Mendip Golf Club has seen many of the KO Cup Finals take place over the past few days. The ‘Duffers’ Cup, played for by the higher handicap players, was won by Spencer Pocock, who beat Paul Wood in the Final. Next up was the Anderson Goblet for the mid-handicap players, and this year this was won by Martin Wilkins, who beat Martin Honeybun. The Hospital Plate, introduced a few years ago as a consolation for those players who were knocked out in the first round of the Hospital Cup, was won by Tony Logan.
Mendip’s Avalon A team have had it confirmed that they have won Division Four and will be promoted. At the Champion’s Finals Day competition held at a very windy Burnham and Berrow, Mendip’s A Team finished a very creditable second, by one point, behind Minehead, who would have been much more used to the conditions on the day.
There was also much good news on the Mendip Ladies Front. The A team, by beating The Bristol 12–2 at home, with wins for Aimee Sawyer, Gill Brown, Fran Davies, Vi Hayes, Jan Fukuyama and Linda Brobson, secured their promotion back to Division One of the Bristol and District League. News of this was quickly followed by hearing that the B Team, after an anxious wait, avoided relegation when Henbury beat Lansdown and will remain in Division Three next year.
In the Ladies’ KO Cup Finals, Chris Olds secured the Fanstone Cup by beating Fran Davies and Anne Collins won the Optimists’ Cup, introduced for the higher handicap ladies, by beating Alison Letts.
News also came through that Bron Cooper has been chosen as the Ladies’ Vice-Captain for 2017, her second stint and congratulations go to her.
The Ladies’ Captain, Hilary Rowdon held her away day at Enmore and enjoyed good support from the Ladies’ Section and, on this occasion, welcomed some Men to the event, surely a first? Amazing weather and a course looking in very good order made for a most enjoyable day out for the ladies.
The Seniors welcomed Wedmore to Mendip and the visitors experienced the full range of Mendip weather, sunshine, a little low cloud and occasional drizzle! Mendip came out on top by 4½–2½. There were wins for Geoff Mosley/Mike Snaith, Chris Bryant/Bob Smallcombe, Pete Rumming/Nigel Hill and Alan Edwards/Colin Juneman with a half contributed by Keith Beasley/Alan Evans-Jones. In a second fixture, Mendip entertained Taunton and Pickeridge. With the greens playing extremely fast and with some tricky pin positions, the match was always closely contested and ended with an honourable draw, 3–3. Mendip’s wins came from Norman Squire/Paul Smith, David Pilbeam/Martin Lambert and Terry Carter/Mike Snaith.
The Mendip Mixed Team entertained Bath on a very pleasant late summer’s day and came out victorious by 5½–1½. Wins for Mendip came from Ladies’ Captain, Hilary Rowdon and husband, Hugh, Andrea and Tony Williams, Nola and Terry Russell, Fran Davies and Rob Needham, and Lyn and David Cox, with Team Captain, Patricia Rawlins, playing with Club Captain, David Williams, despite having to give many shots to their high handicap opponents, contributing a half.
The Final of the Mixed KO, the Jeff Jones, was contested between Margaret Allen and Chris Bennett, and the strong pairing of Linda Brobson and David Cox. After a splendid battle, Margaret and Bob finally clinched victory on the sixteenth hole.
Tony Williams