Remembrance Day is marked by golfers

Bognor seniors held their last '˜major' of the year. Known as the Poppy Day competition, it sees members who were in a service played for that team, and they were joined by many non-services members.
Richard Hedge and Jim Catt after the Poppy Day contest at Bognor Golf ClubRichard Hedge and Jim Catt after the Poppy Day contest at Bognor Golf Club
Richard Hedge and Jim Catt after the Poppy Day contest at Bognor Golf Club

The Army, RAF, Royal Navy and Home Guard had 15 players representing them and on a beautiful autumnal day the scoring was excellent.

The winning service team were the Army, with Richard Hedge taking the trophy on behalf of the team. Notable Stableford scores were Phil Conisbee’s excellent 46 points which also brought a reduction of three in his handicap and John Chapman’s 42 points also brought a handicap reduction.

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Each service’s best scores were awarded prizes – these were: Army – Phil Conisbee, Navy – Richard Beresford, RAF - John Harnett and Home Guard – Mike Oates.

There were a host of other prizes presented by seniors’ captain Jim Catt after bangers and mash. He thanked David Turner who took over the organisation this year and created a splendid event. All players enjoyed some wartime musical classics.

A new November golfing event was introduced at Bognor Golf Club last year and set out raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, the charity that helps so many with this nasty but all-too-common disease.

Some 120 players took to the course to support the event this year.

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Club captain Chris Hickling invited a few teams and members from neighbouring clubs. A number of the participants wore the traditional Mexican moustaches.

It was run as a Texas scramble, and with the perfect weather and course conditions the scores were remarkable.

Congratulations to the winning team of Simon Watts, Rob Comins, Mark Watson and Mick Flynn with a nett score of 53.1.

In second place with a nett 54.2 were Dave Wood, Dom Rainey, Richard Longhurst and Andy Brown. Third on countback with a nett 57.6 were Andy Wiggins, Chris Spedding, Rob Redmond and Patrick Colvin.

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The main purpose of the day was to rai funds and a magnificent £800 is in the bag already, even before the second event this Sunday, which still has room for more teamsv – sign up on the easel in the Spike Bar.

A cold but dry and sunny day greeted the ladies at Bognor GC for the four clubs and putter competition.

The ladies were free to choose five clubs, which must include a putter, to take on to the course. Limiting the number of clubs means the club selection process can be half the fun of this competition.

Results: Silver Division: 1 Sue Sidebotham, 2 Sue Meloy, 3 Sue Crossen, 4 Wendy Johnson. Bronze A Division: 1 Denise Duquemin, 2 Georgina McCormack, 3 Sara Stoneham. Bronze B Division: 1 Rita West, 2 Kim Mercer, 3 Elaine Conisbee. Bronze C Division: 1 Andrea Cooper, 2 Maleta Moore.

CHICHESTER

Chichester vets played for the Remembrance Day Trophy.

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Nick Hobbs came home with 40 points to win the trophy, despite very windy conditions and dampness underfoot after overnight rain.

He was a clear winner as the second and third-placed Mike Skinner and Phil Couchman came in with 37 and had to be split on countback.

All the entry money went to the Poppy Appeal and the vets also sent a wreath to be placed in the Chichester Remembranceparade.

Result: 1 Nick Hobbs 40pts; 2 Mike Skinner 37; 3 Phil Couchman 37; 4 David Cousins 36; 5 Chris Penny 35.

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COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park held their monthly medal competition on a beautiful autumn day, with the course in fine condition.

Division one went the way of relatively-new member, Richard Presscott from Alresford, who helps out in the pro shop. His winning score of 68 took the honours by three from club champion Todd White and Sean Gallagher, both with 71.

White recorded the day’s lowest gross score of 74.

In division two there was a tie for first place on 67 between Laurence Potts and Nick Sampson, with Potts taking it on countback. Adam Exall was next on 71.

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Division three provided the lowest nett score of the day when a resurgent Bernie May recorded 65, beating another player finding his form again in Graham Angell with 69.

Cowdray Park seniors’ Stableford was more than a usual monthly competition as it featured the final qualifying rounds to determine the destinations of both the Ken Young Ecletic and Carter Trophies.

It was a dull start to the day before the sun came out, and as the day wore on, the scores improved.

Mark Kelly, a challenger for the Carter Trophy, made an early statement with a score of 37. Having won division two last month, Wally Mitchell completed the double with another win, recording 39 points, holding off Richard Burden, with 38, who was aided by two twos on ninth and 17th.

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Playing alongside Burden was Arthur Mayson, who claimed a share of third place on 37, but still found himself in the buffer zone.

In division one, Kelly, Paul Owen and Allen Sibley all took a share of the lead with 37 before Rod Brown then raised the bar to 38 points.

John Hall, leader of the Eclectic at the start of play, scored 40 points but was unable to advance his Eclectic score, so had to sweat it out until the end of the day. John Newman came in also with 40, but lost out to Hall on countback.

Twos were scored by Peter Hallt, Mick Fillary, Harvey Terry, Gordon Kendall, Burden, Alistair Proctor and Dave Coombes.

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Leading scores: Div 1 - 40 John Hall John Newman; 38 Rod Brown; 37 Paul Owen, Mark Kelly, Allen Sibley; 36 Peter Hallt, Dave Coombes, Harvey Terry. Div 2 - 39 Wally Mitchell, 38 Richard Burden; 37 Mike Holden, Arthur Mayson; 35 Rodney Fisher, Dave Darby, Alistair Proctor.

GOODWOOD

The 2016 summer knockouts saw 193 Golf At Goodwood members entering five different formats – men’s and ladies’ singles, seniors’ singles, scratch singles and Chapman pairs.

The men’s singles had 60 entries to play six rounds on the Downs course. After the first four rounds and the semi-finals, Dave Porter (2) played Ken Fisher-Pascal (13) in the final. Despite giving Fisher-Pascal 11 shots, Porter was the victor, receiving 34 credits for his efforts.

The ladies’ singles welcomed 21 entrantso play five rounds on the Downs course. The final saw Jill Richardson (26) taking on Carol Smith (5). Richardson was receiving 21 shots, making it a very tough task for Smith, so it was the former who emerged the winner.

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In the seniors’ singles, 33 played six rounds on the Park course and Vernon D’Costa (19) and Michael Hancock (14) met in the final. It went to the very last shot, Hancock the victor receiving 19 credits for his efforts.

The scratch singles involved 17 entries to play five rounds of scratch matchplay on the Downs course. Dave Porter (2) challenged Paul Millard (5) in the final and Porter added to his victory in the men’s singles by taking the spoils. The Chapman Pairs had 31 pairs playing five rounds of this intriguing matchplay format on the Downs course. Both players teed off and switched balls.

John McGregor and Aiden Walls challenged James Beck and the in-form Dave Porter in the final. Porter again took victory, aided ably by Beck.

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