Josh Hilleard continues to show immense promise and is the only West player in the England team to compete against France at Formby Golf Club in Lancashire next weekend.

The tall left-hander, 21, from High Littleton, coached at Farrington Park by Terry Williams, won four events in the space of 22 days in April and moved up over one

hundred places in the world amateur rankings to 98th in one week.

After being unbeaten in England’s winning team at the Costa Ballena Quadrangular Tournament in Spain, he claimed the West of England Championship by eight shots at Royal North Devon, the Berkhamsted Trophy, the Faldo Series Wales Championship and the Hampshire Salver.

Last season, he was top qualifier for the English amateur and won the Midland Open and the North of England Youths. He intends to stay an amateur and bid for a Walker Cup place.

Men’s Team

Some good scoring in the Saturday Stableford on 30th April with the drier conditions helping the scoring in Division One. Jack Broadway, with forty points, topped the Division with a tie for second place with Adrian Cronin, on 38 points, winning on countback from Steve Longden. In Division Two, John Hartley had a fantastic day with an outstanding 43 points, with Jon Gregory on 39 points taking second place, beating Dave Brain into third on countback.

With the weather holding well over the Bank Holiday weekend, Adrian Cronin topped the Division with 37 points during the Sunday Stableford on 1st May,

followed by in form Steve Longden in second, with 34 points and Mark Wintersgill in third, on 33 points. In Division Two, Lee Norris topped the charts with 34 points, followed closely in second by Bruce Palmer, with 33 points and Simon Park in third on 32 points.

Ladies

27 ladies entered the May’s England Women Golf Association Medal on Thursday, 5th May. The day was so beautifully hot for late spring, the ladies could have believed they were basking in the middle of summer, while they enjoyed their cool post game drinks. The faster fairways and the improving greens assisted in some very good scores. The results were: Silver Division, first, Pauline Young, with a nett 74 (lowest gross), second, Maureen Charlton, with a nett 78. In the Bronze Division, first went to Pauline Brixey, with a nett seventy, second, Jenny Howarth, with a nett 73 and third, Peggy Edwards, with a nett 76 on countback.

The Farrington Park Ladies Alliance team travelled to Weston-super-Mare Golf Club for their away fixture on Friday, 6th May. Farrington Park Ladies have been in the First Division of the Bristol and District Alliance for the last three years.

The team is represented by the seven lowest handicapped ladies available to play.

Farrington Park Ladies are continuing to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the area. Despite the advantage being with the home team, Farrington Park Ladies won by 9 points to 5.

Seniors

Following the wettest winter on record, summer has finally arrived. After what has seemed an eternity, a suspected outbreak of sun has been confirmed in the West Country! In the May Medal, winning Division One by a country mile was Seniors Vice-Captain, Phil Thompson. Setting the course alight with a blistering round of net 64, which included fourteen pars and two birdies and earning a two shot cut to his handicap. His garish golf attire allegedly contributing to blinding his playing partners! Winning Division Two was the improving Steve Ball, whose now regular Wednesday appearances produced a net 72. Division Three winner, Mike ‘Hooky’ Henton ventured out in shorts and was rewarded with a fine round of net 73.

Results: Division One, Phil Thompson, 64, Barry Hall, 73, Alan Skivington, 75, Bill Sims, 76, Mike Bradbury, 76. Division Two, Steve Ball, 72, Bob Earney, 73, Don Perry, 75, Dave Elliott, 76, David Brown, 77. Division Three, Mike Henton, 73, Nigel Punchard, 73, Steve Gay, 74, Tony Edwards, 75, Mike Astle, 78. Nearest the Pins: on 5th, Bob Earney; 8th, Steve Gay; 14th, Terry Thatcher; 15th, Leo Seddon.

Farrington Park Seniors had a fine away victory at Long Sutton winning 3.5 to 2.5 in the Somerset friendly fixture league.