This qualifying Stableford competition was initiated in 2021, for players with a course handicap of 36 or less. Players with a higher handicap have a separate competition on the same day. Last year’s competition had been played in May, once restrictions on competitive golf had been lifted, due to the ongoing pandemic, but this year it had to be played in March. Unfortunately, winter weather had returned with a vengeance after the beautiful Spring weather of the previous week.

The sun shone but cold temperatures, a 36 mph wind and the occasional snow flurry wrecked many players’ chances of a decent score. Only thirty-two pars and two birdies were scored throughout the field.

Sue Forshaw birdied the par 3 fifth hole after finding the green and Margaret Seery chipped in for birdie on the par 3 8th after finding the rough with her tee shot.

Ten players managed to score 30 points or more, the rest had varying degrees of success, many feeling rather despondent about the way they had played.

Division Two was won by Issey Panton, with a good score of 34 points. Issey was six points clear of the rest of the Division Two ladies. Kath Cox and Lesley Stone scored 28 and 26 points respectively to take second and third places.

Division One scoring from the top placed players was very close. Jackie Willcox took second place on countback ahead of Barbara Lawson after both scored 34 points. The winner scored steadily throughout her round and it turned out to be a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for Min Woodward, who lifted the Lockdown Challenge Trophy with a very good score of 35 points. Jane Ball