Pair retain their title in mixed foursomes
COSBY BEAT LUFFENHAM HEATH TO TAKE TROPHY
COUNTY men’s second team captain, John Fairbrother and Rachel East, both of Cosby GC, have won the county ladies’ golf association’s mixed foursomes Baxter Trophy for the second successive season.
This year’s final was decided at Hinckley GC, where the pair beat Luffenham Heath’s David Smith and Karen Haynes by 5 and 4.
In the semi-final, the Cosby team saw off the host club’s Chris Brook and Ellie York by 3 and 2, while at the same stage, Luffenham Heath were 4 and 3 winners against Rothley Park’s Nick Preedy and Jo Mayfield.
This county tournament is open to clubs fielding their lowest-handicapped men and women players and always attracts great interest.
Club representatives compete in a one-round stroke-play qualifier from which the four top teams go into the final two weeks later on the same course.
Brook and York led the qualifying round this season with their 76 card, while Preedy and Mayfield were a shot behind on 77.
The other spots went to Luffenham Heath, 79 on local rule, from Fairbrother and East, in fourth.
A 72.5 return from Beedles Lake GC’s Steve Dodman and Donna Canning earned them the handicap award by a shot from Preedy and Mayfield’s 73.5 net score.
This set the stage for the weekend’s semi-final and final.
Conditions were good after so much recent rain and the two semis were closely contested before the finalists emerged.
The final produced some more high-quality golf, but defending champions Cosby had established a strong position by the halfway point, going 5-up against Luffenham Heath.
They maintained their lead with Fairbrother and East closing out the game on the 14 th hole to retain the title for their club.
County ladies’ association secretary Julia Holley (Kibworth) said: “Congratulations to all the teams which reached the knock-out stages of this season’s Baxter Trophy and in particular, of course, to Cosby , the winners for the second year running.
“Thank you to all the supporters who turned out to cheer on their respective teams during the finals day and at the qualifying two weeks earlier. They made a big contribution to both.”