Arthur Ford Quaiche

On Sunday 20^th April the Arthur Ford Quaiche, which is open to all playing members, was played as a start timed event with sixty six entries following its postponement due to the snow blizzards of two weeks ago. The trophy was first played for in 1999 in memory of long serving Club Treasurer and Past Captain Arthur Ford who was known to be partial to a drop of malt and as a fitting tribute a bottle of his favourite McCallan always figures in the prizes, this year it went to Dick Downes for nearest the pin on the 14^th and was duly opened adding even more merriment to the proceedings.

The Ladies first prize went to Joan Martin scoring 34 points playing off of 34 handicap closely followed by Sheila Francis (17) a point behind with Claire Hearn (30) a further point adrift on 32.

The best the Men could do was to gain fourth place overall with the top three places going to juniors – no doubt in top form due to two weeks of solid golf during the Easter holidays. Twenty handicapper Bob Godden scored a very useful 39 points to take fourth spot ahead of John Veal (13) on 38 in fifth with Barry Crooke (12) and John Crosbie (8) tying on 37 points in joint sixth.

Special mention must be made of up and coming Junior Lady Sammi Keen (23) who out hitting most of the men finished in joint second on 40 points with fellow Junior David Hartley (20). The trophy was comprehensively run by a margin of six points by 15 year old Kasey Tuckey with an excellent 46 points playing off 18 handicap, he commented in his winner’s speech how pleased he was to win but also to beat his 5 handicap father off of scratch.

Freshwater Ladies competed in the Hampshire Past Captains event at Corhampton the following day with pairing of Rita Smith and Val Kimber leading the tournament right up till the last group off the course who piped them to the gross trophy by a single point but still managing to bring home the handicap prize.

The Mid Week Medal played on Wednesday 16^th April saw forty three entries with the best score of the day coming from David Hartley in Division 2 returning a nett 62 off his then 23 handicap. Second place went to Pieter Sheldon (16) with a 65 followed by Dennis Smith (21) 66 in third and Peter Dawson (23) taking fourth place with nett 67.

In Division 1 the big guns figured highly only to be ousted from the top spot by an old stager, Keith Wright (6) managed to pip Richard Frost (5) to third place on the back nine with both players returning creditable 68s. Second place went to Derek Wright (4) on 67 while first place by two clear shots went to Bill Lavers with a nett 65 playing off 12 handicap.