The Somerset Golf Union held their Championship this year at Mendip. Johnny Grace from Saltford Golf Club is this year’s Somerset County Champion, following a fine second round three-under-par 68 on Sunday, 19th May.
Played on a course in excellent condition, the Championship was blessed with fine weather and a competitive morning round saw club house leaders, Oli Worts (Orchardleigh) and Alex Winn (Worlebury) on one-under-par, ahead of Craig Adams (Farrington Park) 71 and a host of others in close contention.
The afternoon round was dominated by Johnny Grace, playing off a plus-one handicap, whose three-under-par 68 for a combined total of 143 gave him a three-shot victory over runner-up, Craig Adams (Farrington Park, 146) with Andy Ferris (Long Sutton, 147) and Vivary Park’s James Short (148) in third and fourth place.
Kobe Adams, Taunton and Pickeridge, picked up the Colts Trophy on 149, his round helped by back-to-back eagle-twos. The Junior title went to Dylan Zanh (Mendip Spring) with 151.
To give an idea of the standard of golf played at Mendip that day, out of the 57 competitors, 32 held a handicap of three or better! Johnny Grace admitted that The Mendip had often got the better of him, but for once he had come out on top.
Ninety competitors played in the Flower Centenary Cup at Mendip on a breezy day, which made scoring difficult and meant that no player bettered the 71 par. Winning Division One with 72 was Henry Treasure, followed by Mark Dearman with 73 and James Herniman with 75 after countback. Division Two went to Brian Mitchard with 71, with Selwyn Rees second with 72 and Stephen Creese third on 73. Division Three went to Jonathan Cummings on 71, Peter Grafton was second with 74 and Ray Eves third with 77. However, the overall Cup winner, with the best of the 71s, came from Division Two by Nigel Brokenshire. Well done, Nigel.
Mendip held a Ladies’ Open Bowmaker which drew a good entry of visitors. The winning visitor team came from Clevedon with 82 points, winning on countback from a team from Long Ashton. Third place went to a team from the Bristol club. The first Mendip team were Jenny Merrett and Edwina Willis, together with a Saltford lady with 73. Second were Chris Atkinson, Hilary Rowdon and Sue Needham with 72 and in third place were Mary Ainsworth, Joan Clark and Margaret Hawker.
The Ladies’ Granny Trophy event had 32 entrants, although not all competitors were eligible for the trophy. The winner this year was Hilary Rowdon with 38 points, with Elaine Kitchenham second with 35 points and Edwina Willis third with 33 after countback. However, eleven-year-old Daisy Jeffery put together an excellent round to score 37 points. Very well done, Daisy.
Thirteen-year-old, Ellen Reakes, made her debut for the Somerset County Second Team against Devon. And what a debut! Ellen won her foursomes match 7/6, then went on to record a 4/3 singles win in the afternoon. Somerset won the match 7½-1½.
The Seniors visited Enmore, but came away with another defeat this time, 2-6. Winning for Mendip were Brian Say/Keith Beasley and Andy Griffiths/Martin Osborne.
The Seniors’ Monthly stableford attracted 88 competitors, and although the weather was fairly dismal, the scoring was good. Division One was won by Jim Scott showing a welcome return to form with 38 points, with Adrian Brooking-Clark second with 37, beating Kevin Carmody on countback. Division Two was won by Ron Curtis with 38, with Kelvin Lum second on 37, again, beating third-placed Stephen Lake on countback.
The Nearest the Pin Competition this week was won by John Ellis. Matt Bendall was second and David Williams third.
Tony Williams