Firstly it is with great sadness that I have to
report the passing of George Smith at the ripe old age of 97. George was the oldest surviving Captain of Mendip, having held that position in 1969. He was also President of the Somerset Golf Union in 1976. His son, Brian, is of course an active, low-handicap Member of Mendip.
The Mendip Mixed Team has been busy, with a 3-3 draw away to Taunton and Pickeridge, with wins coming from Liz Rose/John Whyman, Lynn and David Cox and Chris Williams/Neil Bath. This was followed by a fine 6-0 win when home to Tidworth. Winning pairs on this occasion were Liz and John again, Sandie and Alan Roper, Anita and Phil Butcher, Carol and Geoff Mosley, Julia and Mike Phillips and Pauline and Alan Williams.
The Mendip Men held their annual running of the Stephenson Cup, with 98 entrants competing in beautiful weather and excellent playing conditions. Division One saw a win for Stephan Golledge with a net-70, with John Harvey second on count-back with 71, leaving Tom Chapman third. Division Two was won by Aaron Mitchell with a fine 68, Nigel Cheshire was second with 69 on count-back from Richard Salter.
Division Three went to a resurgent Brian Francis with a fine 66, with Nigel Brokenshire second with seventy and Michael Gardiner third, after count-back, with 71. However, no-one could get near the Cup Winner, eight-handicapper Matt Bendall, who carded an outstanding net-62 with nine pars and five birdies!
The Avalon A Team kept up their fine form with a 3-2 home win over a strong Oake Manor Team. Wins for Mendip came from Wayne Black/Steve Moore, Matt Lambert/Rich Gumbleton and Wayne Srawley and Team Captain, Steve Coate.
The Ladies held a very successful Open Bowmaker, attracting a full field of 81 entrants, with fourteen Clubs represented. The first Visitors’ Prize went to a Kington/Stockwood Vale Team with 76 points, with a Team from Mendip Spring second and Bristol and Clifton third.
The Best Mendip Team prize went to Chris Down/Lulu Carolan/Anne Hopkins with 77 points, Marian Speed/Jinhee Page and Hazel Bevan of B&B were second with 73 and Vi Hayes/Jenny Merrett and Jan Light of Orchardleigh were third with seventy on count-back. The Overall Best Team Prize went to a Long Ashton Team, with 78 points.
The Ladies Inter-Club Team entertained Wheathill and ran out worthy 5-2 winners. Mendip winners were Lynn Cox, Margaret Allen, Anita Butcher, Margaret Hawker and Diane Stanton.
The Ladies Friendly Team beat Worlebury 4-0, with wins from Carol Mosley/Sandie Roper, Tricia Murphy/Julia Phillips, Caroline Simper/Mary Ainsworth and Eileen Masters/Chris Atkinson.
The Seniors’ monthly stableford attracted 73 entrants and saw some fine scoring. Division One was won by Keith Gadsden with forty points, with Tony Taylor second with 39 and John Ellis third with 38. Division Two went to Nick Inskip with forty, with Derek Strudwick second with 38 on count-back from John Treeby. The Veteran’s prize went to Alan Evans Jones with 32, with Ted Brimble second with 31 on count-back from Michael Hawkins.
The Seniors’ Avalon League Team had a fine win 3-2 against Cricket St Thomas, Mendip winners were Peter Rummings/Alan Williams, Andy Parfitt/Martin Myers and Phil Bendall/Paul Smith.
The Seniors’ Team in the Somerset County Scratch Cup met a strong Bath Team, the current holders and a Team with several County Seniors playing. Unsurprisingly they went down 1-4, with nine-handicapper Phil Cookson registering Mendip’s sole win beating his four-handicap opponent.
Mendip Seniors played at Yeovil and came away with a halved match. Mendip’s points came from Simon Wynn/Mike Snaith, Brian Lewis/Dick Ransley and David Pilbeam/Nigel Cheshire, with Simon Atkinson/David Garnsworthy halving their match.
The latest Pro Shop Nearest the Pin Challenges were won by Jenny Merrett, Tom Small and David Garnsworthy.
Tony Williams