Smith retains Crowborough title in bad weather

The course was at its most difficult due to the tough rough and the windy conditions.

The championship has two elements, the (scratch) Boyd Trophy, the winner of which is recognised as club champion, and The Langridge, which includes adjustments for handicap.

Just under 80 competitors set out over a bright and breezy Saturday. Over the first 18 holes the best scratch scores came from the current holder Graham Smith (70), with Matthew Done four shots behind. Smith was best placed on handicap (nett 69) together with Roy Constable (84 off 15).

Sunday proved an even tougher test, with near galeforce gusts combined with heavy drizzle and intermittent rain squalls. Consequently 26 of the field faltered with no returns.

Smith needed nine more shots than the previous day to record a 79, totalling 149, but his score was still good enough to retain the champions's title by the four-shot difference accumulated on the Saturday. Done also had a 79 for a 153 total.

Jeremy Ellwood had the lowest gross on Sunday (77), which sent him into third place following an 82 on Saturday for a total of 159.

Experienced campaigner Martin Thornhill carded 77 and 82 for 159 for fourth place on the countback system.

Sean Taylor won Langridge Cup with nett 71 and 73 for a total of 144, with Ellwood 74 and 71 (145) second on countback from Tony Cavie 71 and 74 (145).

Tony Cottington took first place with a gross 87 (nett 66), followed by Andrew Selfe 79 (nett 68), in the annual Ian Mackellow medal played in memory of one of the best young golfers of recent times.