Golf: Gary brushes up on game - and sweeps all before him

Second place went to big-hitting Mike Burgess, proving he is fully recovered from his health issues of last year. In third place with 69, on countback, came fixtures secretary Keith Chapman. These were the only three players to break par.

Just behind them with 70, and the lowest gross score of the day, was David Heard.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for octogenarian Denis Clifton, who holed an ace on the 11th, casually mentioning it was his third hole-in-one. Denis made a generous donation to the captain’s charity.

Last week’s Stableford was remarkable for a relative newcomer to golf, 28-handicapper Deryck Cooper, who scored a two, and was the only player in division two to do so, pocketing a very large prize.

Cowdray Park seniors retained their unbeaten home record when they beat a strong Worthing side 6-2. Cowdray fielded a weakened team because of the demands of players for the prestigious Cyril Blake Trophy match being played on the same day between the same clubs.

But Cowdray showed great resolve led by seniors’ captain and match manager Bill Hummerston, who, partnered by former captain Wally Mitchell, set the ball rolling with a 4&2 win.

Four more consecutive wins followed to give the home side an unassailable lead, with the visitors finding the very fast greens difficult to cope with.

Six of the eight matches ended with no more than a two-hole margin and Worthing will look to gain revenge on their own course in August.

Results (Cowdray names first): Bill Hummerston & Wally Mitchell beat Arthur Nicholls & Mike Machin 4&2; Des White & Paul Owen beat Chris Worral & Eric Gall 2 up; Mike Hughes & Dave Tilley beat Robin Suter & Frank Phillips 2 up; Richard Histed & John Smith beat John Cork & Graham Forshaw 1 up; David Imlach & Dave Darby beat John Wood & Geoff Howard 2&1; John Friend & John Newman lost to Bill Gardner & Ray Close 2&1; David Wickham & Alan Robinson beat Phil Gobeil & Ian Lewis 2&1; Mike Nobes & Gordon Kendall lost to John Dunn & Kieran Markham 5&4.

Cowdray Park seniors visited the picturesque Sands course in Farnham to face Farnham seniors. They lost by the narrow margin of 4½-3½, an improvement on last year.

The home captain was called Dick Turpin but Cowdray couldn’t claim they were robbed.

Match manager David Wickham and partner Tony Pike gave their side a sound start with a 3&2 win, but Farnham rallied to take a winning lead.

Results: David Wickham & Tony Pike beat Dick Turpin & Ian Swaddling 3&2; Dave Lucking & John Start lost to Mike Tiddy & Terry Phillips 4&3; Mike Hancock & Ken Newberry halved with John Oliver & Graham Thomas; Dave Tilley & Rob Doney lost to John Corbyn & Bill Pratt 1 dn; Mike King & Brian Carpenter lost to Mark Forrester & Ken Eagle 5&4; John Stone & Roy Penrose beat David Mason & Tim Green 2 up; Richard Histed & Mike Pratt lost to Eric Christie & Roy Copeland 3&2; Clive Brine & Gary Strowbridge beat Peter Barratt & Dave West 3&2.

Thirty-three ladies played in the Sainsbury qualifier on a beautiful day. Stephanie Bevis and Teresa Beresford came in with the best nett score of 72, followed by Cath Yates and Margaret Hoare on 76.

The top 16 players now play in a singles matchplay competition to win the Sainsbury Trophy.

BOGNOR

There were 69 entrants for the Veterans’ Spring Cup. Overall winner with 43 points was Harry Layton, second was Mike Cann on 42. Division-one winner was Peter McCormack on 39, on countback from Peter Lott and Gerry O’Neill.

Alan Delves with 41 was the winner of division two on countback from Roger Leverton. Barry Ingate was third on 40.

Some 50 members of the veterans’ section took part in the Reg Pain Cup. The winner was Joe Cookson with an outstanding score of 44 points. Second was Peter Selby on 38 on countback from Mike Oates and Jim Morris. Richard Kaemena was fifth on 37 on countback from Dave Orton. The Reg Pain Cup was the second of the qualifying rounds for the Fletcher Trophy. Leading is Keith Simpson with 35, followed by Mike Oates (25) and Terry Haigh (24).

Bognor ladies’ America Cup contest was won on countback by Jacqui Humphreys with a nett score of 69.

Results – Silver: Sue Doughty 71 ocb, Nicki Vincent 71, June Salt 72 ocb, Denise Pratt 72; Bronze A: Jacqui Humphreys 69 ocb, Margaret Flynn 69, Sandra Coulton 70, Edwina Beresford 72; Bronze B: Joan Partridge 70, Barbara Evans 73, Christine Downie 74, Beryl Payne 77.

In blustery but dry conditions, a team of six Bognor ladies visited Ifield in the third round of the Morrice Foursomes. Bognor won 2-1 to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Results: Teresa Byrne & Sophie James lost to Leanne Caffyn & Lisa O’Donnell by 1 hole; June Salt & Nicki Vincent beat Sally Brown & Jane Rodgers by 1 hole; Wendy Johnson & Caroline Pilbeam beat Gill Sampson & Brenda Holman 3&2.

SELSEY

Captain’s Day for the veterans’ section of Selsey GC was celebrated with an 18-hole and a nine-hole Stableford.

A total of 40 players competed for the numerous prizes provided by this year’s Captain, David Tindale, for his day.

The winner after countback of the 18-hole competition was the same as last year, Terry Chapman, with 39 points.

Second was David White, also with 39, and in third was Ray Holmes with 38.

The winner of the nine-hole competition was Maurice Grant with 14 points. Second after countback was Jim Joyce with 13 and third was Doug Errett, also with 13.

Earlier, Maurice Grant had won the Selsey veterans’ Ted Shurman Cup, a nine-hole competition for veterans with a handicap of 28.

CHICHESTER

Chichester ladies played their monthly medal in squally conditions. Amanda Mackenzie was victorious with a nett score of 81. Terry Payne was second with 83 and third was Maggie Martin-Prudhomme with 84.

Saturday competitions had reduced fields because of county matches.

One Stableford was won by Lisa Mitchelmore with 30 points, ahead of Caroline Hawkes on 26 and Amanda Mackenzie 25. The following Saturday Nikki Hood won with 35 points, beating Val Swain (27) and Janet Leonard (22).

The Tuesday competition was a four-ball better-ball with a twist, which meant nominated holes carried double points for the each team.

Winners were Jeannie Blackman and Maggie Martin-Prudhomme with 52 points. Second with 45 points on countback were Terry Payne and Lesly Hance and third were Gill Fielding and Marie Howlett.

The Saturday ladies played the first round of the www.Dot five-clubs-and-a-putter competition.

The winner was junior captain Rebecca Curd with 33 points. Second was Lesley Downs with 31 and third was Lisa Jackson with 30.

AVISFORD PARK

A senior Stableford was won in division one by Mike Gammon with 40 points and in division two by Kevin D’urban-Jackson with 42.

In the club Stableford, Simon Small won division one with 40 points and in division two Steve Redfern won with 37 points. The midweek Stableford was won by Russell Evershed with 39.

The ladies’ medal competition was won by Yvette Charman with a nett 77. The senior Stableford was won in division one by Kevin Brown and in division two by Victor Fowler, both with 40 points.