DARCY IS CROWNED AS NEW CHAMPION AT P&K
THE lady champion golfer at Pyle & Kenfig this year is Darcy Harry, writes Tony Poole. She defeated fellow Welsh junior internation Ffion Tynan, 5 & 4, in a top-class final in Kenfig that was contested over 36 holes.
With both girls playing off +2 handicaps, Darcy struck decisive early blows, and eased into a five-up lead at the halfway point.
Though Ffion battled back, and it was nip and tuck for a short period, Darcy was unshakeable, and she finished things off in remarkable fashion.
On the 32nd hole (par-four 14th hole), Darcy hit the flag-stick with her tee shot, and it resulted in the girls shaking hands.
This was seen as a great way to complete a great match with both girls playing exceptional golf.
And there was double disappointment for Ffion, who was next week down to play in the European Amateur Ladies Open in Central Europe.
However, her plans have been scuppered through Slovenia being added to the United Kingdom’s quarantine list.
Meanwhile, Ronan Oliver also played fine golf to win the club’s ProShop Stableford event with 43 points which in stroke-play equated to a gross 65.
He shot eight birdies, including a Tutu (twos on holes six and 15), eight pars, two bogeys to win by two points over starlet James Pontin (nine pars, nine bogeys).
Wesley Edwards took third place on 40 points, finishing two points clear of three competitors – Simon Howell, Tom Watson and Matthew Davies.
Four other players went under the card on the day with Craig Rigby, Kevin Sommerville, Sam Peet and Carl Prosser all signing for 37 points.
Par rounds of 36 then came from ex-St Mary’s star Lee Thomas, Corey Prior, Mike Sullivan, Dai Feeley, onsong Andy Williams and Chris Cole.
On the Senior scene at the Kenfigbased club, Wayne Williams triumphed in the President’s Day tournament with 33 Stableford points.
Despite failing to score on holes eight and 12, four pars and 12 bogeys got the job done, and he finished a point in front of Tom Watson.
Former Bridgend Town football star Raymond Huskings took third place with 32 points (one birdie, five pars, 11 bogeys, one blob) while a further point adrift were Stephen P Williams and John Humphries.
Three players then exited the course with 30 points – Alan Cole, Michael Daniels and John Michael Davies.
Finally, Ethan Langley won both Junior events, sweeping to victory on 40 points in the Junior Stableford Cup.
A two on the sixth hole got his round going and he ended up with a further birdie on the 13th hole, 11 pars, four bogeys, one no-return).
Elliot Watkins took runner-up honours with 38 points; Callum Hook shot 36 points and Jude Thomas 33.
And in the Junior Galliver Cup, young Langley won the day with 38 points via a Tutu (twos on holes four and 15), birdie on 14, nine pars, five bogeys, one blob).
Two points back came William Pontin while behind him were Elliot Watkins 34 and Jude Thomas 32.
Finally, the latest positions on this year’s Terns Championship & Salver events have been released, and show Tom Watson ahead on 71 points from Gordon Perrie (68), Steve Watkins (66), Peter McCormick, Griff Spensley, Paul Wilby (all 63), Kenneth Landrey (62) and Barrie Stephens (61).
LACOSTE LADIES OPEN
LYDIA Hall from Pencoed missed the cut last week in the Lacoste Ladies Open that was staged on the Châteaux course at Golf du Medoc in France.
In this latest European Ladies Tour (LET) event, rounds of 73, 74 for fiveover par 147 left her three shots outside the cut-mark.
And a similar fate was suffered by the LET winner from the previous week in Switzerland, Amy Boulden from St Asaph, who ran up 145.
Julia Engstrom (Sweden) won the event with a seven-under score of 206 (70, 64, 72) by one shot over Magdalena Simmermacher (Argentina) and Celine Herbin (France).
The LET now takes a break until November 4 when competitors will assemble in Dubai for the Moonlight Classic event on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club.
WELSH NATIONAL PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
TIMOTHY Dykes shot a closing round 68 last week to win the Welsh National PGA Championship at the Cardiff club in Cyncoed.
Having opened with a par round of 70, the Chester-born player – who is attached to Penrith Golf Club in Cumbria – finished on two-under par 138.
The victory was by a shot over firstround leader Richard James (Aberdovey), who fired rounds of 67, 72 for 139, while Sion Bebb (Morlais Castle) took third spot via par rounds of 70 to close on 140.
Best placed among the Bridgend County contingent was Pyle & Kenfig assistant professional Huw Williams, who finished tied 11th on 146 (72, 74), while Royal Porthcawl professional Peter Evans signed for 75, 76 with a 151-shot tally securing a tie for 22nd place.
SOUTHERNDOWN
CHRISTOPHER Matthews fired 39 points to win a Midweek Stableford contest at Southerndown.
Birdies on holes 12 and 16 set up the win along with 10 pars and five bogeys while the only blob on his card came via hole six.
Barry Hawkins was just a shot back (one birdie, 13 pars, four bogeys) as were Jamie Keddle (three birdies, nine pars, six bogeys) and Paul Brabban (twos on holes five and 10).
A par round of 36 points came from C Berryman while Jeffrey Wright, Neil Channell and Philip Howe all registered 35 points.
On the 34-point mark came Vale cricket star Matthew Williams, Robert Williams, Gary Randle, Matthew Goldsworthy, Colin Tapsfield, Russell Brookes, B R Edwards and Rhys Thomas.
And Helen Loo was in fine form during a Ladies Stableford contest with a two on hole 10 setting up a winning score of 36 points.
Claire Goldsworthy was runner-up on 33 points with Celia Burton, playing off an away handicap, getting 32 points with a two on the 14th green.
Also on the 32-point level was Fiona Cater, and a further point in arrears were Toni Lucas and Suzanne Roberts.
COED-Y-MWSTWR
FORMER club captain Phillip Davies and Tommy Tait (St Athan) won the Thursday section of Members & Guests at Coed-y-Mwstwr with 43 points.
Captain Simon Lake, who organised the successful event, took second spot alongside Ricardo Deacon on 40 points while Coed-y-Mwstwr stars Rocky Raybould and David B Ford-Williams were next best on 39 points.
The nearest the pin prizes saw Wayne Hopkins pick up two rewards (holes four and eight) while Dai Lewis was best on the 11th hole
Members & Guests continued on Saturday, and on this occasion Dave Archibald and Dai Wintle swept the board on countback 44 points.
Raymond Hapgood and Simon Jenkins were the other duo to get 44 points, and a further point back came Eliot Williams and captain Lake.
Julie Davies was nearest the pin on the fourth hole, Hannah Bowen on hole eight, Paul Alexander hole 11 and Rocky Raybould on 17.
The Senior Section last week held a Very Late Spring Cup (delayed owing to coronavirus) with David J Lewis the clear winner via 89-25-64.
Three shots behind came John Rogers 86-19-67 from Mal Brooks 8922-67, Frank Button 84-16-68, Trevor Duggan 87-19-68, Terrence Haggerty 93-24-69, Tony Lang 88-19-69, Kenneth Cooper 121-51-70, Chris Williams 96-26-70, Keith Brown 93-2271, Jonny McEachen 84-13-71 (low gross), Brian Callow 91-20-71, Lyndon Young 98-27-71, Richard McCann 94-23-71 and Peter Beynon 9827-71.
Just three putts for two were sunk, and they came from Douglas Mein, Chris Williams (both hole four) and Jeffrey Perkins (penultimate hole).
GROVE
MICHAEL Cronin and Terrence Thomas were the successful duo last week in the RNLI Pairs event at The Grove.
Their winning score was 40 points, and they were followed on the scoreboard by Sean Holley-Norman Rand 39, Colin Rumbelow-Norman Williams 39, Steve Cole-Paul Jenkins 39, Steve Muir-Lyndon Parker 37, Richie Cliffe-Dave Thomas 37, Jason Thomas-Martin Evans 37, John Dacey-Terrence Fooks 36, Philip Evans-Neil Butcher 36, Mark Tierney-Michael Scully 36.
Seven twos went on cards, and they came from Tony Allen, Terrence Fooks, Dave Hughes, Matt Murray, Malcolm Pickering, master golfer Rumbelow and Ian Thomas.
The Senior Section last week staged the Frank Say Trophy for triples with victory on 98 Stableford points going to Anthony Carey, John Dacey and John Green
Two points behind came ex-Margam pace bowler Terrence Dowrick, Michael Howells and Tony Jones.
LAKESIDE
DAVE Brown painted the town red after scoring 33 points to win a Senior Section September Stableford last week at the Lakeside club in Margam.
Three pars and 14 bogeys with just one no-return led to him mounting the victory rostrum in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Runner-up Peter Wooster and Nicholas Walters both shot 31 points.
And Bob Thomas won a Saturday Stableford on par 36 from Burridge 34 while Jimmy Koczubik and Peter Watkins both exited with 32-point cards.