Calander Test 3

WEST AND JONES SOAR WITH 42 POINTS

The midweek stableford held on Wednesday 23^rd April saw 21 entries with excellent scores of 42 points winning in both divisions helping to take the Competition Standard Scratch down to 66. Chris West (13) took first place in Division 1 for 0 to 14 handicaps, second went to Kev Garrett scoring 38 points off of 6 handicap and Derek Worsely (14) finished third on 37.

Similar scores in Division 2 for 14 to 28 players with Kevin Jones (24) finishing on top scoring 42 points and Ken Bebbington taking second with 38. Dave Richards (20) took third place with 37 points beating Richard Couse (18) on the back nine.

This months Monthly Medal was played on Saturday 26^th April with a smaller than normal field due to a dozen players representing the Club in a match against Bramshott Hill with Freshwater victorious six matches to one. Top of the single division for the twenty eight entries was Michael Black (19) with a very useful nett 66 closely followed by Nick Riby (12) on 67 and Kevin Miles (14) in third spot with a 68. Frank Ing (13) carded a 69 to take fourth spot on the back nine from John Veal (14) and Derek Wright (4) who picked up a consolation prize for the lowest gross.

In the Sunday Stableford on the 27^th thunder and lightening disrupted early competitors with only ten players completing their rounds, first place went to Brandon Thompson returning 39 points off of his five handicap one point ahead of six handicapper Kev Garrett with Shaun Clark (25) finishing in third place on 36 points.

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.

Results 26th March to 13th April

The Mid Week Medal played on 26^th March saw Club Captain Bill Hinchen take pride of place in the first division with an excellent 64 off of his 6 handicap, second place went to Keith Wright also off 6 who beat Keith Brown (17) in to third on the back nine with both players returning nett 68 as did Derek Wright (4) and Dave Morey (17).

In Division 2 Mike Back carded an excellent 63 off his 23 handicap only to be beaten on count back from a very inform Gordon Day (26), third place went to Ken Bebbington (18) with a 68 easing out Pete Bryan (19) on count back with the same score.

Due to poor weather conditions the Saturday Medal played on 29^th March had only 16 entries and was declared a Reductions Only with Steven Cooke (25) returning the best nett round of the day with a 74 in Division 2 beating fellow Junior Kasey Tuckey (20) who scored a 75. Seventy five was also the best Division 1 players could muster from Derek Wright (4) taking first spot with second going to Dave Wilkins (15) on 78.

The weather perked up a bit for the Sunday Stableford with Derek Wright again taking first in Division 1 this time with 37 points on the back nine from Kevin Garrett (5) followed by Simon Smith in third returning 36 points again off of 5 handicap.

Young David Hartley (25) blew away all opposition in Division 2 with a great 44 points from Seniors Captain Ray Cooke (17) with a very creditable 40 points, while Steven Cooke (25) took third place beating Mike Hailes (16) on count back with both players returning 38 points. A mention in dispatches for Tony Hammonds who’s hole in one for five points on the third helped him to a total of 33 points.

The first competition of April was a better ball stableford played on Wednesday 2^nd with father and son pairing of Simon Smith and Kasey Tuckey taking first place with 46 points from Pieter Sheldon and James with 43 points. Third and fourth places were split on 42 points with Dave Wilkins and Ken Bebbington seeing off Kevin Garrett and Derek Wright on the back nine.

Friday 4^th April saw Ken Bebbington (18) again in the frame, this time finishing first in the Veterans Stableford with 38 points from second placed Pete Cooper (15) on 37. Third and fourth places were decided on count back with two players tied on 36 points, honours going Frank Gregory (25) and John Mew (13) respectively.

Fine scoring in both divisions for the Saturday Medal on the 5^th April with Tony Keen first in Division 1 with a nett 63 off of 11 handicap closely followed by Richard Frost (5) returning the lowest gross and a nett 65. Third place went to Fred Smith (12) with a 69 whist John Veal (14) took fourth spot with a 70 beating fellow fourteen handicapper Hugh Morrison on count back.

Scoring in Division 2 was even better with Gordon Day carding a nett 62 off of 25 for first spot, Pete Miller (16) took second with a 66 beating Kasey Tuckey (20) on the back nine, making Paul Gardner’s 68 for fourth spot seem almost mundane.

Due to a serious covering of snow at 8am on the Sunday the Arthur Ford Quaiche was called off and players returned to the clubhouse where the event was postponed to the Sunday 20^th April amazingly the course was clear of snow with members and green fees happily play the course at lunchtime.

More spring like conditions prevailed for the Wednesday Stableford on the 9^thApril with nearly 40 entries, best score of the day was returned by Ryan Harmer (28), one of the up and coming Juniors, returning an excellent 44 points to take first place in Division 2 from second placed Pete Bryan (19) on 41. Third place went to Kevin Jones (24) on the back nine from Ken Bebbington (17) both returning 39 points.

In Division 1 40 points was the best in with Dave Wilkins (15) taking first place ahead of Derek Wright (4) on the back nine and Nat Riddett (8) finishing in third place with 38 points.

The Par competition on Saturday 12^th April saw 20 players struggle against difficult conditions with the best score returned only level with the course returned by Kevin Garrett to pick up first place in Division 1 followed by Graham Wells (10) on one down in second place and Stuart Morris (also playing off ten) four down in third place. Division 2 players fared even worse with two down taking first and second places going to Kasey Tuckey (19) and John Burke (13) respectively, there was also a tie for third and fourth places with David Hartley (23) beating Dave Morey (15) on count back.

Blustery conditions continued with 25 entries in the Stableford on Sunday 13^th, Division 1 was won by Tony Keen (10) with 36 points and John Burke featured again this time in second place with 35 points, count back was once more in operation for third place with Nick Punter (11) scoring 34 points and holding off Keith Wright and Simon Smith on the same score. Division 2 winner Roger Thomas (18) managed a respectable 38 points as did second placed John Riddelsdell (38) who lost on the back nine, with Ken Bebbington (17) coming third with 34 points.

This week sees the first of the Freshwater Bay Golf Club FREE taster sessions where anyone interested in taking up the game is giving instruction by our Profession James Veal on the practice area before being taken out for a four hole introductory round. Should you wish to try your hand at the golf then please ring the Clubhouse on 01983 752955 to book your FREE session