Forty pairs from around the South West took part in Farrington Park's Autumn Mixed Open, a Four Ball Better Ball, on Sunday, 14th September. This was the final open of 2014 in what has turned out to be a record year for entries. The hazy start to the day burnt off, leaving the competitors to enjoy a glorious day of sunshine, the perfect backdrop to the course in its current tip-top condition.
Scoring was exceptional, considering the three-quarters handicap allowance and only three points separated the top ten teams. Martin Barnes and Mike Metcalfe (Wells), The Bristol's Tim Worrell, Rob Parker, Paul Thomas and Adrian Cronin, all scored two spots. Ladies Nearest the Pin Winners were: Farrington Park's Lin Papadopolous (fifth), Farrington Park's Bobby Appleby (tenth). Men's Nearest the Pin Winners were: Wells' Mike Metcalfe (eighth), Farrington Park's Rich Salter (fifteenth).
Nearest the Pin in two on the third hole was won by Farrington Park's Danny Durbin and Nearest the Pin in two on the twelfth hole was won by Farrington Park's Dawn Stacey.
The Third Visitors Team was Steve Jones and Sheena Harvey, with 41 points.
Second Visitors were Filton and Thornbury's Geoff and Karen Anderson, with 42 points, and First Visitors were The Bristol's Tim Worrell and Cumberwell Park's Carolyn Park, with 44 points. Third Home Team was Adrian Cronin and Rosi Brown, with 43 points, Second Home Team was Mandy and Steve Hobbs, with 44 points, and the First Home Team was Jackie and Martin Walker with 44 points. The day's Overall Winners and 2014 Autumn Mixed Open Champions were Paul Thomas and Dawn Stacey, with 45 points.
Farrington Park Seniors staged their annual open competition following a twelve month break and to encourage a wide spread of entries from clubs in the area, the popular Better Ball format was used, playing off three-quarters handicap. To reflect the undoubted advantage to home players, the competition was played on a home and away team competition basis, with the exception of the overall winning pair. The thanks of Farrington Park Seniors goes out to all those sponsors who made the day such a success.
Winners of the Nearest the Pin competition staged on the eighth and fifteenth holes were Richard Gould, from Wells Golf Club, and Ray Harper, Weston-super-Mare Golf Club.
Overall Winners were Pierce O'Shea and Steve Cope, 43 points, from Farrington Park. Winners of the Farrington Competition: 1st Bill Sims and Brian Brown 41 points, 2nd Richard Dancey and Philip Michael, 40 points, 3rd Alan Honeybun and John Ward, 40 points (countback), 4th Rob Thain and Bob Earney, 39 points.
Winners of the Visitors Competition: 1st P. Bowe and B. Powell, 41 points, Filton Golf Club, 2nd G. Croker and M. Metcalfe, 40 points, Wells Golf Club, 3rd P. Soper and B. Dennis, Filton Golf Club, 4th R. Preedy and D. Pike, 39 points, Kendalshire Golf Club.
Farrington Park Seniors took full advantage of the current spell of fine weather to return some excellent scores in their Wednesday Bowmaker competition, with two scores from three players off full handicap, high scores were inevitable. Winners of the Nearest the Pin competition: 5th hole Bob Earney, 8th Graham Price, 14th Phil Thompson, 15th Adrian Miller.
Winners of the Bowmaker Competition: 1st Rob Chappell, Bob Wright and Mike Henton, 91 points, 2nd Dave Metcalfe, Dave Taylor and Bill Lane, 89 points, 3rd Colin Robinson, Jim Farmer and Ian Clement, 88 points (countback), 4th Brian Weeks, Mo Duery and Richard Dancey, 88 points, 5th Bill Sims, Graham Marsh and Boyd Francis, 83 points.
It was certainly Clare Salter's week at Farrington Park Ladies, beginning at Farrington Park's Away Day, held at the Isle of Wedmore Golf Club on Wednesday, 10th September. 39 of Farrington Park's Ladies Section took part in the day that comprised of teams as well as individual pursuits.
The team constituent was a Three Ball Bowmaker with the best two scores to count. Each lady recorded her individual Stableford score in addition to the team card. Not only was Clare Salter in the winning team, along with Rosi Brown and Corrina Bates, with 79 points, she won the overall individual winner with 37 points.
Farrington Park's Ladies had a Medal on Thursday, 11th September. Aimee Sawyer was the winner in the Silver Division, with 80 gross, 73 nett, followed by Wendy Butt, with 94 gross, 75 nett. Clare Salter was the Bronze Division's winner, with 99 gross, 74 nett, followed by June Symonds, with 96 gross, 75 nett.
Clare capped the week's wins off admirably with a hole in one on the fifth hole on Saturday, 13th September, an excellent end to a good week's golf.