Golf: Heath on fire for Captain's Prize

Cowdray Park seniors' Captain's Prize competition reached an exciting climax.
Mike Huighes with Dave Carter after Cowdray seniors' Captain's PrizeMike Huighes with Dave Carter after Cowdray seniors' Captain's Prize
Mike Huighes with Dave Carter after Cowdray seniors' Captain's Prize

At the round-four stage, a player can discard his lowest score, with the winner being the player with the best three-round score.

The weather had really tested the resolve of the players with the first round being played in pouring rain, the second on frozen fairways and rock-hard greens and the third also played in frozen conditions with the addition of a strong wind keeping temperatures below freezing.

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Round four, originally postponed because of heavy rain, was finally played in ideal conditions, with the scores reflecting this, leading to a close finish.

At the start of play Brian Heath led with 108 from John Renwick, Dave Fowler and Roger Poat with a group of players, including last year’s winner Paul Owen, on 99.

Teeing off first, Owen needed to replicate his achievement of last year when he scored 41 in the final round to come from nowhere to clinch the title. This year he scored a superb 42 points for a final total of 111, meaning Heath needed to score better than his lowest score so far.

The only blot on Owen’s round was a lost ball on the par-five eighth hole, which probably cost him the title.

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Poat, Renwick and Fowler were unable to advance their scores, but Heath finished with a total of 112, to win by one shot, reward for his consistency.

Having only just joined the seniors’ section, this was a tremendous start for Heath.

Top individual score of the day was 45 from David Carter, repeating Peter Clarke’s winning score in the previous week’s Stableford. Top pair of the day with 76, were Carter and Pat Harrison on countback from Owen and David Tilley, with John Hall and Bernie May third with 72.

Although conditions were good, only three players scored a two – Clive Brine, Mick Folkes and Harrison.

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Cowdray ladies played a Dovetail competition on a foggy, cold day.

This is a Stableford competition played with a partner over 18 holes where each player must have their score recorded on nine holes only. Both play the hole individually, then select whose score is going to be recorded on the card. This must be done after the completion of each hole, before teeing off the next hole.

Winners with an amazing score of 46 points were Catherine Staples and Carolyn Scott. Second were Gaynor Dudman and Chris Sommerville on 39, ahead of Sue Brown and Janice Leath on 38, Janet Poat and Georgie Miller, also on 38, and Jill Parry and Marilyn Davis with 37.

Tremendous scores were achieved in the Bisque Par competition played by Cowdray ladies. The weather was gorgeous with sunshine all day.

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Bisque Par is played against the course and players decide when they wish to use their shots as opposed to following the stroke index. This must be done after each hole.

Results: 1 Pat White +7; 2 Georgie Miller +4; 3 Helen Chapman +4; 4 Sonia Burden +3; 5 Pauline Lamb +3; 6 Carolyn Scott +3.

Thirty-nine Cowdray ladies played in a best-nine-hole competition. The course was playing well and the scores reflected it.

Scores: Group 1 - 1 Gaynor Dudman 24pts; 2 Myrna Heustice 23; 3 Jill Parry 23. Group 2 - 1 Joyce Fanshawe 25; 2 Chris Somerville 24; 3 Georgie Miller 24. Group 3 - 1 Pat White 26; 2 Ann Laver 25; 3 Carolyn Scott 25.

BOGNOR

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Golf is back in full swing at Bognor after something of a winter lull. The course is in magnificent condition and after the extensive work carried out over the past two years, the greens are near perfect.

On a very wet and miserable day 16 teams took part in the team competition where all scores count on par threes, three scores on all par fours and two on par fives.

The winners with 113 points were Barry O’Brien, Cameron Lang, Roy Tidy and Alan Entecott. Second were Chris Spedding, Paul Oliver, Andy Wiggins and Peter Colvin with 110 and third were Mike Matthews, Ian Bright, Ron Stevens, Roger Leverton.

A brave 72 souls turned out in sub-zero temperatures to play in the men’s four-ball better-ball competition.

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Paul Jepp and Andrew Greig won with a fantastic score of 48 points. Mick Garrigan and Graham Harmes came second on countback with 44, from Dave Grover and Gary Embleton in third.

On a much better day weather-wise, 40 men played in the midweek men’s Stableford.

Gordon Davidson, just returning to form after a few barren years, won the competition with 39 points, ahead of Steve King with 38 and Mike Matthews in third with 37.

King was the Bognor senior golfer of the year in 2015, and after a moderate 2016 looks to be returning to form. Matthews has just retired and the extra golf is obviously paying dividends.

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