Tree blossoms as Goodwood golfers’ success continues

The event was reduced to three rounds because of a washout on the first day.

English international Tree shot a final round of 64 on the tough links course to finish in a tie for first place with Gloucestershire’s Jamie Dick, with Tree taking the title in a play-off.

“It was a tough week in the weather, but they kept the course playable, it was the same for everyone and it was just a question of keeping under the umbrella as much as possible,” said 19-year-old Tree, a member of the England team who won the European amateur team championships last year.

“They managed to keep the course dry, but it was soft for a links course which I did not mind. You could pitch it at the flag much more and play it like a parkland course.

“In the last round I played well and kept making the putts. I was not nervous going into the play-off because it was just a question of carrying on doing what I was doing well – you cannot control the outcome of a play-off so I just tried to control my own game.

“It was a good win for me to start the summer. I put the event in my schedule as a links course to prepare for the St Andrew’s Links and British Amateur.”

Twenty-one top young golfers played 36 holes in the Sussex girls’ championships at Goodwood.

Having won the under-15 championships last year, Lizzie Price of Nevill GC secured the title of Sussex junior champion shooting 161 over the two rounds, five shots clear.

She was presented with a special prize by Ryan Fenwick the Sussex Girls’ Coach, a Golf at Goodwood flag signed by Justin Rose, the US Open champion who is an ambassador for the club.

The winner of the handicap event was Goodwood’s Yasmin Hang with a nett score of 139.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park’s team of Terry Jasper, Dave Hirons and Brian Street plus new club professional Tim Allen, won the Sussex past captains’ pro-am at Copthorne, with a score of minus ten on a medal basis.

Allen came fourth in the pros’ competition to continue Cowdray’s good record in county competitions.

Cowdray ladies held a Ping four-ball better-ball.

Results: 1 Wendy Street and Lil Cummins 37pts; 2 Angela Pike and Jane Holden 36 (cb); 3 Marilyn Davis and Jill Parry 36 (cb);

4 Debbie Cheasley and Tessa Stockwell 36.

Playing at home against Littlehampton, Cowdray Park seniors were relieved when forecast downpours failed to materialise. The visitors must have been taken aback at the Cowdray rough, as their idiosyncratic links course only has very light rough but other means of defence.

The result was a stunning 7-1 win to Cowdray, courtesy of six wins and two halves.

The biggest winning margin was returned by Peter Laws and Mick Folkes, who overcame tough opponents 5&4, while the in-form Ian Goodall and Roy Penrose beat their opponents 4&3.

Both halved matches featured big turnarounds, one from each side, Graham Evans and David Wickham fought back from 3 down, while John Durrell and Alan Robinson were pegged back after establishing a four-shot lead early on.

Results (Cowdray Park names first): Rob Doney & Nick Austin beat John Brindley & Nigel Smith 3&2; Peter Hallt & Wally Mitchell beat John Luke & Roly Steel 3&1; Peter Laws & Mick Folkes beat Howard Chipperfield & Roger Johnson 5&4; John Durrell & Alan Robinson halved with Ian Gough & Dennis Osborne; Graham Evans & David Wickham halved with Alan Greenfield & John Watmore; John Smith & Richard Histed beat Ken Wenham & John Edwards 2&1; Ian Goodall & Roy Penrose beat Tony Falkingham & Tony Tiernan 4&3; Terry Adsett & Alan Godfree beat Phil Lickorish & John Ludlow 3&2.

owen, brockhurst pix

Following the May Stableford, when the scoring was surprisingly low, there was a little movement at the top of the Cowdray Park seniors’ leaderboard.

Paul Owen was not able to extend his four-shot lead but the pack is now closing in, with four players on 61.5.

Steve Tkaczynski has displaced Gordon Kendall in second, on countback, while John Kitchener and skipper Brian Brockhurst are level with them.

Biggest mover of the month was division-two Stableford winner Ian Goodall, who rose from 43rd to ninth, while Graham Evans improved 21 places following his four month spell in sunny Spain.

Proof of the increasing strength of the seniors’ section is the fact 62 players are already under net par for the season so far while, compared to this time last year, there are 49 more pars, four more birdies and one more eagle.

June features the Rolland Plate (medal) and the monthly Stableford.

CHICHESTER

Chichester ladies took part in the national Peugeot Coronation Foursomes. Winners Kathy Donohoe and Elaine Fell achieved 32 points; second with 28 were Jennifer Sherwood and Lisa Jackson and third were Fran Syson and Lesly Hance with 26.

Lisa Mitchelmore won the Saturday Stableford with 32 points.

The Tuesday monthly medal was won by Lisa Jackson with a nett 74, which resulted in a cut in handicap. Second on countback with 79 was Pauline Beale; third Yvonne Dunckley.

The Saturday medal was won by Helen Ball with 73 ahead of Lisa Mitchelmore with 79.

All ladies played the national Ping competition and the eventual winners were Elaine Fell and Lisa Mitchelmore with 39 points. Other ladies played in an alternative team Stableford, won by Melva Bateman and Pauline Beale with 57 points. Second were Gill Fielding and Tricia Robertson with 52 points; third with 47 were Caroline Hawkes and Hazel Gillet.

Tuesday saw the annual ladies-versus-veterans’ match for the Hunston Salver. A four-ball better-ball competition was played with eight teams taking part. Three matches went to the 18th hole but the vets retained the trophy.

Pictured is the presentation of the salver to Campbell Golsmid (vets captain) by Dot Collyer (ladies captain).

This year’s Brent Lodge Trophy challenged 35 ladies on the Tower course. This is a charity competition with all proceeds going to Brent Lodge. Eventual winner with an outstanding 41 points was Jennifer Sherwood, resulting in a handicap cut of two shots for Jennifer. Second was Pauline Beale with 36 points, ahead of Lyn Santer on countback.

Westwood Golf Academy is hosting ‘the First Alternative Golf Coaching Conference’ at Chichester Golf Club on Thursday (Jun 12).

Despite changes in equipment and instructional technology, improvements to courses and conditions, and an increased availability of instructional information, golfers are NOT improving.

But now’s the chance to see if you can put the fun and enjoyment back into your game and start improving your scores.

The academy’s Tony Westwood said: “We promise that we will challenge the common myths and misconceptions that have been floating around the golf industry for years, and most of it has been created by the professionals – the golf coaches themselves.”

Westwood, director of Mind Fit Golf, has brought together four other coaches who will each deliver their different yet complimentary approaches to the game.

The one day event is guaranteed to change the way you approach your game, challenge your beliefs about what you need to do and lower your scores through simple ideas and processes that have been tried and tested for many years.

Graham Williams (founder of Mind Fit), Brian Sparks (author of Positive Impact Golf), Glen Haynes (lead coach at Westwood Golf & Mind Fit Golf) and Richard Fish (former European Tour player and alternative golf coaching) will also be involved.

Places are limited and you can book by visiting www.mindfitltd.com/alternative-coaching-conference. Email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

BOGNOR

Bognor GC held their men’s Invitation, with more than 70 players taking part in a Stableford. Norman Lee compered the event and it was well received.

The winners were Andrew Field and his partner from Goodwood, Andy Wallhead, with 44 points. Second with 42 were Paul Brennan and Simon Spicer; third with 41 were Dave Chalmers and Jeff Cooper and fourth on countback Ian Simpson and Kevin Coulsons.

Bognor’s seniors played in a match at Corhampton they’ll want to forget in a hurry. It was a complete whitewash with Bognor losing 8-0.

Bognor players joked that the course was set up for the home team and just wait until Corhampton visit Bognor in July. But Corhampton were great hosts and treated the Bognor team to an excellent meal. Bognor eagerly await the return.

Bognor’s captain of the day Allan Delves, in his speech after the game, said he had contacted Nick Clegg for advice and was told not to resign.

Results: Allan Delves & Gary Steventon lost 2 down, Dave Hollis & Richard Kaemena lost 3&2, Peter Collins & Brian Wolstencroft lost 5&4, Mike Oates & Steve King lost 6&5, Clive Millett & John King lost 4&3, Ken Catt & Peter Lott lost 1 down, Jim Catt & Barry Appleby lost 2&1, Tony Wells & Alastair MacDonald lost 2 down.

Bognor’s men’s Wednesday Evening League team continued their winning form with an excellent 4-1 win against a strong Ham Manor team. After the first two matches came in halved, what looked like a close contest was turned on its head with the next three matches all falling to Bognor.

Captain Simon Watts showed the way in the third match with a fine 3&1 win, partnering Ian Paine.

Results: John Lampard & James MacLean halved with P Bodle & P Broome, Mike Walsh & Rob Redmond halved with M Trusson & S Halsey, Ian Paine & Simon Watts beat Naughton and Lewis 3&1, Richard Beresford & John Cable beat G Smith & N Bage 3&1, Ian Hendry & Richard Perry beat R Stace & R Chapman 2 up.

AVISFORD PARK

A busy spell for the seniors included a disappointing 5½-½ loss away to Slinfold. Only Gerry Tarrant and Ernie Rivett avoided the whitewash.

Form was restored by a home win against Rustington by an identical score. Two pairs won 5&4 – Barry Goble and Kevin Durban Jackson and Dave McConnell and Gerry Tarrant.

Avisford seniors competed in the second round of the Sussex-wide Cyril Blake Cup and, although they were playing at home, lost 3-1 to a very strong team from East Sussex National GC.

Bob Boulter and Chris Machin were Avisford’s only victors. Avisford await the draw for the plate competition.

At the weekly seniors’ Stableford, 82-year-old Mike Gammon had the round of a lifetime scoring 44 points. And by getting round in 81 strokes, he acheived what most can only dream about – taking one stroke under his age.

LITTLEHAMPTON

Littlehampton held their gents’ invitational bowl as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations. No fewer than four pairs all posted the winning score of 39 points. The winners, on countback, were brothers Bill and Simon Hoal.

Results: 1 B Hoal & S Hoal; 2 A Clarke & A Frampton; 3 R Murray & W Boyd; 4 K Sapsed & H Medhurst.

An open day will be held at Littlehampton GC on Saturday, July 19, giving everyone a chance to come along, meet the management team and play some golf on the oldest and only links course in West Sussex.