Frank-ly, city club’s success is deserved!
Golfers honoured after a year of league and cup glory
CITY of Newcastle Golf Club proved a real driving force in 2017 - and their success has now received the par-fect recognition, writes TONY HODGSON.
The club’s men’s team claimed the Newcastle and District Golf League championship for a third successive year.
Northumberland county champion Phil Ridden and fellow county players Alex Dixon and Mark Wharton also clinched the club the title of England’s Champion Club.
The trio stormed to an emphatic 14-shot victory in the English Champions Club Championship at East Devon Golf Club.
Now those achievements have been recognised by Sport Newcastle - who presented club officials with the Frank Brennan Trophy at the charity’s annual dinner at Newcastle Civic Centre.
City of of Newcastle’s men’s captain John Franklin said: “The award came as a total surprise.
“We always thought awards like this went to the big clubs like Newcastle Falcons and Newcastle Eagles so to be honoured like this is very pleasing
“It was great to see the dedication of the lads recognised as they put in an awful lot of work behind the scenes to try and secure success.
“It was an epic year for the club and this award is just the icing on the cake.”
City of Newcastle had been runners-up in the English Champions Club Championship twice before, most recently in 2015 when they lost out on countback.
This time they ended the first round one shot off the lead, then completed their second round in level par - finishing with a team total of 11-over and roaring into the lead.
They played early on the second day and then went off to a local pub in Budleigh Salterton to watch Newcastle United on television.
When the match was over they returned to the golf club to find mist coming in over the course and play suspended.
However, despite fog and encroaching darkness, the field eventually completed play and City of Newcastle’s victory was confirmed.
That success led to them qualifying for the European Club Trophy in Bordeaux, where they finished a highly-creditable third.
So what of 2018? Franklin added: “The Newcastle and District League title has never been won four years in a row so that is a real incentive. It would be fantastic to win it again.”