Pro hopeful MacIntosh back at Heath and lands cup win
Just home on summer leave from his golf scholarship at Harding University, Arkansas, Gregor MacIntosh wasted no time in reminding Mannings Heath members of his quality by claiming the President’s Scratch Cup at the club’s Spring Meeting with rounds of 75 and 72.
The powerful 21 year-old, who hopes to turn pro after his final year in college, trailed Aaron Peacock by a shot after the first round with Paul Gardner on the same mark and junior Jack Hobby, Rhodri Marsden, Steve Wright and Peter Wilson a further shot behind on 76.
MacIntosh quickly made up the ground on Sunday though, off the gold tees, driving to the edge of the green on the 324 yard second and holing out for an eagle two. Even a double bogey on the 13th proved only a minor setback and he finished five shots clear of Hobby and Peacock with Hobby runnerupon countback.
The nett trophy meanwhile was won by 16-handicap Nigel King with two fine rounds of 70 and 68 but only on countback from James McCarthy, playing off 11, while Peter Wilson took third place with nett 141.
Probably the weekend’s most remarkable round came in the Jimmy Trophy for those only playing on Saturday which was won by 20-handicap Chris Dean with an astonishing 48 points that included nine pars and two birdies and reduced his handicap by four shots. Joe Holness pipped Steve Pye on countback and neither could have expected that their excellent 42 point cards would see them trailing by six.
The ladies also staged their Spring Meeting where Charlotte Topping comfortably retained the Claud Champion Cup for the day’s best gross score with a round of 80 that contained three birdies and was eight shots clear of nearest challenger Emma Francis. Pat Etheridge took the Parbury Cup for an excellent gross 91 in the bronze division while silver and bronze nett honours went to Meriel Jolley and Jakki Tidey with 76 and 69 respectively, Tidey receiving a one shot handicap cut to 27 after carding the best score of the day.
A nine hole secret pairs competition was won by Julie Law and Karen Jones. The meeting also provided an opportunity to present Gerry Wyatt and Emma Francis with their trophy for winning the winter pairs knock-out.
Ladies’ captain Margaret Brown took the honours in the Kingfisher roll-up with 20 points to beat Alex Oakley by one and Lewis Hamblet by two. Hamblet’s third place moved him up to equal first with James McCarthy in the 9-hole Order of Merit.
Bank Holiday Monday’s mixed competition for the Keeble-Lewis Putter was won by Andy and Karen Jones with an aggregate Stableford score of 76, 41 of them posted by 32-handicap Karen. Roger Bridge and Margaret Edwards carded 73 with Bridge’s birdie on the last just securing second place on countback from Steve and Kate Wright.