Sub-lime Gray calls shots

Chris Sherwood and super-sub Stuart Gray shone to score five birdies in a total of 44 Stableford points to win Sunday’s sixth round of the Hallet Cup men’s Winter League.

With the 12th hole closed for safety reasons, Sherwood and Gray, who had stepped in for Sherwood’s regular partner Connor Bundock, were a better ball five-under-par to win by one point from John Shiel and Pete Johnson in a field of 40 pairs and two singles.

Brandon Ware and Paul Davis scored 41 points to take third on countback from Liam Holland and Marcus Rabenda, and fifthplaced John Coupe and Brett Davies.

With three rounds to go and each pair allowed two discards, Shiel and Johnson went back to the top of the Winter League standings, while Sherwood and Bundock moved up a place to second and former leaders Ben Dancer and Scott Williams slipped to third place after finishing 16th.

Sherwood and Gray started at the 10th, Sherwood notching their first birdie at the 13th in a one-under-par first eight holes before they really let rip.

Sherwood had birdies at the first hole and seventh hole and big-hitting Gray weighed in with a birdie at the fourth hole and on their final hole, the par five ninth, where he was on in two with a drive and a 4 iron.

Shiel and Johnson had two birdies apiece in a better ball three-under-par round, with only one bogey, at the 16th.

Sherwood said: “There are three rounds to go and a lot to play for.

“Connor and I won round one back in October and I think we have a pretty strong chance, but we know that Pete and John are formidable opponents.”

Anthony Dance claimed victory in Wednesday’s Men’s Midweek Stableford, with 33 points from 15 holes.

Dance scored pars on seven of the first eight holes, one bogey and a ninth-hole double for 20 points.

With the 11-13 holes loop closed for safety reasons, another four pars, one bogey and a 15th-hole double added up to 13 more on the back six as he won by two from Bill Woledge.

Woledge scored 22 points going out, including a fourth-hole birdie, but only nine on the back six to finish one ahead of thirdplaced Dave Brindle.

Dance said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to win and it came as a complete surprise because I wasn’t going to play because of sciatica.

“I was going to rest it but the weather looked good and I thought if I just got round I would be pleased. I was just so relaxed, the first five holes; parred the lot and seven of the first eight.”

Ali Ord scored a sparkling net 67, gross 75, to win Saturday’s Ladies’ Weekend January Medal by two shots from Val Lucas.

Ord was three-over-par with a gross 39 on the front nine and covered the back eight in 36, with three pars, two bogeys and doubles at the 15th and 16th before a birdie at the 18th.

With the 12th shut for safety reasons, Lucas returned a gross 92, net 69 while Catherine Hinds continued her consistent form to score 93, net 70, for third on countback from Val Binns, gross 81, in a field of nine.

The previous Wednesday, Ord was beaten on countback by Di Florence in a 15 holes Ladies’ Blue Tee competition, Florence scoring three point pars on five of the six open back nine holes in a hefty 37 Stableford points.

Diane Plommer scored 22 points out and 14 back to take third place in a field of 28.

Michael Parrott scored 33 points from the 17 open holes to win Monday’s Seniors’ Stableford overall on countback from John Wigg.

Parrott was out in gross 41 for 18 points before two pars and six bogeys brought him another 15 on the inward eight.

Stephen Bowles was a point back with 32 to take third in a field of 65.

Chris Sherwood, left, and Stuart Gray teamed up in style