The thirty-third Annual Challenge Salver Match between Wells and Worlebury golf clubs was held this year at Worlebury. The format for the competition was four-ball better ball. Wells arrived to defend their victory in last year’s match.
A strong wind made playing conditions challenging. The competition got underway with Stuart Mann, Wells Club Captain, and Geoff Dyer leading up until the fifteenth, when Worlebury fought back to earn a half. Erica Klim and Bob Lench followed up with a 3&2 win to put Wells into the lead. This was a short-lived lead for Wells, with defeats for Colin Mantle and eleven-year-old Freddie Lovell in match three, and Alan Elkins and John Moxon in match four.
The Wells pairing of Pete Walker and Terry Pearce proved too strong for their opponents, and achieved a 4&3 win to bring the match back to all square. Eric Loxton and Jon Mackness then lost 3&2 to give Worlebury a slender lead.
This lead didn’t last long, as the strong Wells pairing of Ken Mitchell and George Davis proved too much for their opponents, with a 3&2 win.
All square going into the final match but unfortunately the Worlebury pair proved too much for the Wells duo of Mike Bailey and Steve Rowse, who lost 4&3. In the end, a very close and well-contested match was won by Worlebury.
Winners of the Daily Mail Foursomes competition for the Ladies were Jen Jones and Jane Hilborne, who will have the opportunity to represent the club in this national competition next year. The Runners-up were Cath Levell and Kathy Lane.
The Club Past Captains were victorious in this year’s annual match against the Ladies’ Past Captains.
Although a close contest, the Ladies felt the club captains should have the honours this year and were gracious in defeat. Philip Slater said: “We always enjoy this fixture, and it means a lot to us to win this year in such a close finish.”