Jo Mayfield and Tom Roberts win the prestigious Baxter Trophy
ROTHLEY PARK’S Jo Mayfield and Tom Roberts have won the coveted Leicestershire Baxter Trophy and in doing so beat some of the best golfers in the county.
The prestigious mixed knockout trophy was played for over two days at Kirby Muxloe and involved the best players from clubs across the county. In the qualifying round 36 teams took part representing 17 clubs.
Jo and Tom reached the final by coming second in the qualifying round with a gross score of 75, beaten by the winners on the day, Glen Gorse G.C., who had a gross score of 70.
In the semi finals Jo and Tom beat Charnwood G.C. to go through to the final against former winners Rachel East and John Fairbrother from Cosby Golf Club.
On the 17th hole of the final, Tom did a phenomenal second shot into the green, across water, with a carry of 192 yards. The ball came to rest under a pile of leaves!. Jo was reluctant to try and remove any of the foliage in case she disturbed the ball and therefore, considering the poor lie, executed an incredible chip onto the green which landed very close to the hole.
This put pressure on their opponents to do the same but unfortunately for them their ball went into the water. This put Rothley Park’s team 1 up going into the 18th and after a superb drive from Tom onto the green and a great putt by Jo, Cosby’s fate was sealed and Jo and Tom were crowned winners!!
Jo has won this trophy on two other occasions, once in 1994 at RPGC and again at Glen Gorse in 1997. She definitely fancied her chances this year as Kirby Muxloe used to be her home club prior to joining Rothley in 2016. • The lady in the old photo is Alex Baxter,
mother of Rothley Park past ladies captain and president, Anne Jee and maternal grandmother of former Rothley Park Scratch Team member Sally Jee.
Alex founded the Baxter Trophy at Kirby Muxloe, originally for the club professional and the club’s best lady golfer.
The trophy was first awarded in the 1960s to a Mrs. A. Knight and K. Mountfield. Alex then went onto be a member of Rothley Park GC (surname by that time Grewcock). She was an accomplished golfer, playing off an impressive 4 handicap and was County Champion twice.