Rivals call a Hallt to Cowdray contest... Penge sets Dublin course record

Cowdray seniors competed for the Podmore Salver on a brilliantly sunny day, but with a stiff cool breeze. The format was greensomes Stableford.
Mark Kelly and Peter Hallt, winners of the Podmore SalverMark Kelly and Peter Hallt, winners of the Podmore Salver
Mark Kelly and Peter Hallt, winners of the Podmore Salver

Winners with an excellent 43 points were Mark Kelly and Peter Hallt, followed by four pairs on 41 points, the places being decided on countback.

Taking second spot for the second year running was Brian Brockhurst, this time partnering Phill Morris, followed by Mick Fillary and David Tilley. Fourth were Peter Laws and Ken Marjoram and fifth were Frank Cheevers and Harvey Terry.

Seven twos were recorded on the day.

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Mike Hughes, deputising for captain Derek Smith, thanked the players for raising £112 in the raffle for Chestnut Tree House hospice.

Amateur golfer David Coombes, from Bury near Pulborough, won the Harwoods Audi invitational at the Cowdray Park with a score of 42 points.

The top qualifiers from the Stableford will pair up in a regional final at The London Club in Kent in July.

The one-day qualifying competition, supported by Audi Centres in Southampton, Portsmouth and Five Oaks, was one of almost 40 Audi quattro Cup invitational events staged throughout the UK. Seven regional finals are held in July with the top 18 pairs going forward to the Audi quattro Cup UK final at Bowood Golf & Country Club near Calne, Wiltshire in September.

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Ultimately two “pairs” representing Great Britain compete in the Audi quattro Cup world final in Spain in October.

Cowdray seniors travelled to Godalming to face the West Surrey Sages on their beautiful course.

After an even opening, with most matches closely contested, the Sages finally asserted in the final three matches to win 5½-2½.

The hosts took the lead in the first match before Tony Pike and Wally Mitchell equalised with a 3&1 win. Three of the four players all played off a handicap of ten, leaving Wally Mitchell in receipt of nine shots, a fact he readily exploited, starting with a win on the testing first hole.

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The Cowdray pair gelled well and, by the turn, they were three up, and they maintained the lead through to the finish courtesy of some steady golf from Tony Pike to win 3&1.

West Surrey retook the lead before Cowdray levelled again through match manager Terry Jasper and David Balfour, who won a close contest 2&1.

The fifth match was halved before the home side asserted themselves and won the final three matches to run out clear winners.

Results (West Surrey names first): Mike Harrison & Gavin Bell beat Sam Howes & Clive Brine 2up; Mike Sharpe & Caitteur Gratheur lost to Tony Pike & Wally Mitchell 3&1; Robert Secrett & Arthur Blackman beat Ian Heustice & David Wickham 2&1; Jonathan Hills & James Staff lost to Terry Jasper & David Balfour 2&1; Ray Tracey & Robin Gorringe halved with Chris Hutchings & John Fife; Sandy Meaden & Mike Fabian beat Trevor Edwards & Pat Harrison 2 up; Matthew Hall & John Roberts beat Mike Holden & Mike Briant 2 up; Terry Tidbury & John Wharton beat Barry Overington & Mike Hughes 4&3.

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Cowdray Park travelled to face Royal Eastbourne in the second round of the prestigious Cyril Blake competition. They emerged triumphant after a nerve-wracking sudden death play-off.

The two Daves, Balfour and Hirons, teed off first and battled well for a 2&1 win. Alan Gormley and Sean Gallagher held an early lead but had to give best in the end by 3&2.

Dave Lucking and Harvey Terry re-established the lead for the visitors with a 3&2 win. The home side levelled matters in the final match, with the day’s biggest winning margin, 5&4.

This brought the match to sudden death, in which Cowdray nominated Balfour and Hirons. Having missed a winning chance on the first extra hole, they made no mistake on the second, and put their side into round three.

GOODWOOD

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Goodwood ambassador Marco Penge showcased his talents once again by breaking the course record at Royal Dublin in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open.

The 17-year-old from Horsham overcame a pulled intercostal muscle – for which he had been receiving physiotherapy and acupuncture – to get round the course in 64 during the second day.

The Goodwood player ultimately finished the competition nine under par in joint fourth, but winner Colm Campbell was particularly struck by Penge’s performance.

He said “Sixty-four is a serious round of golf. It’s hard to break 70 here, so to go six better is impressive.”

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Penge’s round shaved a shot from the year-long record that had been held by previous championship winner Gavin Moynihan.

With Walker Cup Great Britain and Ireland captain Craig Watson watching, Penge is now considered one of the leading contenders for that competition, in which the team will face the US at Los Angeles Country Club next year. However, Penge is keen to tackle the European Tour Qualifying School this autumn, so is unsure about where the game may take him in 2017.

Penge said: “I didn’t realise I had broken the record until my mum said ‘I think you have broken the course record!’ This was my first course record and to have achieved this at Royal Dublin is fantastic.”

The young golfer is in action again this week in the French men’s amateur stroke play championship at Chantilly Golf Club.

SELSEY

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Selsey’s veterans and friends competition was attended by more than 40 players on a day plagued by light rain.

The teams teed off with a shotgun start and plodded around the rain-soaked course which although very wet was in very good condition.

Everybody seemed to enjoy the competition.

The winners were announced as Paul Boughton and his partner Phil Hall, who were presented with a commemorative glass and a bottle of spirits.

A raffle was also held and a big vote of thanks was given to Mr Bobby Moore for organising the day.

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It was raining again for the pre-presentation competition which, after a delay to allow the rain to ease, was played over nine holes.

The presentation took place after the players had dried out.

Brian Chamberlain won the Monthly Medal for April while Basil Taplin was presented with the Ted Shurman Cup by captain Peter Senft – this is for players with a handicap of 28 or more and played over a nine-hole competition.

David White was presented with the trophy and commemorative glass as winner of the winter singles knockout.

CHICHESTER

The club’s ladies have had a flying start to the season.

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In division one, Chichester ladies have played three matches and won two, beating Cooden Beach 4-3 and The Dyke 4½-2½, both home matches.

The division-two team have played only one match so far, beating Brighton & Hove 4-3.

In division three, in which Chichester finished runners-up in 2015, the team are surging ahead in the five matches played so far.

The team, captained by Fiona Walsh, have played with fierce determination and have beaten Cowdray Park 5-2 away and 6-1 at home. They have beaten Mannings Heath 5-2 at home and drawn the away match. And they won 5½-1½ at home to Worthing.

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Chichester ladies have reached round five of the Mail on Sunday competition, having beaten Bognor, West Hove, Hayling and Royal Winchester. The team play Shanklin and Sandown in the next round.

More success has come in the Morrice Foursomes. The team have reached round three, having beaten Mannings Heath and Bognor.

In the Daily Mail Foursomes, Caroline Hawkes and Fiona Walsh are through to the fourth round, having beaten Selsey and Goodwood, with a bye in the third round.

Chichester ladies do look like the team to beat this season.

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