Golf: No snags for Snuggs in Chichester championship

The first round on the Tower course was played in cool, breezy conditions but Snuggs played superbly for a magnificent 76 to take a seven-stroke lead into the second round.

It was beautiful two days later and with the Cathedral course in pristine condition, Snuggs played solidly to record an 83 - extending his lead to win by nine strokes from Jim Robertson and Harry Harper. His aggregate score of 159 is the best ever recorded in the vets’ championship.

In the handicap competition, there were superb rounds on day one by John Paul (nett 62) and captain Robert Stainsby (63) to give them an early lead going into the second round.

However a storming round by Robertson (62) saw him come through to take the trophy by three strokes from Paul, who won the seniors’ trophy for the best nett score by an over-70.

Results: Championship - Vets’ champion Mike Snuggs 159 scratch, 2 Harry Harper 168, 3 Rob Baldwin 170, 4 Mike Harrington 172; Handicap Trophy - Winner Jim Robertson 130 nett, 2 John Paul 133, 3 Robert Stainsby 135, 4 Alan Hance 137; Seniors’ Trophy - John Paul.

Chichester veterans played their annual fixture against the club’s men’s section for the Rife Cup in strong winds and threatening rain.

A close contest ensued with four of the six matches going to the 18th green. In the very last match, Dave Dumbrell and Steve Strickland secured a half for the men to win the trophy back from the vets 3½-2½.

Results: C Goldsmid & J Robertson lost 4&3 to S Farnes & M Bell; M Snuggs & B Sharpe lost 5&4 to K Mann & S Homer; N Hobbs & R Chandler beat M Scott & D Hungate 1 up; B Martin & C Page lost 2 down to Simon Homer & J Gibbs; E Bourne & R Holden beat R Kilhams & A Taphouse 2 up; M Chapman & B Shrives-Wrist halved with D Dumbrell & S Strickland.

It is always difficult for the veterans away to Old Thorns, but this time it was a lot closer. Once again the match was decided by just half a point as Old Thorns triumphed by 3½-2½.

Results: R Stainsby & B Santer lost 3&2; N Hobbs & C Goldsmid won 5&4; H Harper & D Blythe halved; B Martin & B Sharpe lost 2&1; P Green & K Williams lost 5&3; E Bourne & R Parker won 5&3.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors continued their recent fine run of results in inter-club matches with a famous 5-3 win away to the Hindhead Stags.

The course is used a qualifier for The Open and presents not only a physical challenge, with steep ascents from green to tee, but also a severe golfing test, with many greens being ironed to speed them up. This makes putting speed judgment difficult for visitors.

This makes the start Cowdray Park made all the more creditable as match manager David Laver and seniors’ vice-captain Brian Brockhurst defeated their opponents 4&3.

Next came the performance of the day from Ian Heustice and John Doran, who overpowered the home pair by 8&7, despite conceding shots.

Cowdray’s early euphoria received a sharp setback when the hosts won the next three matches to take a 3-2 lead. However, that was where their success ended as Cowdray won all three matches teeing off at the 17th to win 5-3 overall.

Results (Cowdray names first): David Laver & Brian Brockhurst beat Andy Simms & Douglas Butler 4&3; Ian Heustice & John Doran beat Terry Garland & Muir Richmond 8&7; Chris Hoare & Dave Gaff lost to Ron Killacky & Adrian King 5&3; Mike King & Peter Hallt lost to Alan Farmer & Tony Wareham 4&3; John Stone & Gordon Kendall lost to Graham Cribb & Peter Bailey 2&1; David Wickham & Sam Howes beat Mike Green & John Burrill 4&3; Clive Brine & Ian Goodall beat Roy Fudge & Mike Sheppard 3&2; Graham Thompson & Mike Cardiff beat Lee Yates & John Driscoll 3&2.

Cowdray Park seniors must be wondering what they put in the water at Wisborough Green following the results of the past two Stablefords.

In May, Barry Overington won with an outstanding 46 points. In June, fellow villager Mike Holden returned an excellent score of 42 points to claim the spoils and earn his place in the seniors’ championship.

The second group out featured three top-ten finishers, with Phil Harrison (37 points) claiming third spot in division one, beaten by Phil Pett (38) from the same group, and, beating them both, Brian Carpenter with 40 for second place in division two.

Veteran Ray Dowse demonstrated to his younger colleagues how to work the ball round this difficult course at the moment, returning with 36 points for fourth place in division one and claiming his first Carter Trophy points of the season.

Two groups from the end, big-hitting Steve Tkaczynski imposed himself on division one with 39 points and first place - and third overall.

Recent recruit to the seniors Terry Adsett soon made his presence felt with third place in division two, earning a handicap reduction along with Holden, Carpenter and Tkaczynski.

Scores: Div 1 - 1 Steve Tkaczynski 39pts; 2 Phil Pett 38; 3 Phil Harrison 37; 4 Ray Dowse 36, 5 Frank Cheevers 36; Div 2 - 1 (overall winner) Mike Holden 42pts, 2 Brian Carpenter 40; 3 Terry Adsett 38; 4 Alan Godfree 36, 5 Wally Mitchell 36.

A total of Cowdray Park ladies played on a beautiful sunny day at Cowdray to compete in the June medal and Jubilee Cup.

The winner with a nett 73 was in-form Cath Yates. Second with 74 was Jean Barnett, just beating Mandy Lucking on countback.

BOGNOR

Bognor’s seniors visited close neighbours Worthing on a glorious day.

The events opened with the wrong names being read out for the Bognor team, which must have confused the Bognor players as Worthing ran out 6-2 winners.

Most of the Bognor team struggled with the punishing rough and super-quick greens and the Worthing men had numerous birdies, 40ft putts and even an eagle on the 334yd fourth hole - completed with a 2ft putt.

As normal Worthing were superb hosts and both clubs are looking forward to the return in a few weeks at Bognor.

Results: Barry Vanstone & Dennis Burke lost 6&4, David Turner & Brian Wolstencroft won 1 up, Andy Bence & Ernest Bridger lost 3&2, Mike Oates & Trevor Till lost 6&5, Frank Hodder & Alan Fitzgerald lost 3&2, Ian Simpson & Hugh Diaper lost 4&3, Roger Selway & Chris Hickling won 3&2, Tony Wells & John Woodhead lost 3&1.

Sixteen players took part in Bognor’s junior club medal scratch championship played over 36 holes. The winner of the scratch event was Tom Stoneham with a magnificent score of 152. Second was Ryan Breach with 164 and third was Jake Stoneham on countback.

In the 36-hole nett event, the winner was Jake Stoneham with a nett 133. Second was Megan Tinson on countback and third was Scott Bingham.  

In addition to winning the junior club championship, Tom Stoneham played in the men’s Bert Reid 36-hole event the following day. He was runner-up in the scratch event and also won the Bert Reid plate.

In very difficult, windy conditions, 18 juniors competed for the Captains’s Prize - but the juniors certainly mastered the conditions and some excellent scores were posted.

The winner was Frazer Gamblin with a magnificent score of 40 points. Second was Mitchell Cane with 36 and third was Jake Stoneham with 35.

Club captain Donald Macleod presented Frazer with his trophy.

AVISFORD PARK

The midweek Stableford competition was won by Harvey Burchell with 41 points. The Saturday roll-up was won by Nathan Warren with 38.

The captain’s team took on the secretary’s team. The secretary’s team won 6½-1½.

The senior Stableford was won in division one by Martin Crick with 39 points and in division two by Colin Robinson with 45.

n Last week Avisford Park reported that Vic Fowler had won division two in a Stableford. In fact Derek Meachim was the winner with 39 points.