Golfers are busy at Bognor - but Ryder Cup star wants them to get busier

The new season at Bognor GC got well under way when 72 members took part in the Seniors’ Supper four-ball better-ball competition, playing off a three-quarter handicap.

There were excellent scores, with Don McLeod and Brian Wolstencroft winning with 43 points. Brian got his dates wrong when entering and did not realise it was his wedding anniversary on the day of the competition.

Colleagues hope he was forgiven by wife Gill when he returned home to tell her he had won.

Second were Mike Oates and Mike Wadley with 42 points, on countback from Chris Jenkinson and Brian Lewis.

The first round of the Fletcher Trophy was contested by 57 of the veterans.

Ian Kracke was the winner on 42 points. Four tied on 41, with Eric Payne beating Peter Barker, Brian Kingswell and Alan Fitzgerald on countback.

A total of 56 members took part in the first men’s stableford of the season.

Doug Loman from division three was the winner on 40 points. Second was Ian Stoneham with 38, on countback from Tom Lea, both of whom are from division one. Alan Saunders from division two was fourth, also on 38.

The first qualifier this season for the junior section was the Lumpy Cup, a medal and stableford competition.

The medal was won by Sam Grover with a nett score of 64 ahead of junior captain Louis Harrison on 67 and Ryan Maskell on 68. The stableford was won by Jake Stoneham with 45 points, with Scott Bingham second on 35 and Ben Hughes third on 34.

Ten juniors took part in the stableford. Jordan Vincent, handicap nine, was the winner with 36 points in front of Ryan Maskell (35).

Of those with over 28 handicps, Jake Stoneham was the winner with 30 points on countback from George Bingham.

Ryder Cup-winning captain Sam Torrance has challenged Bognor golfers to test their game to the limit by signing up for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Four Course Classic – the UK’s biggest golf challenge.

Teeing off at sunrise on the longest Friday of the year, June 24, each team of four will need to play 72 holes in 16 hours, covering 15 miles of fairways. It’s in aid of the UK’s leading charity fighting against muscle-wasting conditions.

Worthing GC, Littlehampton GC, Rustington Golf Centre and Bognor GC have signed up to take part among 500 clubs nationwide.

Torrance said: “This is the ultimate challenge for any keen golfer. Putting the last of 72 holes is bound to feel amazing, and so will raising money to help families affected by devastating muscle-wasting conditions.”

To sign up go to www.fourcourseclassic.co.uk and select your chosen courses or call 020 7803 4830. For just a £25 registration fee, each player will receive their four complimentary tee times, golf kit including balls and a polo shirt, and full fundraising support to help you to raise the minimum sponsorship for £250.

After meeting for breakfast, a draw took place among Bognor GC ladies for the High/Low Foursomes competition, in which a high-handicap player partners a low-handicap one.

Results: 1 June Salt & Margaret Delves 39pts, 2 Sue Crossen & Pat Irish 37, 3 Marge Fenwick & Pauline Littlejohns 36, 4 Wendy Johnson & Mary Hardy 35 ocb, 5 Jenny Phillmore & Christine Downie 35 ocb.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park’s Winter League side concluded their season with a close-fought 2½-1½ win over visitors Farnham.

Unfortunately the margin of victory was insufficient to propel Cowdray Park into the runners-up position.

Considering the number of matches which they lost to weather, Cowdray did well to get their season back on track – and only two recent heavy away defeats blunted their challenge.

The match against Farnham produced many close finishes, with all four pairings closely matched.

First match out was won by Ken Marjoram and Dave Tilley, by virtue of a birdie putt on the final green. Match three contained eight birdies and an eagle and a share of the spoils was only fair. Cowdray Park clinched their win with Dave Hirons and David West winning two up.

Results (Cowdray names first): Ken Marjoram & Dave Tilley beat Eric Goulding & Ron Julier 2up; Ken Newberry & Phil Harrison lost to Dave Lowry & Peter Selencky 2dn; Jan de Vries & Mike Purdie halved with Dave Slaney & Bernie Tutte; Dave Hirons & David West beat Jesse James & John Oliver 2up.

Cowdray Park ladies’ March Medal/Half Century Vase was played on a beautiful sunny day.

Results: Division 1: 1 Tessa Stockwell nett 70, 2 Barbara Parker 73, 3 Ann Tyrrell 74. Division 2: 1 Margaret Curwood 72, Imke Sanderson 75, 3 Myrna Heustice 76. Division 3: 1 Maureen Bailey 76, 2 Jane Stuart 83, 3 Gina Barnfield 85.

A full complement of 89 Cowdray Park seniors entered the March stableford. With conditions continuing to improve as the day wore on, it was clear scoring would be better than recently.

So it proved with 15 players scoring better than par, of which seven scored 40 or more points.

A feature of the day was the performance of octogenarian Eric Hobbs with 38 points.

The overall winner with 43 points was last year’s seniors’ captain Wally Mitchell, who turned in yet another stunning performance, confirming his significant improvement over the past six months, following putting advice from a fellow senior.

This year’s vice-captain Bill Hummerston claimed second spot with 41 points on countback from John Start.

A pleasing feature of the day was a return to competitive action, after long periods of illnesses and operations, Colin Tebbut, Brian Taylor and Peter Hallt, who all performed creditably.

David Manning and Tony Morrison helped with the scorecards and raffle, which raised £142 for the captain’s charity Help for Heroes. Prize-winners were Terry Moran and Brian Brockhurst.

CHICHESTER

Chichester Golf Club got involved in ‘Doing Something Funny for Money’ in aid of this year’s Comic Relief – in two forms.

The ladies’ section held a Texas scramble with each player looking like they had a cold with their red noses.

In addition the club held a quiz night in which six teams used their brains to answer questions on a wide range of topics – none of them golf.

A team of members headed by Ian Blackman, competing under the name ‘Just Got Back From School’, won with 90 points, closely followed by the Red Noses, a team comprising lady members. Overall the club raised more than £200 for Comic Relief.

AVISFORD PARK

A ladies’ stableford at Avisford Park was won by Jayne Hardwell with 26 points. The midweek medal was taken by Robert Wood with nett 66.

In a competition for St Patrick’s Day, the winner was Danny Carter with 39 points. Second on countback was Brian Ford.

Nearest the pins were Andy Adams on the second hole, Mick Mills – with a hole in one – on the 13th, Graham Raishbrook on the 14th, Carl Corbin on the 15th and club captain Gerry Maguire on the 18th. The midweek stableford was won by Ray Owen, 37 points.