Mendip Golf Club’s April Tankard is also a qualifying event for the Virgin Atlantic Competition and attracted a high turnout of 129 competitors. Lovely playing conditions led to some good scoring. Division Three was won by James Pitchell, with 39 points, followed by Shaun Anders, with 36, and Clive Down, obviously inspired by his recent trip to the Masters, with 35.

Division Two saw the best score of the day, with an excellent forty points from Will Waddington, with Eric Jordan second, with 39 and Ken Langridge, third, with 36. Division One saw a win for young Matt Rawlings with 38 points, just ahead of his father, Steve Rawlings with 37 and Ben Cox with 35.

The previous week’s Texas Scramble Medal was won by A. Goh/N. Cox/S. Golledge/T. Scott, with a net 57.5. In second place, with 58.3, was M. Jones/T. Chivers/Selwyn Rees/Shaun Rich and in third spot, Neil Bath/S. Morris/Ian Perkins/S. Davis with 59.1.

The Ladies held a qualifying Medal event which attracted a good field. Winning Division One, with a CSS, beating net 75, was Vi Hayes and she was followed by Gill Brown (77) and Marian Speed (78).

Division Two saw a win for Sandie Roper with 78; with Andrea Williams in second place on 82 and Margaret Hawker, third with 83. Division Three was won by Anne Collins with 79, Wendy Norman was second with 85 and Elaine Richardson third with 87.

In a nine hole Qualifying Stableford for the higher handicap players, Dee Garnsworthy won with fifteen points, with Gina Howard in second place. In County events, Jean Padfield and Jenny Merrett are through to the second round of the handicap foursomes, having beaten Tracy Park on the twentieth hole. In the Daily Mail Foursomes, Marian Speed and Fran Davies were just beaten, after a good fight, by Orchardleigh.

The Ladies Alliance B Team came up against a strong Saltford A Team, already containing a scratch player and because of school holidays, they were boosted by the inclusion of two County Juniors. The opposition proved too strong and Mendip went down to a heavy defeat. The Ladies’ Friendly Team entertained Farrington and a close match resulted in a 3–2 win for Mendip.

144 Past Captains played in the annual Six Counties event this year held at Saunton. Somerset’s team, including Mendip Members, Nigel Cheshire and Steve Rawlings, retained the Trophy.

Mendip’s Open Day on Monday, 1st May hopes to attract some local Junior players and those new to the game. The new Professional, Stuart Disney, is very keen to get Mendip’s Junior Academy up and running and he will be commencing Junior lessons on Saturdays with effect from 6th May, 9.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.

Tony Williams