Chichester golf veterans put losing start behind them

First, a strong team from Old Thorns became the first visiting team to win on the Cathedral course for more than two years, which they did handsomely with a 5-1 victory.

Though four matches went to the last green, there was no doubting a significant result for the visitors.

At Hill Barn the vets played the first leg of a home-and-away tussle for the Haygarth Trophy. Once again half the matches were close and decided on the final green but still the vets lost 6-2 in an event they have never lost in the ten years it has been played.

There is a significant challenge now for the vets to retain the trophy in the return fixture in July.

The vets’ captain and vice-captain returned for the inaugural match of a new fixture against Goodwood played on the Cathedral course.

Vice-captain Jim Robertson donated a trophy to be played for over the home and away matches and he was delighted to see the Chichester team respond to his encouragement with a 4½-1½ victory. The margin of victory will be sorely tested in the return match at Goodwood.

Scores (v Old Thorns): C Goldsmid & C Page lost 4&3; N Moore & A Grant lost 2&1; B Santer & J Paul halved; K Hart & M Arthur halved; R Holden & D Galloway lost 7&6; B Burn & P Green lost 1 down.

(v Hill Barn): C Goldsmid & D Monkton lost 2&1; N Moore & M Hunter lost 4&3; M Harrington & D Matthey lost 4&3; J Styles & M Chapman lost 1 down; G Probert & P Green lost 1 down; N Hobbs & N Wood lost 4&3; B Sharpe & B Santer won 4&3; K Jackson & C Penny won 1 up.

(v Goodwood): B Shrives-Wrist & J Robertson beat V D’Costa & I Senior 3&2; C Goldsmid & P Green beat J Daborn & J Drury 4&3; B Santer & G Williams beat R Hoad & M Harding 4&3; P Compton & R Stainsby beat B Coughlan & M Walsh 6&5; N Moore & D Matthey lost to P Haydn Jones & K Johnstone 2&1; B Sharpe & C Penny halved with D Honeybourne & J Wheelhouse.

SELSEY

Selsey ladies held their spring lunch, at which trophies were given to the winner of the winter competitions Barbara Winter. Eddie Williamson was second. Each lady who took part in the competitions was given a golf ball.

The ladies’ first competition of 2015 was a 14-hole Stableford. It was won by Rita Green with 19 points; runner-up was Eddie Williamson with 16.

An 18-hole Stableford was due to be played but torrential rain reduced the game to nine holes. Winner was Eddie Williamson, second Judy Sharpe.

The ladies’ spring give-and-take competition was played over 14 holes. Every lady went away with a prize. The winner was Eddie Williamson with 24 points (pictured). Second was Sharon Williams with 22.

Another 18-hole Stableford was played in fine weather. Judy Sharpe won with 30 points and the runner-up was Rita Green with 25.

The last match of March was an 18-hole Stableford. In windy conditions, Barbara Winter was the victor with 31 points ahead of Rita Green with 24.

The ladies play on Monday mornings and gather in the clubhouse afterwards for a drink and a chat. Any ladies interested in golf are welcome to go and meet them.

COWDRAY PARK

Scott Evans and his Cowdray Park PGA professional Tim Allen are one step away from following in the footsteps of Europe’s Ryder Cup heroes with an appearance in the Lombard Trophy final at Gleneagles.

Evans teed up a chance to tread the fairways of the PGA Centenary Course, venue for the dramatic matchplay win over the United States last year, when he won his club qualifying competition with a nett 67.

He and Allen now advance to the regional final at Walton Heath Golf Club on July 8, where they will compete against up to 70 pairings from other clubs for the chance to secure one of 16 prized spots available for the 36-hole grand final.

Ian Isaac, head of sales at Lombard, said: “After a record number of entries in 2014, this year’s Lombard Trophy promises to be another exciting competition.

“It’s great to once again be working with the PGA to offer the opportunity for professional and amateur golfers to play some fantastic courses.”

Evans, a 43-year-old postman from Petworth, is married with three daughters and has been playing golf for four years and plays off a handicap of ten.

Allen, 37, has been a pro at Cowdray for two years. He reached the 2011 PGA National Pro-Am Championship final in Las Vegas with Kris Williams.

Cowdray Park seniors fielded a strong team against their visitors from Mannings Heath and won 5½-2½. The teams were closely matched in handicap terms, which was reflected in three of the eight matches being halved.

Cowdray’s match manager Ian Heustice paired up with Roger Poat and they made a slow start but recovered from being four down after six holes and, by winning the final two holes, they forced a half.

After a comfortable 7&6 win by Howard Morley and Mike Hughes, Colin West and Philip Singer halved each of the first nine holes and finished their match all square.

Dave Lucking and John Durrell also finished all square, then John Newman and Dave Fowler had a good win by 5&4.

Derek Smith and Roy Penrose maintained the momentum with a 4&3 win, a score duplicated by John Doran and Mike Cardiff. The final match provided the visitors with their only win of the day.

RESULTS (Cowdray names first): Ian Heustice & Roger Poat halved with Mike Hart & Ian Geale; Howard Morley & Mike Hughes beat Dave Cocker & Ray Battersby 7&6; Colin West & Philip Singer halved with Mike Dimon & Allan Wild ; Dave Lucking & John Durrell halved with Paul Williams & John Turner; John Newman & Dave Fowler beat Ron Barber & Garry Woods 5&4; Derek Smith & Roy Penrose beat Paul Holmes & Adam Gramston 4&3; John Doran & Mike Cardiff beat Phil Davies & John Gallagher 4&3; Richard Histed & Barry Overington lost to John Heather & Robert Halls 5&4.

Cowdray seniors entertained their counterparts from Hayling Island hoping to replicate last year’s 7-1 victory. This year they met stiffer resistance yet still prevailed 5-3.

Hayling stand-in match manager Ian Andrews teamed up with Gerry Daly to overcome Cowdray’s pair of match manager Trevor Edwards and Tony Pike 2&1.

Derek Smith and David Tilley fought back from being three down at the turn to secure a half. Much of the talk in the clubhouse afterwards was of the magnificent 60ft putt on the eighth green over two humps by Richard Linsell.

Dave Lucking and seniors’ captain Sam Howes combined to draw their side level with a 2&1 win over a strong Hayling pair. John Doran and Martin Brine continued the good work with a one-up win.

The remaining matches, one of which featured the debut of Trevor Nash, were closely contested, with honours going to the home side.

Special prize for the nearest the pin on the 155-yard par-three ninth went to Hayling’s Richard Foulds.

Results (Cowdray names first): Trevor Edwards (17) & Tony Pike (11) lost to Ian Andrews (9) & Gerry Daly (12) 2&1; Derek Smith (9) & David Tilley (14) halved with Ray Stewart (10) & Richard Linsell (16); Dave Lucking (7) & Sam Howes (15) beat Barry Jones (10) & Doug Johnson (15) 2&1; John Doran (9) & Martin Brine (12) beat Richard Killon (9) & Barry Goodchild (14) 1up; Ian Heustice (13) & Mike Cardiff (20) beat Richard Foulds (11) & Bill Gow (14) 2&1; Wally Mitchell (20) & Gary Strowbridge (27) lost to Alan Spencer (13) & Mike Ingle (19) 1dn; Ken Marjoram (14) & Clive Brine (18) beat Roger Good (21) & Tony Child (20) 3&2; Trevor Nash (14) & Peter Hallt (16) halved with Terry Hailey (19) & Ken Stobbart (19).

BOGNOR

At the third time of asking, Bognor members finally played in club captain Simon Watts’ drive-in competition.

Previous attempts were undone by lousy weather conditions but a magnificent 127 competitors turned out in strong winds and at times driving rain to take part in a four-player team Texas Scramble with a shotgun start. Many past captains, lady captains, presidents and this year’s president and lady captain were among those taking part.

Scoring was excellent considering conditions with the first four recording scores of below 60, using ten per cent of total handicaps and with a par of 70.

The team of Heather Tidy, Sian Southern, Wendy Johnson and Janet Carter were third overall, easily outperforming their husbands.

The first tee was moved forward 197 yards to where Watts’ drive-in ball landed in the original ceremony in January.

The captain’s team finished eighth, well below what was expected from such a talented bunch. But there will be many more competitions over the year for him to shine in. Watts and vice-captain Steve Reddick presented the prizes.

Results: 1 Martin Leo, Dave Wood, Vic Vincent and Ian Stoneham 58.9pts; 2 S Bingham, M Bingham, B Meloy and R Gilbert 59.6; 3 Heather Tidy, Sian Southern, Wendy Johnson and Janet Carter 59.8 (cb); 4 Richard Longhurst, Rob Walker, Andy Brown and Rob Brown.

Bognor seniors hosted Royal Winchester and ran out comfortable winners 6½-1½. Steve King and Chris Hickling were the stars with a 7&6 win, with Hickling in great form after winning the midweek senior Stableford.

Results: Allan Delves & Trevor Till won 3&1, David Turner & John Woodhead won 3&2, Dave Chalmers & Gary Steventon won 3&2, Richard Hedge & Andy Isitt won 4&3, Alan Fitzgerald & Alastair MacDonald lost 2&1, Clive Millet & Vic Ward won 1 up, Steve King & Chris Hickling won 7&6, Peter Collins & Mike Oates halved

Away to Littlehampton, where the wind was strong, Bognor lost 4½-3½. Local knowledge of the course and conditions proved a handicap Bognor couldn’t overcome.

Bognor started brightly winning three out of the first four pairs, but took only half point from the last four pairs. Once again there was a very strong 4&3 win by match captain Chris Hickling and Gary Steventon, with Richard Hedge and Andy Isiit also repeating their win of the previous week.

Results: Chris Hickling & Gary Steventon won 4&3, Paul Black & Trevor Till lost 1 down, Richard Hedge & Andy Isitt won 4&3, Clive Millet & John Samain won 1 up, Barry Ingate & Jim Catt lost 2&1, Peter Collins & Alan Fitzgerald lost 2&1, Allan Delves & Mike Oates halved, David Chalmers & John Woodhead lost 4&3.

A good few ladies braved the gales to play a Stableford in pairs – six holes four-ball better-ball, six holes greensomes and six foursomes.

Results: 1 Gill Harries and Gill Twyford 35pts; 2 Denise Duquemin and Lynda Searle 32; 3 Margaret Delves and Brigitte Paul 28 (cb); 4 Lynn Miller and Ann Bushell 28 (cb); 5 Jenny Phillmore and Sue Monger 28 (cb); 6 Kay Dady and Sophie James 28 (cb).

LITTLEHAMPTON

The club’s seniors played three matches and held four competitions in March.

At Hindhead, Littlehampton won 4½-3½, then at Hayling Island they lost 6-2. A home match against Hankley Common ended 4-4.

The West Hove Trophy, a medal competition, was won by David Drake with a nett 66. Tim Applewhite and John Boardman were second and third on countback.

The Austin Cup qualifier, a greensome Stableford, was won with 42 points by Tony Falkingham and Mike Lawson ahead of Michael Deacon and Ken Kenny with 40. Third were Barry Lambert and Fred Steines with 39.

The top eight pairs now play on a knockout basis to decide the winner of the cup.

The three-club-and-a-putter competition was won by Ray Lee with 39 points. Runner-up was Roy Buckmaster with 37, on countback from John Whatmore.

The Easter Stableford had a field of more than 50 competitors. Bruce Ball was the winner with 41 points, Colin Skilton was second with 40 and Ray Lee third with 39.