RPGC suffered a loss to Hoebridge in the first round of the mixed Hawtree Trophy. Results…

Result: 125-112

The Hawtree competition took place on 3 May on a brilliant sunshine day. The format was mixed Greensomes.

The club was represented by Amy Hocking, Ed Henery, Maureen Vincent-Slade and Richard Owen at Richmond Park. Val Riziotis, Paul Brown, Rianda Markram and James Barker represented the club at Hoebridge Golf Club.

It was a close run affair at Richmond Park as Amy and Ed won their match by 3 points and Maureen and Richard narrowly lost their match. James and Rianda won their match by a single point whilst Val and Paul came up against an in-form home team who ran away with the match.

The final result was 125-112. It was a really fun day and thank you to all the players for representing the club.

Another team that won through to the area semi-final. This time the home advantage went to Hoebridge – and that is a huge advantage at the best of times there with sloping and elevated greens. The advantage was even bigger on the day with parched fairways exaggerating the slopes and borrows even more. Each match was hard fought and close – but we went down four and a half to a half. Next year the format will take much of that home advantage away and – with the strong team we can field – we should do even better.

Result: Win

The Club had a bye in the first round and played Farnham Park Golf Club at home in Round 2. 

It was a clear win for the Club and we now go on to play Bird Hills away.

The team was Graham Syme & Jayne Maxwell, Jon Cooper & Kate Emanuel, Toby Hunt & Val Riziotis, Mike Rowe & Lia Donath plus Mike Smeal & Susan Smith.

Result: 1-4 loss

We got through to round 3 and played Bird Hills away.

A strong fight was put up but unfortunately we were unable to get through to the next round. Birds Hills won 3 of the matches and we halved two. Well done to Graeme & Jayne and Jon & Kate for their halves.

The other teams were Shaun Feldon &Lia Donath, Paul Doran & Val Riziotis and Kerry Sergeant & Susan Smith.

Result: 3-2 Loss

Team
Ros Gray & Toby Hunt
Tracy Wright & Kerry Sargeant
Julie & Ian Smith
Maureen Slade & Richard Owen
Veronica Mitchell & Jon Cooper

The 2007 Hawtree mixed pairs competition started for Richmond Park at Batchwood Hall near Beaconsfield, which is also where it has ended.

The format is foursomes (partners taking alternate shots), which gives the pairs plenty of time to look at the course. Batchwood is a pretty course and well worth a visit. Neither too long nor too tight, it still gives a challenge with some interesting sloping lies and tricky greens.

The Batchwood Hall team eased to a victory by 3 games to 2. This was actually tighter than it looks as Toby Hunt with Ros Gray and Kerry Sargeant with Tracey Wright both halved their matches. Ian Smith with Julie Smith and Richard Owen with Maureen Slade were both on the losing end while Jon Cooper with Veronica Mitchell won their game.

I would like to thank all the team for turning out and giving their best – it was a close run thing!

The Hawtree Team fought a close battle away at Batchwood Hall. More…

Result: 2-3 Loss

Team
Martin & Tracy Wright
Ian & Julie Smith
Kerry Sergeant & Di Jackett
Jon Cooper & Doreen Dolby
Jason Loubser & Veronica Mitchell

The Richmond Park team traipsed miles up the M1 to Milton Keynes to play Abbey Hill in the first round of the Hawtree. This is a mixed competition consisting of 5 mixed pairs a side playing foursomes match play. Each pair alternate tee shots and then take turns to play after that until the hole is finished. Shots are decided by taking half the combined handicap differences.

Excitement started early with one carload of three team players understanding that the tee off was an hour later than it was. Fortunately they are conscientious team members and got there early for the later incorrect tee time. This meant they arrived in the nick of time and rushed off to play their match. Probably not the ideal start and I apologise if my instructions were inadequate.

The first pair out were Tracey and Martin Wright who met a tough pair of opponents and found themselves 5 down after 10. They dug deep and clawed back to all square standing on the 18th tee. They feel justifiably peeved that Martin’s drive found a hidden pond that their opponents had not mentioned existed. I suppose all is fair in golf but it seemed a rotten way to lose the match – one down after a terrific fight back.

Next off were Ian and Julie Smith who had to give 7 shots. They too ran into tough opponents and ran out 3 and 2 losers. Jason Loubser and Veronica Mitchell paired up for their first taste of Hawtree golf and a fine job they made of it, pulling out an easy 4 and 3 victory to put Richmond back in the chase.

Kerry Sergeant and Di Jackett tore the course up. They played a brother (off 1) and his sister but never looked like losing the match. Kerry and Di were some 4 over par when they won the match on the 13th – 6 and 5!

This left the match all square and gave your captain another chance to make a name for himself. Unfortunately it turned out to be ‘pratt’. I partnered Doreen Dolby who carried me pretty well but we spent most of the match one down. We pulled back to level with three to play, one up with two to play – and knowing the outcome of the match rested with us I could see glory coming our way. Unfortunately I couldn’t see the green on the 17th and so we stood all square on the 18th tee. To cut a long story short – their 2 handicapper hit a magnificent shot some 220 yards for 2, leaving an uphill 8 foot putt. Doreen hit a fantastic iron over several bunkers and onto the green leaving yours truly a tricky 20 foot right to left downhill putt. Needless to say, Doreen missed the 12 foot uphill putt to tie the game and Richmond exited the Hawtree by the narrowest of margins.

My opponents were great to pay with – as I believe all the Abbey Hill team were, and we wish them the best of luck in round two.

Result: 3-2 Loss

Winning pairs: Martin & Tracy Wright, Jon Cooper & Di Jackett

Losing pairs: Ian & Julie Smith, Dave William & Maureen Slade, Kerry Sargeant & Sheena Harrington

We finally got to play our match against Little Hay 8 weeks after the last round, and sadly could not continue our winning ways being beaten 3 – 2.

As in the previous round we were mainly giving shots to the opposition but our victorious pairings made it look easy – Di Jackett & Jon Cooper winning 7 & 6 and Tracy & Martin Wright by 5 & 4.

Unfortunately the rest of us didn’t, with yours truly continuing an unbroken record of never having won a Hawtree match. Little Hay’s team had combinations of low men and high ladies which worked for 3 of their pairs, but obviously not the others!

They made us very welcome all seeming to be a friendly bunch and we enjoyed our day there.

Result: tba

Report to appear here.