Exceptional Cort lifts Potts Trophy
HE IS TOP PRO IN CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROTHLEY PARK
MATTHEW Cort (Beedles Lake) claimed the Potts Trophy again when the Leicestershire and Rutland Championships were played at Rothley Park GC.
The tournament was able to go ahead after being in jeopardy because of the wet weather which has seen caused so many Alliance meetings to be cancelled in the last few weeks.
But the day of the Championship proved to be dry, sunny and warm to the great relief of organisers and professionals and amateurs alike.
Cort was in exceptional form. He scored six-under-par for his tally of 42 points to finish as the top professional.
Jevan Parmar (The Leicestershire) was the leading assistant, and second overall, with 37 points.
Cort, who has won the Alliance several times in the last few years, said: “I am always pleased to be the Alliance champion and it was good to win at Rothley Park on this occasion, as I was attached there for so long.
“I had seven birdies and only dropped one shot in my round, so played pretty well, considering any playing has been so restricted due to the weather.
“But I cannot always compete in the weekly Alliances because of my other commitments these days and it has been a frustrating season for everyone as so many of the tournaments have had to be called off because of the conditions.”
Craig Shave (Whetstone) notched 35 points to finish third and Glen Gorse head professional Richard Reed was fourth with 34 points.
But Shave dominated the Professional Order of Merit, winning with his total of 132 points this season.
He received the award for his performance overall, although the Order of Merit not include the Rothley Park tournament.
Tony Linnell (Longcliffe) was the leading amateur at the Championship with 37 points, with runner-up Michael Moore (Forest Hill) on 35 points.
Tom Nimmo (Kibworth) finished as the best gross amateur scorer with his total of 27 points.
The third amateur off handicap was Mick Parker (Scraptoft) who amassed 35 points.
Peter Chairamonte (Longcliffe) was fourth with 34 points and Bob Watts (Hinckley) finished in fifth place on 32 points.
Graham Coles (Whetstone) won the over-55s award.
He scored 32 points, and this was the same tally as the over-65s winner Richard Lawton (Kibworth).
It was announced at the Championships that John Berry will become Alliance president for the new 2024/25 season, starting in September this year.
He will succeed John Dekonski who hosted the Championships on his own home course.
Organisers paid tribute to all the golfers who competed in the finale to this season and said how really disappointing it had been that this season had been so truncated.
But it was hoped the new season would bring much better conditions so a full calendar of events could be completed without so much interruption.