Dartmouth golfers ramp up the fundraising efforts

A BUSY charity week at Dartmouth started with the ladies’ fun team competition in aid of Breast Cancer Now.

Players were in various shades of pink and alongside their pink balloons made quite a spectacle on the course.

Alison White is returning to golf following a knee replacement and showed that her game is very much alive with a significant contribution to her team’s winning score of 110 points. Congratulations to Alison and her fellow players Chris Aresti, Chris Mayer and Sue Warren.

Four points behind were Kate Merriam, Karen Oldrieve and Anne Woodward, followed on 102 by Jan Cousins, Barbara Dally and Shelley Durrans.

Marion Bell organised the day and provided the prizes so the £375 raised on the day will be sent to Breast Cancer Now. Many thanks to Marion and also to Chris Aresti for sorting the teams and cards.

Midweek, the men also played a team competition, this time a Summer Florida Scramble.

54 was the winning score courtesy of Phil Brooking, Rob Isaacs-Berry, John Oldrieve and Bobby Wotton, with the teams of Andy Birss, Paul Brown, Mark Collins and Seth Collins (56) and Roy Baldwin, Philip Green, Brian Mushens and David Thompson (57) not far behind.

At the weekend, pairs played for the Penhale Olympic Tankards - a lasting memory of both the late Geoff Penhale and the 2012 London Olympics.

For a long time, a ladies’ team of Shelley Durrans and Tina Scanlan was in the lead with 44 points, but they were pipped by the final pair, Steve Atkins and John Merriam, who beat them on countback. Congratulations to one and commiserations to the other.

Last but certainly not least, the Pro’s Charity Day in aid of the Royal British Legion was held on Sunday, with a dress code of red, white and blue.

Pro Matt Handley organised the day and with the help of mum, Emily, ensured that everything ran smoothly.

A single point separated the top five teams, with Steve Atkins and John Merriam continuing their winning streak with the help of Adrian Rendle and Jeremy Wiltshire

The top mixed team consisted of Marilyn Lucas, Richard Lucas, Brian Mushens and Chris Mushens.

There were also prizes for Nearest the Pins (Martin Harron, Beccy Barrett, Greg Pearman and Jeremy Robillard) and Longest Drive (Lee Bond).

To bolster the charity total, Matt played a Beat the Pro challenge on the eighteenth, matching the £5 fee with his own money if anyone beat him.

He very sportingly allowed someone else to select his club and as a result, the pot ended the day with £2,621 in it - a tremendous achievement. Many thanks to all who took part and helped to make the day so special.

Thurlestone’s seniors captain Mike Croft selected Tavistock GC for his away day on July 23.

Winner of the Individual prize was Steve Gallagher with 41 points followed by Geoffrey Sanderson on 39.

The winning team was club captain Ken Riley, Richard Lungmuss and Geoff Holt. The Hooch Black Ball Challenge for retaining the same ball played alternately for the match was won by Seniors Captain Mike Croft, John Roger and Neil McCormack. Nearest the Pin on the seventh was Ken Riley and Bill Hutchison on the 10th.

For a change, none of the ladies’ President’s team had to give any shots away at Saunton, a couple evening receiving two or three.

The final result was a 5-2 win to Saunton, Thurlestone forfeiting the last match due to being a player short.

However, the whole squad can be congratulated as they have, for the third year running, qualified for the quarterfinals which will be held at Honiton on August 10, where they’ll face Churston.

The Parker trophy team (pictured) beat the Warren in a match played at Tavistock meaning Thurlestone men are off to a finals day of their own. Congratulations and good luck!

Also for the ladies was a fun play on the Solheim Cup, teams being drawn to represent Europe and the USA and playing six holes each of American greensomes, foursomes and individual matchplay.

Europe came out on top by a score of 17-11 and everyone had a great day of it.

Superb weather also greeted 55 members for the Senior Championships and Mike Allen got back to winning ways with a nett 60, closely followed by Ian Gaff (63).

Tim Richardson was the gross winner on 73, two clear of Adam Walker.

The highlight of the day was not one but two hole-in-ones, Martin Oakes-Monger on the first and Mark Drew on the sixth.

Monday, August 3 saw the fourth round of the Senior’s Cup, played off the championship blues.

32 players were in the mix to battle against the current rock-hard conditions, making club selection all the more important.

Top of the class on the day was ‘Radar’ Roy Baldwin who went around in a nett 68, including an amazing thirteen pars blighted only by a triple bogey at seven and a double at ten.

Second place went to skipper David Sparks who was exceptionally steady with ten pars in a nett 70.

Colin Cooper, Trevor Pretty, Mark Whitworth and John Cousins were placed thereafter. The pack have closed in on leader Paul Harding who had a disappointing round today but still leads by six shots.

This is not an unassailable lead and a decent score in round five later this month by any of the closest chasers could change the picture.

Division One leaders- Roy Baldwin and David Sparks. Division Two leaders- John Cousins and Robert Wotton.

No Birdie twos were scored on this occasion. Competition guru Nigel (Ozzie) Osborne oversaw the cards. Many thanks to him as usual.

Seniors Cup current standings after four rounds: Paul Harding 216 nett, Michael Whitelaw 222, Brian Mushens 223, Gary Bonser 224, Desmond Graham 227, Mario Aresti 227

Next week sees a Stableford qualifier.