s own 42. Fourth and ahead of a number of teams on 41 were Martin Bacon and Paul Grange. In wet, blustery conditions Bath’s men held a pairs Christmas cocktail stableford where the first six holes were played four-ball betterball, the second six greensomes and the last half dozen foursomes format. Just making it home ahead of the pack were Peter Fox and Andrew Brady on 36, followed by the pairs of Ron Ives and Neil Callaway, and Mike Willis and Anthony Jones after countback. Bath Golf Club is still offering 16 months’ membership for the price of 12 and lessons are available from all of the coaching professionals on a 6-for-5 offer. The professional’s shop is also well stocked for Christmas gifts you may. Contact the club and professional’s shop for details. ■ Lansdown The Tucker Trophy is a nine hole competition and will be awarded in the new year to the player with the best aggregate three-round score. Each week the sponsor, local butcher Lee Tucker, gives a meat prize to the winner. A couple of weeks ago the winner was Mike Wells with an excellent 21 points, his round included seven pars, one bogey and a double, a fantastic round off a handicap of 17. The runner-up was Dave Lambern with 19. The winner last week was Bob White on 20, which put him just one ahead of Mark Thomas, who had started like a train, shooting three birdies in the first four holes. A double bogey followed by a triple on the sixth slightly derailed his round but he recovered to par the last three holes. Club professional, James Lee, continues to put on weekend competitions. On Saturday Terry Corbett won with 38, some four shots clear of Dave Lambern. The Sunday competition had a clear winner in Lee Ricketts, whose 41 put him seven ahead of Roland Jenkins. The previous weekend saw Shaun Hindmarsh take the honours on Saturday with 41. The Sunday event was far tighter as Adrian Pike prevailed with 39 by just one point from Lambern, while Ian Carter and Malcolm Brown both came in with 37.