Class resort for our Overseas Challenge
FOR the fifth year in succession the Examiner Overseas Golf Challenge headed for the golfer’s paradise that is Belek, Antalya, on Turkey’s southern coast.
With some of Europe’s most stunning hotels, coupled with some of the world’s leading golf courses, it is no surprise that this area is now a major magnet for all golf fans.
Accommodation this time round for the 46-strong party was at the Titanic Deluxe hotel.
Interestingly, the access to the beach for non-golfers or those wishing to relax on the day off was by motor launch from the hotel jetty down the Besgoz River.
However, it did seem just a bit incongruous sailing down the river and looking across to see the lifebuouys with Titanic written on them!
The opening day’s competition was the Team Stableford, played over the hotel’s home course with a combination of two players each from Bingley St Ives and Woodhall Hills taking the spoils with a total of 85 points.
That gave them a four-point cushion over Elland’s Wendy Smith and Dave Lockwood, who were joined by Headley golfer Danny Britton and Peter Close from the Ringway club in Cheshire.
1 John Morse and John Hughes (both Woodhall Hills), David Wilcock and Lee Kee Dearnley (both Bingley St Ives) 85pts., 2 Peter Close (Ringway), Danny Britton (Headley), Wendy Smith and Dave Lockwood (both Elland) 81pts., 3 Mark Emmett (Woodhall), Bobby Dearnley and Peter Wright (both Bingley), Maureen Gibson (Shipley Beckfoot) 78pts.
1 Rob Dunleavy (Meltham, 2) 105 points, 2 Mickey Illingworth (Crosland Heath, 14) 104pts, 3 John Morse (Woodhall Hills, 12) 98pts, 4 Bob Whiteley (Meltham, 7) 91pts, 5 Carole Barrott (Bingley St Ives, 28) 89pts, 6 Chris Hutchings (Meltham, 8) 89pts, 7 Nick Wilson (Fixby, 8) 88pts, 8 Peter Close (Ringway, 8) 87pts, 9 Helen Close (Ringway, 18) 85pts, 10 Dave Law (Meltham, 7) 84pts.
JUDITH Simpson and Lucy Thomson won the Huddersfield, Halifax and District Ladies Winter Alliance meeting at Lightcliffe.
The Marsden pair claimed the title in the 96-strong field with a pairing in the winners’ enclosure. And this year was no exception with Mark Emmett from Woodhall, ably supported by Settle’s David Humphreys, marking his Examiner debut, coming out on top with 42 points, which included a four-pointer and three birdies for the former.
Longley Park’s Tommy Ward and score of 20 in the four BBB stableford competition over nine holes.
Barbara Farmer and Sheila Mellor of Meltham were second with 19 points, beating Jill Thornley-Casson and Susan Peter Close from Ringway teamed up to take second on 41.
Team of the Week award (for the best accumulative scores ) went to Rob Dunleavy, Phil Dore (Shipley), John and Carole Barrott (Bingley).
The annual event was again organised by Paul Hanson from Hanson Exclusives. Couch – also of Meltham – on countback.
The next Winter Alliance meeting will be held at Todmordon Golf Club on Wednesday, January 30. The format will be a TRI AM over nine holes.
Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow smashed a matchwinning 84 off just 24 balls for the Kerala Knights for the highest-ever T10 score.
Bairstow – a centurion for England in the final Test against Sri Lanka having initially lost his place on the tour – signed a short-term deal with the T10 League side earlier this week.
And, having seen England one-day captain Eoin Morgan go for a first-ball duck against the Bengal Tigers, the Yorkshireman, pictured, helped his side chase down their target of 124 with eight balls to spare, hitting eight sixes along the way.