Young golfers find much merit in Chichester's NA Al Nassar contest

Chichester Golf Club held the NA Al Nassar Junior Open with young golfers from as far afield as East Sussex and Southampton coming to play in the Sussex order of merit competition.

Oli Bradbury, from Chichester, took the winner’s trophy for a second year in a row, winning with a gross score of 73 on the par 72 course.

Second was Michael Bullen, the 2009 winner, from Chichester’s sister club, Hill Barn in Worthing, with a gross score of 75. Also collecting a prize was Christopher Meredith from Beauport Park near Hastings with gross 77.

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Bradbury still has time to make it three in a row, as at just 16 this year, he will be eligible to play next year too.

As well as the scratch competition, there were also prizes for category winners.

Division one winner (0-9 handicap) was Stephen Mann from Worthing GC with nett 73, and Chichester’s junior captain Tom Dry took the prize in division two (handicap 10-17) with nett 72.

A highlight of the day was Joseph Fradgley’s amazing round. The Chichester Golf Club youngster won the division three category (18+ handicap) with by far the best nett score of the whole day.

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The 11-year-old, who has a handicap of 25, came in with nett 62 - great reward for all his hard work, as he is a very dedicated player, spending lots of time at the club practising and playing in competitions.

He is definitely one to look out for as a future NA Al Nassar winner.

Nearest-the-pin prizes went to Michael Bullen, Matt Campbell, Henry Jackson and Oli Bradbury and Jordan Russell took prize for longest drive.

A special thank-you went to all who helped make the day a success, including junior organiser Julie Rogers and handicap secretary Caroline Hawkes.

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Chichester GC are supportive of junior players and offer membership for under-18s at just £100 for a year. This includes unlimited play on four 18-hole courses with no restriction.

For more information go to www.chichestergolf.com or call 01243 536666.

COWDRAY PARK

The J & J Cup, a 36-hole four-ball better-ball medal, attracted 22 pairs.

Scoring this year was very low, with Steve Lucking and Colin West posting a nett score of 61 on the first day.

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On the second day with the weather slightly better, again there were low scores with Russell Stagg and Shaun Pay recording an excellent nett 59 to go with their 64 on day one.

That meant they won by two from Harvey Terry and Martin Day, who had two excellent rounds of 62 and 63. Lucking and West were third with 127.

Cowdray Park seniors locked horns with their counterparts from the West Sussex club at Cowdray Park.

The four-ball better ball format is not a method employed at West Sussex for matches, as they favour the foursomes format. The home side ran out comfortable winners by 6-2 after an early setback in the lead match involving match manager Dave Tilley and seniors’ captain Peter Burton, who went down by the minimum margin of one down.

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The best individual performances came from Bill Brownlee, who partnered Mike Hancock to a 3&2 win, and Brian Carpenter, who joined with Ian Heustice to win 6&5.

Victory was sealed by the last pair of John Doran and Graham Evans, who prevailed by 4&2. The return match later in the year will be played as foursomes, which does not suit everyone and could lead to a reverse in fortunes.

Cowdray results: Dave Tilley & Peter Burton lost 1 down; Harvey Terry & Rob Doney won 3&2; Paul Berry & Ian Goodall halved; Mike Hancock & Bill Brownlee won 3&2; Jan de Vries & Mike Cardiff won 3&2; John Newman & Gary Strowbridge halved; Ian Heustice & Brian Carpenter won 6&5; John Doran & Graham Evans won 4&2.

The Seniors seem unable to transfer their irrepressible home form to the away fixtures. They visited the seaside course at Bognor and were defeated 6-2 by the home side.

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With the course in excellent condition, the visitors seemed unable to cope with the hard and fast greens, which made ball control difficult.

Comeback of the day came from the Cowdray duo of Mel Milburn and Tony Castley, who, finding themselves four down after 11 holes, won four of the next five holes to level matters. The win was secured on the final hole by the home side.

The two Cowdray victories were by large margins by Richard Histed and Mike Cardiff (5&4) and Roger Poat and Ralph Fanshawe (4&3).

Results (Cowdray names first): Mike Hancock & Peter Burton lost to John Owen & John Woodhead 1dn; Mel Milburn & Tony Castley lost to Frank Hodder &

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Joe Cookson 1dn; Pat Harrison & Roy Penrose lost to Cliff Willis & Mike Wilson 6&4; John Newman & Trevor Cousins lost to Ian Simpson & Hugh Diaper 2dn; Richard Histed & Mike Cardiff beat Richard Hedge & Dennis Burke 5&4; Roger Poat & Ralph Fanshawe beat Peter Lott & David Hollis 4&3; John Smith & Trevor Edwards lost to Andy Bence & Alan Fitzgerald 2&1; Dave Finn & Colin Tebbutt lost to Peter Purnell & David Bowen 4&3.

On a scorching hot day with conditions providing extra roll on the fairways, Cowdray Park seniors entertained their counterparts from Blackmoor.

The match proved very exciting and close between two evenly-matched sides.

Cowdray were conceding shots in seven of the eight matches and this just swung the balance in favour of the visitors, who inflicted the first home defeat on Cowdray by 4½-3½.

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Five matches were lost on the final green and one match was halved, with the remaining two decided by wide margins. Making his debut as match manager, John Doran set a good example for his team, winning with partner Sam Howes one up.

Results: John Doran & Sam Howes beat Bill Lilley & Keith Brown 1up; Dave Finn & Graham Evans lost to

Alan Simpson & Jeff Lee 5&3; Paul Berry & Brian Carpenter beat Mike White & David Fox 5&4; Richard Keep & Trevor Edwards beat Martin Bell & Peter Hunt 1up; Dave Hirons & Peter Clarke lost to Andy Matthew & Graham Herbert 1dn; Allen Sibley & Ray Tucker halved with Chris Ingram & Ed Jenner; Alan Robinson & Roy Penrose lost to Maurice Bonner & Barry Collins 1dn; John Stone & Peter Burton lost to Stuart Wilson & John Coles 1dn.

BOGNOR

Bognor GC ladies held their spring meeting’s 32-hole foursomes stableford in glorious weather.

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Results: 1 Jan Ostrom & Liz Quinton 64pts, 2 Lynn Miller & Sophie James 63, 3 June Salt & Mary Adames 60,

4 Janet Carter & Gill Harries 59ocb. Best PM score over 14 holes: Denise Duquemin & Lynda Searle 25pts ocb; Best AM score over 18 holes: 1 Georgina McCormack & Edwina Beresford 38, 2 Wendy Pettie & Wendie Bell 37, 3 Nicki Vincent & Suzette Watson 36.

PETWORTH DOWNS

Petworth Downs GC held their first Texas scramble of the season in hot but very good playing conditions.

Nearest the pin was won by George Savage and the longest drive was achieved by Neville Kinch.

Results: 1 Maurice Black, Neville Kinch, George Savage and John Pafford; 2 Warren Court, Anthony Court,

Dave Blackman; 3 Paul Robinson, Bob Hughes, Mick Hughes, Peter Fordayce.

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