Bognor golf juniors make it a clean sweep in the Overton

Following the late withdrawal of Chichester GC, a Bognor B team were put together to ensure sufficient players took part. Teams that took part were from the West Sussex, Bognor, Ham Manor, Goodwood and Worthing clubs.

Fantastic play from Ben Hughes saw him shot a gross 71 (nett 66) while Jack Taylor’s gross 71 equated to nett 61 and it meant Bognor A could not be caught. They won with a score of 199, seven shots clear of runners-up Bognor B, for whom George Bingham shot gross 82 (nett 64) in a team aggregate score of 206.

The event was sponsored by Bailiffscourt Hotel with the winning team invited to lunch at the hotel. The presentation was made by John Sixsmith, director of Bailiffs Court, and Mrs Overton, the original sponsor of the event more than 30 years ago.

Pictured are the A team winners in the back row – left to right, Jack Taylor, Ben Hughes, Ryan Breach and Tom Stoneham - and the runners-up in the front - Max Littleboy, Jake Stoneham, George Bingham and James Woosley.

It was a great day for Bognor and all the juniors should be very proud of their achievements.

A grand total of 104 men took part in the Whitsun Medal Cup. A tough course was set up and the scores certainly reflected that.

Overall winner was Andy Wiggins with a gross 83 (nett 68). Second, on countback, was T Ridges with gross 86 (nett 68). Third, also on countback, was R Donaldson with the same total.

Divison winners: Div 1 - Dave Grover 77 gross, 69 nett; Div 2 - Andy Wiggins; Div 3 - T Ridges.

Thirteen Bognor Juniors attended the final day’s play of the PGA at Wentworth. They had a fantastic day, finding their way into the public stand to watch Matteo Manassero hole the winning putt in a four-hole sudden-death play.

Sixty-seven ladies took part in the Elliott Methuselah Trophy and Stableford competition.

In the silver division, Mary Adames was the trophy winner with 36 points. In the Stableford, Wendy Johnson won the silver division with 38. Suzanne Taylor was second with 37 and Mary Adames third with 36, followed by Sophie James on 34.

Kay Dady was first in the bronze A division on 37, ahead of Kay Walker on 36 and Wendy Pettie on 34.

Winner of bronze B was Sally Cameron with 35, beating Barbara Evans on 34 on countback from Carol Adams. Hillary Reilly was fourth on 32 on countback from Brigitta Paul.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors are gearing themselves up for their stellar event of the year, the seniors’ open, on Wednesday, June 26.

Organiser David Imlach has worked hard during the winter to ensure the event is a success. A record number have entered, with players from 39 different clubs attracted to this beautiful course.

Entries range from Wiltshire in the west to Kent in the east and the home counties. One player has entered with his home club nominated as Nairobi, Kenya, a return entrant from last year.

This is a major achievement in these difficult economic times and there is even a waiting list should a cancellation arise. Last year’s winner, Gerald Brunton-Smith from Bramley, is back to defend his title.

Sponsorship has been agreed with a number of local firms, including Harwoods’ Garages, Apsley Shooting, Global Flowers, Bluebell Inn, Cocking, Southdown Property and Cowdray Park Golf Club itself.

It is hoped their efforts will raise a good sum, via the raffle, for the captain’s charity, the Mary How Trust. All that is needed now is a change in the weather for the better to make the day worthwhile.

Cowdray Park’s Cyril Blake team made the long journey across country to play the locals at Willingdon in the latest round of the knockout series.

The home side had recently won their previous match 4-0, but they were stunned to find themselves on the wrong end of the same score from the visitors. Cowdray Park now have to travel to Ham Manor for a quarter-final tie.

Results (Cowdray names first): John Doran & David Hirons beat Ken Penfold & Derek Head; Mike Purdie & Dave Lucking beat Brian Ashman & Shaun South; Phil Cummins & Dave Balfour beat Ian Frampton & Arthur Nicholls; David Heard & Harvey Terry beat Brian Hepburn & Kieran Packham.

Cowdray’s leading senior Dave Hirons, fresh from helping the Cyril Blake team to victory at Willingdon, travelled to Oxford to represent Sussex captains against their counterparts in a representative match.

He scored another hole-in-one, having been told it was the trickiest green on the course with various humps and bumps. Not put off, he defied his ‘unlucky’ tag to put the ball straight in the hole.

Although a non-drinker himself, Hirons treated his colleagues and opponents to a drink in the clubhouse.

Cowdray seniors played their second home game on consecutive days when they entertained Farnham seniors on a beautiful sunny day with the course in excellent condition.

Having won six and lost six of the opening 12 matches, it was inevitable a draw would take place eventually, and it did in match 13 with a score of 4-4. Farnham had established an unassailable lead of 4-2, before a fighting comeback from Cowdray’s final two pairs levelled matters.

The match started well for the hosts with a 6&5 win for David Wickham and Tony Pike, retaining their unbeaten record against Farnham.

The visitors promptly equalised before Cowdray regained the lead through John Smith and Wally Mitchell, who won 4&3.

Farnham hit a rich vein of form, winning the final two matches starting at the first tee and the first starting at the 17th, to establish a 4-2 lead.

Mike King and Richard Histed reduced the deficit with a 6&4 win, only for Rodney Fisher and Gary Strowbridge, two in-form players, to level the scores with a 2&1 win.

Results (Cowdray names first): David Wickham & Tony Pike beat Dick Turpin & Ron Last 6&5; Jan de Vries & Mike Holden lost to Mike Tiddy & Dick Auckland 1 dn; John Smith & Wally Mitchell beat Nigel Williams & Dave Lowery 4&3; Roger Poat & Clive Brine lost to Dave West & Jim Cumming 3&2; Mike Hughes & George Crouch lost to Eric Christie & Keith Jackson 2&1; Ian Heustice & Graham Evans lost to Peter Selecky & Mark Forrester 3&1; Mike King & Richard Histed beat Willie Douglas & David Mason 6&4; Rodney Fisher & Gary Strowbridge beat Graham Thomson & Tim Green 2&1.