Golf: Johnson helps keep it in family at Bognor

In the Challenge Cup, he carded a nett 65 in his first round and 70 in his second to win with 135 – two strokes ahead of Rob Kissell, with third place going to Rob Redmond on 138.

The following day the Davis Bowl (foursomes) and Millbourn Cup (four-ball better-ball bogey) were held. Nearly 50 pairs of Bognor players and visitors took part in both. Poor weather affected the scores.

In the Davis Bowl, the top three places were taken by family pairings. Winners with 36 points were father and son Chris and Ian Pettie, second with 35 were brothers Richard and Darron Longhurst and third on countback were father and son Chris and Craig Johnson.

In the Millbourn Cup, winners with plus seven were Norman Lee and Willie Dunn. Second on countback were Rob Kissel and Gary Embleton and third, also on countback, were the Johnsons.

Bognor’s seniors team visited Ham Manor and the game swung end to end with Bognor ahead three times before the last game came down in Ham’s favour for the match to finish 3-3.

Performance of the day was from Bognor’s seniors captain Allan Delves and his partner Peter Lott, winning 6&4.

Results: Allan Delves & Peter Lott won 6&4, Trevor Till & Clive Millett lost 3&2, Ron Stevens & Alan Fitzgerald won 5&3, Dave Turner & Mike Wadley lost 4&3, Frank Hodder & Barry Ingate won 2&1, Dennis Burke & Brian Madgwick lost 3&2.

More than 100 Bognor men took part in the Crouch Cup, a Stableford. There were numerous excellent scores in all divisions but the overall winner on the day with a magnificent score of 42 points was Ian Hendry.

Second on 41 was Tom Stoneham and third with 38 was Bill Cronin.

Bognor’s seniors crossed the Solent for their annual trip to Sandown & Shanklin. The game saw Bognor lose 6½-1½, although a fair few games went to the last hole.

The only pair who won were Andy Isitt and Steve King but it was as usual a super day out.

Results: Gary Steventon & Mike Oates lost 2&1, Allan Delves & Ron Stevens lost 2 down, Ian Bright & Roger Selway lost 5&4, David Turner & David Chalmers lost 6&5, Chris Hickling & Frank Hodder lost 2 down, Trevor Till & Clive Millett halved, Peter Collins & Richard Kaemena lost 4&3, Steve King & Andy Isitt won 2 up.

Thirty-eight men bravely entered the midweek Stableford, with rain and gust of winds reaching 30mph. Winner with 43 points was Andy Isitt, fresh from his success at Shanklin & Sandown. In second place was Richard Hedge on 40; third, on countback, was Dave Chalmers.

A total of 28 ladies from Bognor GC played their annual exchange day, this year at Haywards Heath.

Although a sudden outburst of rain and wind caused a little havoc, an enjoyable game was had by all. The winners were Jackie Chamberlain and Sue Sidebotham with 43 points.

Second were Georgina McCormack and Penny Enticott with 40 points, on countback from Nicki Vincent and Edwina Beresford.

Fifty ladies from Bognor GC played the Junior Rose Bowl Stableford. Winner of the day was Brigitta Paul with 41 points, which resulted in a three-shot handicap reduction.

Other results: Silver Div - 1 Nicola Holton 40pts, 2 Wendy Johnson 38 (cb), 3 Sue Crossen. Bronze A - 1 Denise Duquemin 36, Sue Sidebotham 35 (cb), 3 Janet Weeks. Bronze B - 1 Brigitta Paul 41, Carmel du Plessis 35. Bronze C - 1 Jackie Chamberlain 30, Beryl Payne 26.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors travelled to Littlehampton on a cool, breezy day, which made the links course even more of a test.

Former Cowdray Park member Jan de Vries has become something of a nemesis since joining Littlehampton, with a win in the corresponding match, a high finish in the Cowdray Seniors’ Open and good performances in the Evening League.

This time, however, on his home ground, Cowdray match manager David Tilley and partner Peter Laws put a brake on his success by forcing a hard-earned half in the opening match.

Littlehampton took the lead in match two before Dave Lucking and Frank Cheevers levelled matters with an excellent 4&3 win.

After the completion of matches teeing off at the first, it was 2½-2½, thanks to a win by 2&1 from Roger Poat and David Wickham.

After the home team had re-asserted, John Durrell and John Smith evened matters with a one-up victory, leaving the pressure on the final pair of Roy Penrose and John Newman, who battled through the conditions and held their nerve to claim the final leg by 2&1 against two better handicapped home players to give Cowdray Park an exciting 4½-3½ win and the double over their opponents.

Results (Cowdray names second): Nigel Smith & Jan de Vries halved with David Tilley & Peter Laws; Dennis Osbourne & Rob Hamilton beat Richard Histed & Alan Robinson 5&4; Malcolm Miller & Russell Ixer lost to Dave Lucking & Frank Cheevers 4&3; Mike Phelps & Andy Bayford beat George Crouch & Alistair Proctor 1up; Roger Johnson & Richard James lost to Roger Poat & David Wickham 2&1; John Edwards & John Miller beat Chris Hoare & Mick Folkes 4&2; Tony Falkingham & Roly Steele lost to John Durrell & John Smith 1up; Brian Herechuk & Malcolm Porter lost to Roy Penrose & John Newman 2&1.

Cowdray seniors hosted their near-neighbours from the West Sussex club, whose normal format at home is foursomes but play four-ball better-ball away from home. Cowdray enjoyed a 7-1 win.

The visitors arrived a player short and borrowed home member Brian Carpenter and he and his partner put up a spirited performance to go down by only one hole to one of Cowdray’s strongest pairings, David Heard and Ian Goodall.

The day was one of unrelenting success for the home side, starting with match manager David Tilley and Mike Holden winning by 5&4 until the final pairing of Chris Hoare and Howard Morley who won by 7&5.

The 7-1 win extends Cowdray’s fine home record. But when the return fixture is played at West Sussex under the foursomes format there could well be a different outcome.

Results (Cowdray names first): David Tilley & Mike Holden beat John Sharman & Alan Hunt 5&4; Harvey Terry & Mick Folkes beat Rob Davidson & Graham Curtis 5&3; Dave Lucking & David Wickham beat Lex Willis & Alan Crabb 4&3; David Heard & Ian Goodall beat Jack Wigan & Brian Carpenter 1up; John Newman & Wally Mitchell beat Stuart Reid & Mike Sherwood 5&4; Bill Hummerston & Mike Cardiff beat Rob Taylor & John Varney 5&4; John Smith & John Durrell lost to Derrick Simpson & Roger Skillin 1dn; Chris Hoare & Howard Morley beat Vic Porter & Jeremy Buckwell 7&5.

Sunny weather, cakes on the course and Pimms and canapes in the clubhouse all helped make a fantastic day for those playing in the Cowdray Park Lady Captain’s Day.

More than 120 people joined in the competition – an individual Stableford with double points on all the par threes and raised more than £1,200 for the captain’s charity, Macmillan.

Scores: Ladies - 1 Kate Willi 55pts, 2 Janet Poat 50, 3 Judy Stillwell 50. Gents - 1 Steve Chalcraft 54, 2 Peter Hardcastle 51, 3 S Dickenson 49. Nearest the pins, 9th - Terry Hughes, 11th - Jill Parry, 3rd - Dave Hirons, 17th - Jack Leask.

The winners of the Daily Mail foursomes were Marilyn Davis and Sally Williams with a nett 76. Runners-up were Solveig Burton and Tessa Stockwell with 78. Jill Parry and Sue Brown were third with 79, on countback from Janice Leath and Jenny Clegg.

Some 77 players took part in Cowdray Park’s monthly medal on a bright and breezy day.

Scott Foxon took the honours in division one, with the day’s joint lowest score of 65, closely followed by Andy Salmon, Darren Clarke and multi-winner Scott Evans, all on 67.

Chris Strudwick continued his run of top-ten finishes, while the irrepressible Dave Hirons made a speedy return following a knee operation to claim a spot in the top 12 with 72.

The other two divisions were dominated by members of the seniors’ section. John Newman took pride of place in division two with 68, beating Steve Lucking by one shot, and two other seniors, Ken Marjoram and David Tilley, fourth and fifth with 72 apiece.

In division three, John Wyatt equalled the day’s best score of 65, closely followed by Steve Hathaway on 66, continuing his fine run of recent form.

Leading scores: Div 1: 65 Scott Foxon; 67 Andy Salmon, Darren Clarke, Scott Evans; 68 Craig Holden; 69 Matt Harrison, Guy Goodens;. Div 2: 68 John Newman; 69 Steve Lucking; 71 Richard Whitcomb; 72 Ken Marjoram, David Tilley. Div 3: 65 John Wyatt; 66 Steve Hathaway; 70 Steven West; 71 Eric Morrish.

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