Thomas enjoys a successful event
Rod Thomas, Lansdown Golf Club’s captain for 2021, enjoyed a successful Captain’s Day on Saturday with a packed field from all sections of the club.
The overall winner, taking the Captain’s Shield, was Mark Hand with 43 points which put him just one shot clear of the field.
Scott Pillinger took the honours in Division One with 41 on countback from Ken Watson. Division Two winner, also with 41, was Chris Frohlick which put him three points clear of Ian Drake in second.
Division Three went to Graham Belsten with 42 - whilst the winner of the senior’s section was David Baker, also with 42.
There was a clear winner of the ladies section as Margaret Ruxton came in with 37, some three clear of Suzanne Wheeler with Di Garry a further two points adrift in third. Winner of the Junior Trophy was Cameron Stevenson with 38, whilst Edison Butler was runner-up with 36.
There were lots of other prizes for nearest the pin, longest and straightest drives, as well as a drive and a putting competition and a great day was had by all. Sam Jenkins had the longest drive whilst Laura Leach and Paddy Crowley won the straightest drive prizes. Barry Green won the longest putt competition whilst the nearest the pin prizes were won by Kate Williams, Joe Sardo, Cameron Stevenson, Terry Pocock and Mike Banner.
Thomas was delighted with the support he received from members and staff and was very happy with his special day, especially as all the extra events raised nearly £400 for his nominated charity, Dorothy House.
The Ladies Stableford earlier in the week was won by Loraine Liebenberg with 34 points just one ahead of Jane Belsten and Margaret Ruxton. The 9-hole event on the same day went to Anna Proctor with 15.
Lansdown’s first team gained promotion from Division Five of the Bristol and District Golf League last year and have started well in Division Four, having won the three of their first five matches- the latest being a home win over Kingsdown 3.5-1.5.
This week Joe Long, the 2020 British Amateur Champion, tees it up in The Open at Royal St Georges. Long has also played in The Masters, the US Open, The Walker Cup and the Memorial this year – a fantastic experience for him. All at the Club are very proud of him and will be cheering him on.
■ BATH saw the completion of their Open Week with the ladies’ Open Bowmaker.
Twenty-five teams of four competed in this stableford with the best two scores to count on each hole. The winners, with a fine score of 80 points, were Anne Hitchin, Christine Wakefield, Polly Andrews & Micheline Edwards.
Three teams scored 79 and topping these were Suzannah Angelosparling, Susan Scoble, Marion
Cowley & Ann Henderson with the team of Stephanie Moorfoot, Ann Tonge, Sarah Nannestad & Sue Cole third and Angela Trenchard, Jeannie Willis, Carol England & June Boulton fourth. Fine food and refreshments were enjoyed in the clubhouse afterwards rounding of an enjoyable day for all.
The men played in the Ray Butcher Driver medal last Saturday. In wet, breezy conditions, scoring wasn’t easy but despite this some good golf was played, The winner of Division One was Piers Rivington with nett 69, one ahead of Spencer Sinden with Peter Forster third leading six players on nett 71.
Division Two and the trophy was won by Steve Harper with nett 67, again one better than George Walker who beat Martin O’kane on countback.
The winner of Division Three was Steve Dewsnap on nett 68 beating David Polson on countback, with Paul Suchley third on nett 70.
On Sunday, a mixed summer Fourball Betterball Stableford was played in cloudy, wet conditions. Despite the weather, the scores were very good with the winners Mark and Stephanie Moorfoot scoring a great 43 points, just ahead of Robert and Linda Hill on countback.
Third and top of a trio of teams with 42 were Marie Robson and John Slater. The clubhouse proved to be a welcome sanctuary of fine food and refreshments afterwards.
■ SSAFA the Armed Forces charity is hosting its annual Golf Day on Friday, August 20 to raise money for the Bath & Frome Division.
The competition, open to teams of four, is taking place at the Bath Golf Club at Sham Castle, Golf Course Road, with prizes available for the winning teams. Entry costs £180 per team or £45 per player, which includes coffee on arrival, 18 holes of golf, a buffet meal and prizes.
The Golf Day will host a maximum of 25 teams on the day and there still plenty of space available for teams to sign up and take part. Tee times are from 9am-1.30pm, with a variety of other activities on the day, including a charity raffle.
SSAFA Chairman, Lieutenant General Sir Gary Coward, will attend on the day to present the winning trophies.
Also planning to compete is former Grenadier Guards officer Major (Retired) Bernie Broad, who received extensive support from
SSAFA after he was badly injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) explosion in Afghanistan in 2009, eventually losing both legs.
Bernie captained the UK’S 2017 Invictus Games team in Toronto.
He said: “The SSAFA Bath & Frome annual Golf Day is an excellent opportunity for individuals to come together in a superb competition whilst supporting the local Armed Forces community.
“It’s great that so many people have now registered, and I would encourage other golfers to put their names down for what will be an excellent day in a worthwhile cause.”
If you’d like to enter a team or find out more, contact Brian Woodford, SSAFA Divisional Publicity Officer, email: brian.woodford@ somerset.ssafa.org.uk or call 01225 316876.
To find out more about the SSAFA Bath and Frome Division and how you can support SSAFA further, visit ssafa.org.uk/somerset.