Competition abounded at Farrington Park on Sunday, 17th August, when the annual Ladies versus Men match got underway between eight pairs of ladies against eight pairs of men, competing against each other in a Four Ball Better Ball matchplay format.
The Men's Section team was led by Club Captain, Kevin Brimble, and the Ladies Section team was jointly Captained by Mandy Hobbs and Sue Stilwell, in Didi Ager's absence.
The eight matches were not put off by either the day starting with heavy rain or the blustery conditions that then prevailed throughout play. Whilst the Men's team were determined to keep the 100% winning record that they have had for the last nineteen years, the Ladies were hopeful for their first ever win. Unfortunately, despite hard-fought matches and two matches halving on the eighteenth green, it was not to be and the Ladies lost 7–1.
The matches that halved on the eighteenth green – Danny Durbin/Mark Chivers versus Mandy Hobbs/Aimee Sawyer and Steve Hobbs/Gary Prater versus Lena Warren/Jacqui Gregory, meant that the result was not a whitewash. All stops will have to be pulled out next year to break the Men's winning streak. Both teams enjoyed convivial post-match drinks on the patio in the late afternoon sunshine that was most welcome after the blustery time spent on the course.
In other news, Farrington Park were admirably represented by four mixed teams at the Tall Pines Golf Club Open last Sunday. With the early competitors enduring rain and cloudy skies, by mid-morning, the weather had turned for the better and the sun shone on the later starters. Even the thunderous noise of aircraft only 300 yards away was not enough to break the concentration – McIlroy would be proud!
Filling three of the first four places, the Farrington teams were well rewarded. With an admirable forty points haul were runners-up, Paul and Liz Thomas, each winning a pair of golf shoes. The winners, Adrian and Cynthia Miller, on 41 points each, received Motocaddy golf bags and a dozen golf balls. Longest drive for Ladies also went to Cynthia, with Steve Baker, from Tall Pines, winning the Men's longest drive. It was only a measure that prevented Cynthia also winning nearest the pin on the eighteenth green. Her husband, Adrian, thanked the organisers for a well-run competition and commented that after many years of competing at Tall Pines, this was the first time a prize had been won. Tall Pines' Lady Captain, Hazel Clutterbuck, thanked all competitors for their continued support.
Farrington Park's Mixed Section
Having qualified to go on to regional finals in the Brittany Ferries Pairs Challenge at Honiton Golf Club, Jane and Steve Ball blitzed through the regional finals, and have progressed to be the Somerset pair in the finals, which will take place in Spain. Very well done to Jane and Steve, we look forward to hearing how the finals in Spain go.
Farrington Park Men
Results for Saturday Stableford, 9th August – Division One: Mark Chedgy 40 points, Mike Hillier 39*, Steve Blackwell 38. Division Two: Pete Willcox 40*, Graham Downes 37*, Dennis Glover 37*. *Handicap reductions.