The big event at Mendip Golf Club this week was the Seniors’ Open, played as the Seniors’ Mendip Vase. A full entry of 137 players, including 76 visiting golfers, were greeted by beautiful weather and with last winter’s greens problem now a distant memory, a course in pristine condition attracted many compliments.
The excellent conditions saw some very good scoring, with 24 competitors scoring 36 points or better. Division One was won by Alistair Johnson, from Long Ashton, with 41 points with Nigel Green of the Dorset, second with 38, just beating Mendip’s Mike Lill into third place. He was followed by two further Mendip players, three handicapper, Ian Perkins and Selwyn Rees. Division Two went to another visitor, Steve Brixey from Farrington, with 41 points. Mendip’s Michael Gardiner was second with 40, Brian Baker, Clevedon, was third with 39 after countback from Abe Fukuyama (Mendip) and Peter Ramsey, Wells.
However, the overall Cup Winner was Harold Lidbitter, a Past Captain of Frome, who played at Mendip for a short time before joining his present club, Westbury. Harold scored 42 points. The Over-70s prize went to Jim Kennard, from Tiverton, with 37 points. In 2015, Past Seniors Captain, Hugh Campbell, presented a trophy for the over-80s. This was won by Hugh’s great friend, Roger Wickett, who retained it in 2016 and 2017. This year, playing together saw Roger again winning, but this time it required a birdie at the last with Hugh managing a par to retain the Trophy.
94 Men played for the Anniversary Cup and the conditions again saw a low-scoring affair. Division One went to Scott Butland with a fine round of 65, with Ben Cox second, with 70, after a four way countback, Richard Salter was third. Division Two went to Alan O’Leary with 67 after countback from John Ellis with Gary Lenihan, third with 68 after countback. Division Three was won by Steve Moore, with 68, Martyn Russell was second, with 69, and Peter Walsh, third, with 70. However with one of the lowest scores seen for some time at Mendip, Rowly Williams, playing off a 16 handicap, recorded an eight under par score of 63, helped by birdies on the 1st, 16th and 18th to land the trophy.
The Ladies Medal saw a win in Silver Division for twelve-year-old Ellen Reakes with a net 76 after countback from Fran Davies, with Elaine Kitchenham third. Bronze Division went to Margaret Hawker, with 75, a point better than Margaret Allen with Andrea Williams third. Copper Division was won by Diana Stevenson, with 76, with Alison Letts second with eighty and Val Dixon third. The County Grass Roots Competition for the two best gross scores from handicaps 29–36 went to Kay O’Connor with 115 and Sue Needham 118.
Tony Williams