The highlight of the year for many Mendip Golf Club members, particularly the lower handicap players, are the Club Championships, played over 36 holes.
72 Men competed over a very hot weekend, and there was some outstanding scoring. Day One saw five-handicapper, Wayne Black, leading with an excellent gross 71, followed by Scratch golfer and joint-Head Greenkeeper, Stuart Ponfield, with 73, and Wayne Srawley and Tom Small on 74. On Day Two, Thomas Chapman carded a fine 71, and Wayne Srawley put together another great round of 72.
However, there was no stopping Stuart Ponfield, who scored a magnificent Gross 66, a round containing one bogey and six birdies. This left the overall Championship in Stuart’s hands, with a three-under-par score of 139. In second place was Wayne Srawley, with 146, Tom Small was third, with 150 and Wayne Black, fourth on 151.
Alongside the Championship runs the Frost Cup, a net competition. Leading the way after Day One was 22-handicapper, Alan Edwards, with a par busting round of nett-64, and he was closely followed by fifteen-handicapper, Andrew Wells, with a nett-65.
However, the hot conditions affected Alan on Day Two, and he fell away, but Andrew kept his game going with a nett-72, giving him a total nett score of 137 and the Cup. Second place was decided after a triple tie on 142, with Liam Robertson winning on countback from Tom Chapman and Keith Gadsden.
The Ladies’ Championship was not so well-contested, and three-handicap Aimee Sawyer was a comfortable winner with gross-162, well clear of Edwina Willis. Young Ellen Reakes, aged twelve, put together two impressive rounds off her handicap of seventeen, ending with a gross -81, a three-better-than-handicap score, a fine effort in such a pressure event and this gave her the Net trophy.
The previous week, Aimee Sawyer had represented Somerset in County Week held this year at St Enedoc, playing 36 holes daily. Whilst Somerset could only finish fourth, Aimee had a fine week, playing eight matches and winning six of them.
The Men’s Avalon A Team visited Wedmore and unfortunately, came away empty handed, a rare setback. The Pro Shop Nearest the Pin saw wins this week for Jenny Merrett, Richard Jeffrey and Steve Whalen.
The Ladies held a 4BBB Stableford, and with several Ladies away playing in a Mixed event at High Post, some of the higher handicap players cashed in. There was a four-way tie on 43 points, and after countbacks the winners were Chris Williams and Kay O’Connor, followed by Carol Mosley and Jill Jestico, Dee Garnsworthy and Liz Rose and Fran Davies and Karen Cookson.
The Ladies’ Alliance B narrowly went down 6–8 to Knowle, with wins coming from Hilary Rowdon, Nichola Croft and Anita Butcher. The Ladies’ Inter-Club Team also lost a close match away to Tall Pines, 3–4. Wins for Lulu Carolan, who turned out despite feeling most unwell, Margaret Hawker and Chris Williams.
The Seniors held their annual running of the Bill Freeman Cup, and this attracted an excellent entry of 85 competitors. Playing conditions were ideal, and this led to some high scores, with nineteen players bettering their handicaps. This means that there will be some disappointed players seeing their handicaps cut, without winning anything!
Losing on countback on 41 points was Andy Parfitt, leaving Bob Smallcombe third, with a re-vitalised Martyn Hirst second, on 43 points. But the winner on 45, nine shots better than handicap, was twenty-handicapper, John Roper.
The Seniors’ Avalon Team beat visiting Mendip Spring 3½–1½, with wins from the pairings of David Collins/Alan Roper, Phil Bendall/Keith Beasley and Jim Boyce/Alan Edwards, with Peter Rumming/Andy Parfitt gaining a half.
However, they did not fare as well when visiting Wheathill, going down by the same score. Tony Taylor/Alan Roper won their match and Terry Carter/Peter Rumming gained a half.
The Seniors entertained Burnham and lost a competitive affair, 2½–4½. Wins came from David Pilbeam/Nick Inskip and Simon Wynn/Kevin Carmody, with a half coming from Merlyn Saunders/Tony Taylor.
Tony Williams