Golf: Vets and ladies in fine form at Chichester

The day was dry but conditions were not easy as a strengthening seaside breeze allied to firm conditions meant that scoring was not so easy.

All this was ideal for a master craftsman and Brian Melbourn showed his pedigree by scoring steadily throughout to score 39 points with Phil Couchman just one behind.

Result: Winner Brian Melbourn 39pts; 2 Phil Couchman 38; 3 Mike Beer 37; 4 David Blythe 37; 5 Pete Collyer 37; 6 Graham Probert 37.

The following week brought the captain’s charity Stableford, where fun was the order of the day as the vets emptied their pockets for a good cause.

The weather was fine and playing conditions good but given the number of mulligans and ladies tees that were purchased, the scoring was not fantastic.

Food and drink provided on the course may have had something to do with this and in the end only Mike Skinner managed to get his score over 40 – and with 43 points he won by four clear points from Mike Harrington and Robert Stainsby.

Of much more significance was the money raised which was in excess of £1,000 for the Captain’s charity and Bev Shrives – Wrist thanked all his helpers and all who played and contributed to make it such a successful day.

In a thrilling division-three final played at The Dyke, Chichester ladies were just pipped 4-3 by Crowborough Beacon.

On a sunny, blustery day the team of Erica Ellicott, Lynn Plowman, Heddie Straw, Fiona Walsh (captain), Beverley Seymour, Terry Payne and Marilyn Forward gave a fantastic team performance showing great spirit and determination.

All the matches were close with two going to the 18th and Heddie Straw came back from four down to win on the 19th, an amazing fightback. The final result was not decided until the 18th green of the last match.

Fiona, Terry and Heddie have played in all 11 matches during the competition with Fiona (known as Steady Eddie) winning all her games, an impressive record. This is the first time Chichester ladies have reached the final, so although not the victors on the day it was a great achievement to be runners-up.

Earlier in the week during a friendly against Worthing, the wet weather saw the players come in early and the captains agreed an honourable half.

Playing for Chichester were Mo Davison, Pam Hart, Fran Syson, Christine Harper, Trudie Hynes, Sue Ward, Pauline Beale and Sue Winterbotham.

SELSEY

Selsey ladies started another month with the Grandmothers’ Cup. The beautiful bronze trophy of a lady golfer from the early 20th century was presented to the ladies’ section by Meg Mearns on the birth of her first grandchild.

The competition was won by Sharron Williams with 34 points. This is the second year running Sharron has won this trophy. Runner-up was Judy Sharpe with 32 points.

A Stableford competition was played with players using only three clubs and a putter. The competition was won by Sylvia Carter with 31 points and Judy Sharpe with 26.

The ladies also played the Edward Jones par competition. It was won by Janet Blackman, and Meg Mearns was runner-up.

The Margaret Bond Cup is named after the section’s lady captain of 1970 and 1971. The cup was first played for in 1976 and Margaret won it herself in 1977.

The cup has been played for every year and this year’s winner was Judy Sharpe with 36 points, ahead of Beverley Guest with 32.

The Daily Mail Foursomes saw scores which were a credit to the ladies and the event was won by Barbara Winter and Hillary Kennedy Cooke with nett 83. Second were Sylvia Carter and Eddie Williamson with 87.

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The ladies challenged the veterans to the annual Silver Gauntlet competition. This year was even more interesting as the captains of each team are husband and wife. The match was very close and the veterans won the day.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray ladies held their club championship. Playing for the Munro Trophy, the 36-hole contest was played on a cool day.

With the course in superb condition, it was very competitive with Solveig Burton and Tessa Stockwell joint leaders with a gross 82 after 18 holes. Solveig came in the eventual winner with an afternoon round of 78. Tessa was runner-up with a second round of 80 giving her a combined 162.

The winner of the handicap prize was Jane Holden with a net 144.

An 18-hole Stableford was played on the same day for ladies not competing in the championship.

Results: Div 1 - 1 Margaret Curwood 37pts; 2 Terry Hughes 33; 3 Gaynor Dudman 32. Div 2 - 1 Cath Yates 34; 2 Georgie Miller 34; 3 Barbara Smith 33; Div 3 - 1 Sandra Barber 39; 2 Linda Doney 32; 3 Jennifer Benson 30.

Cowdray Park seniors maintained their good home form with a 5½-2½ win over Corhampton, although the final score flattered the home team somewhat.

Half the Cowdray players had played the previous day in the seniors’ invitation. Match manager Wally Mitchell chose wisely when he selected nine-handicapper John Doran as his partner as Doran recorded seven pars and three birdies.

The visiting pair of Keith Waldron and George Angas matched them all the way but Doran held his nerve and Cowdray started with a win by two-up.

The second match was halved before Corhampton levelled. In-form Mike Hughes scored eight pars and a birdie and, with partner Roger Poat, were taken to the 18th before they sealed a win by 2&1.

A comfortable 4&3 win for John Newman and Mike King put the hosts in the lead before David Heard and Brian Carpenter made their position unassailable with a 3&2 win.

Nick Austin and Eric Bounton found themselves one down with two to play before Austin edged the hole to draw the Cowdray pair level. All four players agreed not to play the 18th to ensure the match was halved.

The final match featured the welcome return to match action of Dave Hirons following a knee operation, and it needed all his skill, along with the solid support of Roy Penrose, to cope with the challenge of the Corhampton pair and settle for a half.

Nearest-the-pin prizes were won by Alan Harnden (Corhampton) on the third and Cowdray’s Nick Austin on the ninth.

Following the torrential rain of the previous days, Cowdray Park’s quick-drying qualities were never more evident than when the seniors played their return match against the Hindhead Stags.

The visitors were effusive in their praise of the course, none more so than captain Andy Simms, who jokingly declared he found the middle of the fairways very dry, explaining how he and his partner were able to win the first match.

Some excellent golf from the Hindhead pair was the real reason, with Simms getting a birdie on the first and parring the second and third before Douglas Butler won the fourth hole to give the Cowdray pair of David Laver and Sam Howes little chance of getting back in the game. However, Cowdray’s team rallied against this setback and proceeded to win the next five games to establish an unassailable position.

Wally Mitchell and Dave Lucking played some stunning golf to establish a 4-0 lead by the turn before Lucking issued the coup-de-grace with a birdie on the tenth, the second most difficult hole on the course, before the pair won 6&5.

Another fine individual performance came from Clive Brine, who helped partner Dave Gaff to overcome the opposition by 4&2. Having lost the away match by 6½-1½, Cowdray gained their revenge with a 6-2 victory.

Nearest-the-pin prizes were won by David Wickham (CP) on the ninth and Mike Abbott (Hindhead) on the 11th.

Results (Cowdray Park names first): David Laver & Sam Howes lost to Andy Simms & Douglas Butler 6&4; Richard Histed & Alan Robinson beat Mike Abbott & Nick Reeves 2&1; Wally Mitchell & Dave Lucking beat Richard Vaughan & Joe Harden 6&5; Mark Kelly & Brian Brockhurst beat Muir Richmond & Chris White 5&4; Harvey Terry & David Wickham beat Malcolm Carter & John Rush 2&1; Dave Gaff & Clive Brine beat Ian Christie & Kevin Lower 4&2; Dave Hirons & Tony Castley lost to Frazer Hamilton & Ron Killacky 3&2; Chris Hoare & John Durrell beat John McGuire & John Driscoll 5&4.

BOGNOR

A total of 82 Bognor men took part in the RNLI medal competition, with £152 made for the charity.

Despite difficult conditions, the golf was excellent with a good number of sub-par rounds, none better than the overall winner Mark Watson with an incredible 73 gross, 59 nett. Second was Jason Wickham with 74/61 and third Gordon Catt with 71/65.

In all three divisions the top three places went to sub par rounds.

A ten-year high of 64 took part in the Philip Salver Foursomes and the winners were club secreatary James MacLean and Chris Hickling. Their score of 76/64 just pipped Grant Twine and Paul Brennan who had 78/64.5. Third were Alan Entecott and Roy Tidy with 73/65.5.

Bognor’s seniors have had a busy time with two home games and one away. The derby at Chichester went in the hosts’ favour with a 5-3 win.

At home to Selsey, Bognor won 4½-1½ and at home to Hayling, the visitors went away 5-3 victors.

Scores (v Chichester): Chris Hickling & Andy Isitt lost 3&2, Allan Delves & David Turner lost 5&4, Derek Whiting & Ian Bright halved, Peter Bell & Paul Black won 4&3, Peter Collins & Hugh Diaper lost 5&4, Brian Madgwick & Clive Millett halved, Vic Ward & Ken Catt lost 3&2, Trevor Till & Tony Wells won 2&1.

v Selsey: Barry Ingate & Andy Isitt won 3&2, Stev King & Mike Wilson won 4&2, Richard Hedge & Alastair MacDonald lost 5&3, John Samain & Peter McCormack halved, Brian Madgwick & Vic Ward won 1 up, Chris Hickling & Frank Hodder won 3&2.

v Hayling: Allan Delves & Trevor Till won 2 up, Ian Bright & David Turner lost 4&2, Derek Whiting & Peter Collins lost 2 down, Brian Madgwick & Paul Black won 4&3, Roger Selway & Frank Hodder lost 1 down, Peter Lott & Clive Millett lost 1 down, Vic Ward & Nigel Wainright lost 6&4, Paul Cooper & Andy Isitt won 4&3.

Bognor junior Jordan Vincent has been awarded a golf scholarship to Odessa University in Texas. He will be combining golf with studying accountancy.

Vincent got through to the final of the men’s club championship this year and thanks to some quick match organising the club were able to get the other semi-final and the final played.

Dominic Rainey managed to pip Paul Oliver on the 18th hole to win the semi-final and then faced Vincent in an 18-hole final.

Rainey was two up after nine holes but Vincent finished strongly to secure a 2&1 victory over the 2003 champion. Vincent had also won the championship in 2011.

Everyone at Bognor GC wishes Vincent all the best in America. He is due to be back at the club for a visit at Christmas.

Fifty-five ladies from Bognor GC played in their annual medal and buttons competition. The weather and course were perfect and great scores were achieved.

The winner was Jane Russell with a nett 67, five under par. Jackie Chamberlain was second with 68.

Other scores: Heather Tidy 70, Chloe Court 70, Lyn Harbutt 70, Berit Smallcorn 70, Val Robertson 73, Sara Stoneham 73, Carmel du Plessis 73 and Sally Cameron 73.

A total of 54 ladies played in the annual members’ day Texas scramble. Incorporated into the day was the ladies’ captain’s charity day which was rescheduled from earlier in the year after bad weather.

Ladies teed off at 9.30am but by 11am the forecast rain arrived. By 1pm the rain was playing havoc with the golf and several groups

abandoned the game. However, great scores were achieved by Chloe Court’s team of Sian Southern, Wendy Johnson and Janet Carter with a gross score of 63.8.

Second were Gill Twyford, Sue Meloy, Maureen Gray and Anne Bushell with 67.1; third Lynn Miller, Sheila Sergeant, Barbara Evans and Sue Redman with 69.1.

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