Golf: Brilliant Brown makes it a silver season at Bognor

Andy Brown has become the club champion, having also won the Bert Reid and Len Hodge scratch competitions, and the Scratch Tankard.

Brown was also a runner-up in the UK Matchplay Championship in Dubai. The Erleigh Foursomes was won by Dave Grover and Gary Embleton, beating Keith and Robert Comins. Jim Catt won the Vicliff Trophy, beating Richard Beresford in the final.

Rob Kissell and Grant Cane won the Winter Fourball - the sixth time Kissell has won this event, with three different partners. Dave Hicks and Tom Lea were runners-up.

The winner of the Veterans’ KO competition was Ron Stevens, who defeated Cliff Willis in the final. Peter Selby and Gary Steventon were the two losing semi-finalists.

Some 56 players took part in the men’s supper competition. The winners were Rob Redmond and Steve Reddick with 40 points. Second were Richard Hendrick and Russell Berry on 38; third Richard Barnett and John Lampard on 37.

A total of 54 players took part in the seniors’ Autumn Cup. The overall winner was JJ Stephenson with 41 points, second Roger Leverton on 39.

Division one was won by Frank Hodder on 39, ahead of Cliff Willis (38) and Gary Steventon (37). Harry Layton won division two with 37 points, Terry Haigh second on 32 on countback from John Woodhead.

COWDRAY PARK

As the end of the season approaches, the final two qualifying competitions in November, the medal and Stableford, become vital to the outcome of the Eclectic.

During October all players in the top ten remained there, a rare occurrence in this competition.

Leader Dave Lucking extended his lead to two points over John Newman, but, having to suffer a subsequent handicap reduction, will have his lead reduced to give encouragement to his challengers.

Jan de Vries held on to third while Dave Hirons is making his traditional end-of-season charge - he is fourth but is three shots behind the leader.

Alongside Hirons on 58.5 is Peter Laws, who has crept up the leaderboard surreptitiously with a series of consistent performances.

Cowdray Park seniors completed another successful season of inter-club matches, with wins at home to Betchworth (6½-1½) and at Corhampton (6-2).

In total, 47 matches were played. The home match against Puttenham was abandoned because of torrential rain and it was not possible to re-arrange it.

There were 24 victories, 18 at home and six away; six matches were drawn, three at home and three away; while, of the 17 losses only two were at home.

A total of 83 seniors represented the club in the matches over the season.

The year started at a different venue, Blackmoor, where they faced a strong home side and came away with a fine draw. A sensational 7-1 home win followed against Ham Manor, a score replicated against West Sussex and Ifield.

A feature of the season was close finishes and the largest margin win was achieved against local rivals Liphook by 7-0.

The weather had a major impact on a number of fixtures but the co-operation of clubs and the enthusiasm of players shone through.

Cowdray Park seniors’ annual Autumn Medal began with heavy, squally showers before the sun appeared.

Some greens showed signs of the excessive recent rain and putting proved very difficult. One man who made light of the conditions was David Laver, who recorded an excellent nett score of 70 to earn a handicap reduction.

He remained in the lead for much of the day, until the fourth last group provided three of the four best scores of the day.

Ian Heustice produced his best round of the year, 65 nett, to have his handicap reduced from 14 to 12. He also recorded two twos, at the ninth and 11th, and admitted afterwards: “It was one of those days when all the putts dropped”.

Alongside him was Paul Owen, who recorded the lowest gross score of the day, 68, to claim runners-up spot, while Sam Howes completed the three-ball with a nett 69 and another reduction in handicap.

Single-figure handicapper John Doran claimed third place on countback with a nett 69. Laver had to settle for fifth place on countback from recent winner John Barrett, while Brian Brockhurst claimed his second top-ten finish in a week with 73 to take seventh place on countback from Rodney Fisher. A raffle for the Mary How Trust, raised £109.

An EWGA fourball betterball competition was held by Cowdray ladies. This was a Stableford played off three-quarters handicap.

The winners were Barbara Parker and Tessa Stockwell with 39 points on countback from Ann Tyrrell and Marilyn Davis.

Wendy Street and Lil Cummins were third with 35 points and Sue Brown and Janice Leath were fourth with 33.

The October medal was played on a beautiful sunny day.

Results: Div 1 - Marilyn Davis 76, Jill Parry 78; Div 2 - Beryl Bishop 77, Margaret Hoare 80; Div 3 - Judith Brownlee 85, Mary Morling 87.

GOODWOOD

Sussex golfer Amber Cockram has capped an outstanding season by winning the Junior Open at Golf At Goodwood against a formidable line-up of competitors from all over southern England.

Amber, who took up the sport only three years ago, has made breathtaking progress and reached the final of the Sussex Ladies’ Championship earlier in the year - and has now added the Bobby Locke Junior Open title to her impressive list of achievements.

She scored a gross 76 over the spectacular Downs course and paid tribute to the encouragement she has received from the professional coaching staff at Goodwood, for which she is also a junior ambassador.

The added bonus for the three main prizewinners, including Charlie Parsons and England regional squad member Charlie Strickland, was the chance to drive a Mini saloon around the famous Goodwood racetrack under expert supervision.

The 18-hole medal event attracted players with handicaps ranging from one to 28 and teaching professional Ryan Fenwick said: “I’m delighted with the standard and enthusiasm of all the competitors and we are encouraged by the progress of the youngsters in our junior section”.

The Bobby Locke Junior Open is named after the late South African golfer who won the Open Championship four times and was a frequent golfing visitor to Goodwood.

Stirlands Cricket Club held their first annual golf day at Goodwood’s Park course. The event was attended by 100 golfers, including members, family friends and colleagues of Stirlands CC.

The day was great success for Goodwood and Stirlands and raised valuable funds for the cricket club.

The event was won by the team named Monty and Friends - Ian Montgomery, Keith Meredith, Mike Clowes and Jim Feast. Other prizes included nearest the pins on the par threes won by Peter Paul Ryan, Charles Long and Bob Gallimore and a longest drive won by Sam Pullen.

Thanks went to all those who supported the day and Stirlands now look forward to next year’s event.

AVISFORD PARK

The final of the summer four-ball knockout was played between Chris Wall and Danny Carter and Roy Coulson and Vinny Lampitt, with Wall and Carter victorious.

The midweek Stableford was won by Kevin Brown with 37 points. The senior medal was won in division one by Rob Boulter with a nett score of 65 and Peter Brown in division two with 67.