On a rather dull but particularly muggy morning, Farrington Park Seniors took part in the Manor Course Championship. Member, Jeff Kelly, is affectionately known as ‘Sat Nav’, (he’ll tell you why), and his bearings on this occasion were spot on as he recorded a hole in one on the Par-three course.
The winner of the Championship was Phil Thompson with a gross score of 61. In the nett competition, the top three players all received a handicap reduction of three shots, with the winner being Seniors’ Captain, Ray Guthrie, shooting an impressive 42.
The Ladies had a fun competition – a ‘HiLow Greensomes’ Stableford – on Thursday, 31st May. Each pairing consisted of a high handicap and a low handicap player. Fortunately, the forecasted thunderstorms kept away, and the majority of rounds were finished before the heavy rain arrived. Count-back was needed to determine the final scores.
Heather Woodland and Sue Jackson took second place ahead of Jane Ball and Kay Clarke, after both teams scored 34 points. A sand wedge shot from 78 yards by Elaine Davidson resulted in a birdie three on the 355-yard par-four sixth hole. The score of five points for this shot ensured Elaine and partner, Lally Gibson, took first place with a great score of 37 points, three clear of the field.
The Men’s Avalon team welcomed Minehead for the return fixture, but the Bank Holiday weekend saw the away team arrive one pair short. Paul Thomas and Tom Snelling claimed the first point and entered the club competition. The first competitive game saw Danny Farnen and Jack Cook fight back to secure a fine 2&1 win.
Alex Bendall and debutant, Rob Paige, were soon in control of their game, winning 5&4, soon followed by Mark Adams and Charlie Wigmore, who also won by a 5&4 margin. The last pair on the course were Nick Poore and Phil Heyslop, who unfortunately couldn’t fight off their opponents, losing 3&2 for a final match score of 4–1.
The rearranged game at Oake Manor soon followed, and the team set off full of confidence. Captain for the day, Gary Prater, sent Mark Adams and Charlie Wigmore out first, but unfortunately they lost out.
Danny Farnen and Jack Cook fought out a halved-match, but Nick Poore and Phil Heyslop managed a fine win over a very strong Oake pair. Kevin Brimble and Alex Bendall continued the winning run, and with Craig Adams and Gary Prater halving their game, the team came away with a fine 3–2 win.
Some good scoring was established in Division One with a tie at the top, with Mark Crook taking the honours on countback from Andy Bayley – both with 42 points. A great score in Division Two from David Glew on 43 points, taking top honours, followed in second by Eric Withey on 39 points and Joe Cox third on 38 points.
The Bank Holiday weather continued with great conditions and in Division One, Steve Kingman, on 37 points, beat Craig Adams into second on countback, with Ethan Flanagan third, on 36 points. In Division Two, excellent rounds from Paul Jones and Joe Cox – both on 39 points – with Paul Jones taking top spot on countback, and Des Deane third on 37 points.