Golf: Penge so close to Sunningdale final spot

Goodwood’s Marco Penge narrowly missed out on a place in the final of the Sunningdale Foursomes for a second consecutive year as he and his partner were beaten by the eventual winners in a tense semi-final.
Marco PengeMarco Penge
Marco Penge

Pegne and England Elite squad member Luke Johnson put in some impressive displays in the prestigious competition that has been running for over 80 years.

The Sussex-based duo had a tight first-round match which they won 3&1, followed by comfortable wins all the way to the semi – the stage Penge reached on his event debut last year with fellow Goodwood member Toby Tree.

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Coming up against a strong mixed pair of Charlotte Austwick and Jon Clarke, the boys had a strong start and were up early but then some bad luck and a chip in from Austwick at the 12th dashed their hopes and they lost 4&2.

Penge, 16, said: “It was disappointing to be knocked out at the same stage as last year but it is a fantastic achievement to reach the semi-final of such a prestigious event.

“We played some really impressive golf on our way to the semi-final against some tough competition. Hopefully this event will stand me in good stead and I can continue to build momentum for upcoming tournaments throughout the year.”

Also flying the flag for Goodwood was Tree, who played in a European Tour event in South Africa. Playing in only his second tournament since making his European Tour debut in Qatar in January, the 21 year-old finished with a round of 68 for a one-over-par total.

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Stuart Gillett, Golf At Goodwood manager, added: “It was great to see two of our Golf At Goodwood ambassadors putting in some solid performances at two high-profile golfing events.

“Both Toby and Marco are fantastic role models for our junior members here at Goodwood and I’m sure we will continue to see them shine.”

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors held their fourth and final round of the Captain’s Prize, with players able to discard their lowest score.

At the start of play Phil Harrison appeared to be in command with 113 points and a lead of eight over Allen Sibley and nine over Gary Strowbridge.

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Harrison was unable to improve on his lowest score so finished as he started, with 113 points, and faced a nervous wait.

David Heard showed what could be achieved in good conditions by advancing his score by eight points to jump from 5th to eventual third with 110 points.

Then came the news that an in-form Gary Strowbridge had returned a 38 to improve his score by nine points and give him a final total of 112 points, leaving a relieved Phil Harrison the winner by one point.

An improvement in conditions was reflected in the day’s scores. Alistair Proctor had the round of a lifetime returning a score of 42 points and rightly earning him a handicap reduction, but he and playing partner Mick Colban claimed second place as a pair on the day with 74 points.

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They were only beaten by David Heard, who combined with Gordon Kendall to amass 78 points.

Twos were recorded by Mick Fillary, Pat Bonner, Steve Tkaczynski and Dave Hirons, while the raffle raised £107 for Dreams Come True. Overall finishing positions: 113 PhIl Harrison; 112 Gary Strowbridge; 110 David Heard; 108 Rod Brown. Top positions on the day: 42 Alistair Proctor; 40ocb Alan Godfree, Roger Poat, David Heard. Top pairs’ scores 78 David Heard & Gordon Kendall; 74 Alistair Proctor & Mick Colban.

Cowdray Park seniors began their long season of inter-club matches at the traditional venue of Blackmoor. The home side proved too strong, winning 5-3.

The visitors made a slow start and never recovered. Match manager John Doran and partner Wally Mitchell admitted they were never at the races.

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Ian Heustice and Pat Harrison made a good start but they were eventually collared by the home pair. Paul Owen and Ian Goodall fought all the way to the final hole but were denied a share of the spoils when Goodall’s putt lipped out of the 18th hole.

Salvaging some pride for Cowdray were Allen Sibley and Roger Poat, with Sibley’s eagle at the 13th helping them win 3&2.

Nick Austin paired up with in-form Gary Strowbridge and they also won 3&2 win, while David Tilley and Mike Hughes finished the day well for the visitors with a comfortable 4&3 win.

Results (Cowdray Park names first): John Doran & Mike Hughes lost to Norman Foster & Ross Sellers 6&5; Ian Heustice & Pat Harrison lost to Arthur Daines & Alan Pickett 2&1; Paul Owen & Ian Goodall lost to Martin Bell & Nigel Everett 1 dn; Derek Smith & Mike Holden lost to Roy Boxall & James Hendry 5&3; Gordon Kendall & Clive Brine lost to Pat Alonso & Chris Ingram 3&2; Allen Sibley & Roger Poat beat Trevor Childs & David Newdick 3&2; Nick Austin & Gary Strowbridge beat John H Davis & Chris King 3&2; David Tilley & Mike Hughes beat Ed Jenner & Len Harrington 4&3.

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Cowdray Park failed in their late attempt to win the the Surrey & West Sussex Winter League title when they failed to win their last home game against Farnham, while table-toppers Puttenham consolidated their position with a win at Guildford.

It’s the fifth time Puttenham have won the title since the league was formed.

Not one match was lost to the weather this season.

Standings: 1 Puttenham 32pts, 2 Cowdray Park 26.5, 3 Hindhead 26.5.

Cowdray ladies played a dovetail competition. Playing in pairs, each player must have their gross score recorded on nine holes. Both partners play the hole individually then select whose score is going to be recorded on the card.

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Results: 1 Jo Fife and Judy Stillwell 39pts; 2 Pat Wallace and Georgie Miller 37; 3 Tessa Stockwell and Beryl Bishop 36.

The Jill Bridger Stableford is a cup competition played in memory of a much-loved and respected member of the ladies’ section who lost her battle with motor neurone disease in 2008.

Results: 1 Mandy Lucking 35pts; 2 Sue Brown 32; 3 Marilyn Davis 32.

CHICHESTER

This year has seen a flurry of activity at Chichester Golf Club. A new shop has opened at the driving range and it has been fully stocked with all this season’s new and exciting golf products.

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It opened on Tuesday and to celebrate the new shop a discount of ten per cent is available on all retail purchases in the first seven days.

All visitors to the shop will be eligible to enter a draw for the chance to win a brand new Taylormade Aeroburner three-wood, which will be made on Tuesday, April 7.

The stock includes the full 2015 ranges from Taylormade, Ping & Wilson. This includes Taylormade’s new Aeroburner Driver, Ping’s G30 Driver and Wilson’s D200 woods and irons.

Club owner Sally Haygarth said: “I’m delighted with the new shop – it’s air-conditioned for the hot summer we’re due and has enabled us to expand our range of products and to offer the new PING nflight motion custom-fit service.

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Extending the range shop has enabled us to create the Jungle Java Pizza Café which will serve imaginative food and drink.”

BOGNOR

The spring seniors’ supper competition attracted an excellent field of 80 players.

It is a four-ball better-ball Stableford, with pairs drawn after the dinner held the night before the competition.

The day was cold but dry, the course in good condition following another poor winter and there were many scores of 40-plus points, which was terrific.

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Winners were Norman Lee and new member Malcolm Dodds with an excellent 43, second on countback were John Samain and Ian Simpson and third Gary Steventon and Simon Bennett with 41.

Club captain Simon Watts presented the prizes, which went down to eighth place, and thanked Bill Chick and Ron Alcock who have run the competition for more than 20 years.

In his victory speech, new member Dodds gave a fitting tribute to the club and informed us all that a book he had recently read on Great Britain’s golf courses stated that Bognor was one of the most welcoming and friendliest courses to play, which he fully echoed.

Bognor seniors played their first summer fixture at home to Waterlooville. It was a close-run game until Waterlooville won the last three pairs to take the contest 5-3.

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Bognor lost only one home fixture out of the 18 last season.

Results: Frank Hodder & Clive Millett halved with Roger Penney & John Oliver, Vic Ward & Richard Kaemena halved with Roger Ellard & David Hughes, Alan Fitzgerald & Allan Delves won 1 up to Keith Ward & David Jack, Mel Henry & David Turner lost 2&1 to Dave Lumb & Alan Nash, Bryan Madgwick & Rob Redmond won 5&4 to Tony Hore & Cyril White, Peter Collins & Hugh Diaper lost 4&3 to John Marsh & John Clinton, Roger Selway & Andy Isitt lost 2&1 to John Winzar & Ces Cunningham, Chris HIckling & Barry Ingate lost 1 down to Steve Brewster & Tony Morgan.

The Wednesday midweek men’s Stableford attracted 40 players. On a cold, damp day the scores reflected the conditions, with 38 points winning the competition for Roger Leverton. Second on countback with 37 was Cliff Willis, third Rolly Heath.

Bognor’s ladies held an ELGA Greensomes Trophy.

Results: 1 Denise Duquemin & Barbara Trenchard 40pts; 2 Wendy Johnson & Sophie James 39; 3 Kay Dady & Sue Crossen 37 (cb); 4 Caroline Pilbeam & Jacqui Humphrys 37; 5 Penny Entecott & Jane Russell 36; 6 June Salt & Mary Adames 35.

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