Robertson endures nervous wait before clinching crown
THERE has been a mixture of activity for the seniors from Derllys Court Golf Club.
With a large number at St Pierre for their annual visit, there was a smaller than usual field for a stableford competition where players could double their points on all par-three holes.
With the higher handicappers making the most of their strokes, John Phillips returned the best score of the day with 50 points to take first prize in his division, with Julian Bowen taking second on countback from Denzil Howells thanks largely to a rare eagle two on the 16th.
Among the lower handicappers, there was a fine round from Geraint Roberts, whose 48 points was four better than second-placed Roy Gallop.
There was an exciting conclusion to the 36-hole competition for the St Pierre Trophy. On a course in challenging condition, Ian Robertson’s first day score of 38 points set him up nicely for a two-day total of 65.
But Robertson had a nervous wait as Meirion Evans produced the best score of the week, but his 39 points failed to oust Robertson from first place by the narrowest of margins.
In the higher handicap division there was a tie for first place, with Frank Wride getting the nod from Brian Newcombe on countback.
The first pairs semi-final was played in wet conditions as torrential showers made play difficult on the back nine. Birdies on the first for Richard Clark and on the second for David Rogers saw this pair off to a lightning start, and with their opponents John Phillips and Tom Thomas slow to react, they developed an early five-hole lead.
Despite reducing the deficit briefly to three holes, the advantage increased again to 6up by the 12th tee.
But as the heavens opened, Phillips and Thomas turned their game around to recover to three down after 15.
A steady par at the next was enough to see Clark and Rogers through to their first final, where they will meet the winners of this week’s match between last year’s winners Graham Bebb and Dave Wood and Phil Challenger and Des Jones.