On Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th April, 29 ladies competed for the coveted Thomas Cup, the first Farrington Park Ladies 'major' championship of the year.
The competition is a two-day, 36-hole Stableford competition for Farrington Park lady members. This year, Mother Nature really put the competitors to the test. Endurance, stamina and determination were robustly challenged on both days. Saturday was extremely windy, whilst Sunday substituted wind with numerous bouts of torrential rain. The overall winner of both days was eighteen-year-old Somerset Ladies Champion, Victoria Watts, with 68 Stableford points. The seven handicapper, from Chew Magna, was delighted to have won: "This is my first Thomas Cup win and although the weather conditions made things really tricky, I was very happy with the way I played," said Victoria.
Junior member, twelve-year-old Isabelle Hansford, was second overall, with 67 Stableford points, and Terri O'Shea was third overall, with 66 Stableford points. The first day's winner was Dawn Stacey, with 36 Stableford points, followed by Min Woodward, with 34 Stableford points, and Maureen Charlton, with 33 Stableford points. The second day's winner was Lady Captain, Didi Ager, with 35 Stableford points and a handicap cut of one shot to 29, followed by Gail Proctor, with 33 Stableford points, and Jackie Walker, with 31 Stableford points. Nearest the pin on day one was: Paula Chivers on the fifth hole, Bronze, and Sue Stilwell on the tenth hole, Silver. Nearest the pin on day two was: Jill Wellington on the fifteenth hole, Bronze, and Gail Proctor on the eighth hole, Silver.
Farrington Park Ladies
Farrington Park's Thursday, 24th April Ladies Spring Open had a record number of entries. 29 teams of three took part, thirteen of which were visiting and sixteen home. The format of the day was a three-ball Bowmaker with the best two Stableford scores on each hole to count. Fortunately, the rain that had been forecast held off and didn't appear until the last of the players were in, so the entire field was treated to a glorious spring day. The course looked beautiful, not far off what it looks like at its summer best. A good day's golf was had by all.
The second visitors' team was Marion Hurley, of Bridport and West Dorset, with Jackie Seager and Tricia Swindell, of Honiton, with 75 Stableford points. The best visitors' team was Tina McGrail, Jenny Conwy and Pauline Murphy, of Bath Golf Club, with 78 Stableford points. The second home team was Rosi Brown, of Farrington Park, with Hilary Marsh and Margaret McLaughlin, of Bowood, with 87 Stableford points. The best overall team was Penny Ross, Pippa Western and Jane Palmer, of Bath, with 93 Stableford points, a terrific team score that was solidly underpinned by Pippa Western's incredible round that saw her individually score a staggering 48 Stableford points. Many congratulations to Pippa for such a spectacular performance.Nearest the pin winners were: Jackie Seager, Honiton, on the fifth hole, Rosi Brown, Farrington Park, on the eighth and the tenth hole, and Heather Woodland, Farrington Park, on the fifteenth hole. Nearest the pin in two on the twelfth hole was won by Rosemary Bickham, Yeovil. Many thanks to the team of helpers, Bobby Appleby and Liz Thomas, Min Woodward, Bridget Rylance, Mandy Hobbs and Tracey Watts, who helped with starting, ball spotting and the sign-in desk, without whom the day would not have run as smoothly as it did. The raffle, in aid of the RUH's Forever Friends Appeal, was very well supported and raised a much appreciated £233.
Farrington Park Men
Farrington Park's Avalon golf season got underway with Team Captain, Dave Jewell, and his playing partner, Men's Vice-Captain, Paul Thomas, representing the team at Worlebury in the Mockeridge Cup. The Betterball format off three-quarter handicap suited the pair as they scored 24 points on the front nine holes, after a slip up on the short par three twelfth hole, they rallied to finish on 43 points, winning the cup by two clear points.
It was hoped this form would continue when the team entertained Minehead for the first league match of the season on Easter Saturday. Guy and Mark Adams led the team out and after taking an early lead, found themselves pegged back to all square with three to play, with Guy on the sixteenth and then Mark on the seventeenth holing crucial putts, they won 3&1. Darren Wilkins and Matt LeFeuvre carried on the momentum winning early holes and apart from misjudgments on the twelfth, held on for a fine win. Captain Jewell again paired himself with Paul Thomas and at four up after seven holes, all looked good, but with three birdies in five holes reducing the margin, the visiting pair took control, winning by a 2&1 margin. George Hobbs and partner, Mark Crook, were involved in a great game that produced thirteen birdies and a fantastic 3&1 win to secure the match win. It was left to Nick Poore and Mike Goodliff to bring home the remaining points, but they were three down early on with the visitors birdying three of the bottom five holes, a score they could not recover from. Team Captain, Dave Jewell, was pleased with the win against a very strong Minehead team by 8–6. With reasonable weather on Saturday, Division One honours were taken by Huw Jones, with 38 points, beating Seamus Ivory into second place on countback. Mark Chivers was third, with 37 points.
In Division Two, good scores were also achieved with Andy Applin scoring 39 points to take first place, beating Dave Collins on countback. Paul Williams was a close third, with 38 points.
Farrington Park Seniors
Farrington Park Seniors contested a monthly qualifying Stableford competition of yellow tees in changeable weather, but with one of the largest fields ever for this event. Results of the nearest the pin competition: fifth, Mike Bradbury, eighth, Bob Earney, fourteenth, Bob Baker, fifteenth,Tony Quinn.
Result of Stableford competition, Division One: first, Rob Chappell, 37 points, second, Bob Baker, 36 points (countback), third, Alan Honeybun, 36 points, fourth, Mike Bradbury, 34 points (countback), fifth, Colin Robinson, 34 points. Division Two: first, Bob Earney, 37 points, second, Mike Daniel, 36 points (countback), third, Terry Thatcher, 36 points, fourth, Eddie Cheasley, 34 points, fifth, Jeff Kelly, 33 points. Division Three, first, Geoff Skyrme, 35 points, second, Steve Mitchell, 33 points (countback), third, Don Perry, 33 points, fourth, Peter Maule, 32 points (countback), fifth, Ralph Pawley, 32 points.