Golf: Chilly start for Terry - and a damp one for Robert

There was a frosty start for a good turnout to see the new lady captain Terry Payne drive off.

She held a Bowmaker team competition, and the winners were Caroline Hawkes, Sandi Johnstone and Wendy Jeffries, who came in with a total of 69 points.

More than £400 was raised for Terry’s charity, which is the Snowdrop Trust.

A few days later she held a team Stableford for the Saturday ladies. The winners, with 96 points, were Caroline Hawkes, Liza Michelmore and Val Swain.

Lady members have wished Terry all the best for her year as captain.

Meanwhile, it just started to rain as the new veterans’ captain, Robert Stainsby, hit his drive on the first tee to usher in his captain’s year.

The ball soared through the air and landed in the rough - just the correct distance for someone to pick up the fine bottle of alcohol he had provided for his guess-the-distance challenge.

This was so well supported that more than £250 was raised for his chosen charity, the Snowdrop Trust.

The Stableford competition continued in intermittent rain and strong winds, making conditions difficult for the first two hours. But the 52 players who braved the weather were rewarded when it brightened up.

Scoring was remarkably good, as exemplified by our eight-handicapper Harry Harper, who won with 37 points on countback from Roy Harding and Chris Page.

Nearest the pins were won by Peter Abbott, Norman Moore, David Cousins and Mike Harrington.

COWDRAY PARK

A two and three ball fun competition was held by Cowdray ladies.

Results: 3 Ball - 1 Polly Davenport, Jane Holden, Marilyn Davis 76pts, 2 Barbara Parker, Sue Brown, Tessa Stockwell 74; 3 Pam Leach, Margaret Curwood, Terry Hughes 69; 4 Jill Parry, Solveig Burton, Lil Cummins 67.

2 Ball - 1 Susie Brockhurst, Barbara Smith 63; 2 Ann Tyrrell, Stephanie Bevis 53; 3 Maureen Bailey, Pauline Lamb 53; 4 Mary Morling, Myrna Heustice 48.

A Texas scramble was held.

Results: 1 Sue Brown, Caroline Haynes, Jenny Nicholls 75 nett; 2 Ann Tyrrell, Audrey Hodgson, Linda Doney 75; 3 Lil Cummins, Susie Brockhurst, Gina Barnfield 75; 4 Solveig Burton, Terry Hughes, Sue Morris 77.

Cowdray Park seniors’ November Stableford was a defining point in the season for a number of players, as the final placings would determine the outcome of the Carter Trophy and the Eclectic.

In the Carter Trophy, Paul Owen went into the final day with a significant lead and could be caught only if he failed to score a point and nearest challenger Wally Mitchell won on the day.

Mitchell returned a creditable 35 points but this was not sufficient to win, nor deny Owen the title.

The Eclectic was more competitive, with Dave Lucking holding a narrow lead over John Newman going into the final round. With two birdies on the 13th and 15th, he extended his lead to four points.

His winning total of 53.5 points off a seven handicap was a fine achievement and he was never out of the top two all year. Newman held on to second spot while the unlucky Dave Hirons made his customary late charge but just failed this year.

Two players made strong progress in the final month: Brian Carpenter improved from 24th to seventh and Bill Brownlee from 22nd to 11th.

The Stableford produced excellent scoring despite the dull, cold weather.

Winner in division one with 39 points on countback, on only his second appearance, was Nick Austin, following his second place on his debut. He is obviously a man to to be feared in this ever-burgeoning section of the club.

Runner-up, also with 39, was David Tilley, while third went to a back-to-form Phil Harrison.

Division two provided the most sensational scoring of the day, with the ever-improving Sam Howes shooting a superb 45 points to win the overall competition and earn a two-shot handicap reduction and promotion to division one.

Alan Cram, playing in the same group as Howes, came second with 40 points.

Carpenter shrugged off a recent illness to score 39 points, his best round for some time, and claim third.

Only five twos were scored, four of them on the par-three 11th hole, by John Doran, Colin Tebbutt, Jim Booth and Mike Nobes, who also scored an eagle two on the par-four 12th.

The raffle raised £156 for the captain’s charity, boosted by a £10 donation from Tony Morrison.

BOGNOR

The club’s seniors have played two of their winter matches. At Petersfield, they lost 5½-2½ in the last game of a very successful season for Roger Selway before he hands over the seniors’ captaincy to David Turner.

Scores: R Selway & Barry Ingate lost 3&2; D Turner & H Layton won 2&1, F Hodder & V Ward halved; R Horton & P Collins lost 3&2, T Wells & D Hollis lost 4&3, B Wolstencroft & C Millett lost 2&1, J King & T Till won 1 up, D Burke & P McCormack lost 3&2.

The other match, at home to Waterlooville, was also lost 5½-2½. In steady rain, Clive Millett and Hugh Diaper achieved an excellent 7&6 win.

Other scores: D Turner & J King won 1 up, F Hodder & D Sheath halved, R Hedge & D Hollis lost 4&2, B Wolstencroft & J Woodhead lost 1 down, B Bennett & V Ward lost 4&3, B Baylis & D Burke lost 2&1, J Barker & P Collins lost 4&2.

Bognor ladies played a Turkey Stableford. The winner of division one was Sophie James with 38 points, on countback from Nicky Vincent. Sian Southerton was third on 37.

Debbie Fenton won division two with 35 points, second was Shiela Hendrick with 34 and Val Robertson third on 32.

With 34 points Maleta Moore was the winner of division three, Barbara Evans second on 31 and June Smith third on 30.