Cowdray Park pair aim to make Daily Mail headlines

The winners of the qualifier – John Doran and Paul Terry – have gone through to represent Cowdray GC in the Daily Mail Foursomes. Their first match is away to Bognor.

Second were Roger Murphy and Dave Lucking on 38, ahead of Richard Whitcomb and Phil Harrison, also on 38.

In the rearranged February Medal, 83 played.

Scores: Div 1: 1 Sean Gallagher nett 63 (overall winner), 2 Chris Dormer 66; Div 2: 1 Russell Stagg 67, 2 Andy Morgan 68. Div 3: 1 Paul Terry 66, 2 Matt Callow 70.

Cowdray Park’s Winter League side made a valiant effort to overhaul leaders Puttenham, at the top of the Surrey & West Sussex Winter League. They overcame visitors Farnham 3-1 but just fell short of Puttenham, who, with one game left, are half a point ahead of Cowdray.

Captain for the day Dave Tilley and partner Harvey Terry won the opening match 4-3 to set the ball rolling. But the second match, featuring Phil Harrison and Peter Hallt, resulted in the day’s sole defeat for the home side when they ran into a Farnham player who played well above his handicap on the day.

The final two matches went to Cowdray, with Pat Harrison and Terry Jasper winning 4&3 and Roger Poat and Rob Doney edging home by one up.

Although they had the best home record in the League, some of Cowdray’s away form was slightly disappointing.

Congratulations to Puttenham for their success this season.

Results (Cowdray names first): Dave Tilley & Harvey Terry beat John Cooper & Evan Ames 4&3; Phil Harrison & Peter Hallt lost to Ian Anscombe & Bernard Godward 3&2; Pat Harrison & Terry Jasper beat Mike Ward & Greg Faulkner 4&3; Roger Poat & Rob Doney beat Mike Tiddy & Dave Lowery 1 up.

Cowdray Park seniors’ Stableford was cancelled when heavy overnight fog was slow to clear.

The seniors’ winter singles for the Sandell Trophy is approaching the final stages, with Mike Hancock confirmed as the first finalist having overcome the determined challenge of the in-form Terry Jasper.

His opponent will be one of two well-handicapped Veterans, Wally Mitchell and Bill McGregor.

Cowdray Park Seniors began their season of inter-club matches in unusual surroundings: away, when they are normally at home for the first few fixtures of each year.

They travelled to Blackmoor hoping to reverse last year’s 4½-3½ defeat and, inspired by stand-in skipper Dave Tilley, forced a 4-4 draw.

The visitors had the best possible start, with two former seniors’ captains, Tilley and Wally Mitchell, storming to a 5&4 win over their hosts. Cowdray’s lead was short-lived as Blackmoor drew level but Derek Smith and John Stone restored the lead for Cowdray by winning one up.

Dave Hirons and Roy Penrose supplemented that with a 2&1 victory to put the visitors 3-1 up. The first match starting at the first tee ended with a win for the hosts but the final three went to the home side 2-1, with only Mike Hancock and John Lee prevailing for Cowdray Park.

Results (Cowdray names first): Dave Tilley & Wally Mitchell beat Bill Lilley & Alan Simpson 5&4; Jan de Vries & Alan Godfree lost to Ernie Roberts & David Fox 3&2; Derek Smith & John Stone beat Chris Ingham & Dave Worrall 1up; Dave Hirons & Roy Penrose beat Mike White & Norman Bolster 2&1; Roger Poat & Clive Brine lost to David Frost & Barry Collins 2dn; John Newman & Mike Hughes lost to Peter Hunt & Keith Brown 1dn; Mike Hancock & John Lee beat Graham Herbert & Ed Jenner 3&2; Sam Howes & Bruce Spooner lost to Ross Sellers & Ray Cuckow 4&2.

The first competition held in March by Cowdray ladies was a Stableford, with players using only three clubs and a putter.

The winner was Marilyn Davis with 33 points, followed closely by Glenda Luff with 32. Third place was shared by Polly Davenport, Ann Tyrrell and Gaynor Dudman with 31. The winner of the Half Century Vase is Sue Brown with a nett 69. Pat Hewson was second with 70, Anne Laver third with 71.

BOGNOR

Sixty ladies were in the draw for the high low foursomes competition in which a high-handicap player joins a low-handicap player.

Results: 1 June Salt & Debbie Fenton 35pts ocb, 2 Penny Entecott & Kay Kingswell 35, 3 Georgina McCormack & Sally Cameron 34, 4 Gill Harries & Jane Finch 33, 5 Jane Russell & Wendi Bell 32.

There were 64 entrants for the first round of four in the veterans’ Fletcher Trophy.

Keith Simpson’s 42 was the best score of the day with John King second on 41. Third was Terry Haigh with 40 on countback from Roger Leverton and Andy Bence. Four tied on 39, with Mike Cann ahead of John Doughty, Trevor Till and Graham Lucas on countback.

AVISFORD PARK

Another hole in one has been seen at the club – Brian Parkinson managed it on the second hole.

The midweek Stableford was won by Phil Burr with 38 points.

On Saturday a St Patrick’s Day Stableford was won by James Urquhart with 44 points. Ian Franklin was second with 41 and David Rudman third on countback with 41. The nearest the pins were won by Lee Passey on the 13th, James Urquhart on the 15th and Hugh Hooper on the 18th.

The final of the winter four-ball knockout was played, Rob Baker and Mark Heron beating Bob West and Michael Dunn.

The seniors play the Shorrock Shield - a greensomes pairs competition - and the winners were Brian Coughlan and Raymond Owen with a nett 64.

In second place were Christopher Machin and David Farrer with 65.

CHICHESTER

Chichester ladies played their first medal competition of the year in favourable conditions.

The scoring was good with the eventual winner Erica Ellicott coming in with a nett 71. In second place was Val Edwards with 73. Among four ladies who scored 74, Elaine Fell came third on countback.