Competition Reports
Competition Reports
Monthly Medal
LADIES
With cold conditions and a very slow round, scoring was relatively high plus there were several “no returns”. However, despite a 7 at the par 3 first hole, Maureen Slade got her game back on track to win the monthly medal with a net 71. Di Jackett & Veronica Mitchell were one shot behind, with Di beating Veronica for 2nd place on the back nine. Results…
The CSS remained at 71.
The November medal was the last round counting towards the Dowling Cup. The winner for 2006 was Sheena Harrington with a winning total of 420 (aggregate of 6 best net scores in stroke play rounds). In second place was Tracy Wright on 426. Final result…
MEN
A slow and at times chilly round saw some excellent scoring – and in many cases even better scoring could have been made.
The winner on 66 was Graeme Syme with 66 and this included a nine at the 7th. Toby Hunt had a storming back nine 37 to finish 2nd on count back from Richard Kenwood, both recording 68s. Rob Urquhart played another fine round with 69, unfortunately dropping 4 shots in the last 5 holes. Results…
With play reverting (pleasantly and surprisingly) to the back tees, CSS was unchanged from SSS 68 giving rise to a 1.2 reduction in handicap for Graeme from 17.2 to 16, with a -2 clause 19.8 adjustment featuring in the calculation. Men’s handicap list…
Captain’s Twig
Captain Jon Cooper has issued the 3rd edition of his occasional newsletter – the Captain’s Twig. It’s available now online. More…
Four Ball Better Ball Medal
LADIES
Dove-tailing well together, Sheena Harrington & Julie Smith won the ladies’ 4 ball better ball with an excellent 40 points, 4 pts clear of Tracy Wright & Veronica Mitchell in 2nd. Third place was taken by Di Jackett & Maureen Slade on 35 pts. Results…
MEN
The winners on a back 3 count-back were Ian Smith and Kerry Sargeant from John Bennett and Jason Loubser, both pairings on 60. Conditions for early November were very favourable, reflected in the general scoring. Results…
Early rumours in the clubhouse were that a 59 had been returned for Graeme Syme and Ole Leon-Martin but scrutiny in the Handicap Secretary’s office revealed a casting error on the card and an incorrect net at SI 17 2nd hole resulting in a 61.
One pairing suffered a technical rule 31-4 disqualification with no gross score recorded on 9th hole. View card…
Winter Competition Rd 2
LADIES
Another new lady member, Sile-Brid Murphy, claimed the first round of the Princes Eclectic with 32 pts, a very good score in the nasty weather conditions. Again, this was on the back 9 from Kate Marsh. Results…
Since scoring was relatively low, this was a Reduction Only round for handicap.
Only 7 out of the 20 ladies who played managed to complete all the holes for an Eclectic score. Sheena Harrington is the current leader on net 86½ (off ½ handicap), closely followed by Jayne Maxwell & Cheryl Woodhouse, both on 87½.
Five ladies competed in the final of the Barton Bowl on 22nd October, one of these being Anne Koychev (nee Barton) who donated this trophy to the club in 1989 at the end of her 2½ years of captaincy. Unfortunately, Anne had to retire with a bad back on the day, but the other four battled it out in appallingly wet conditions with Maureen Slade being the eventual winner with 28 pts from Ros Gray in 2nd place (27 pts). Results…
MEN
In round 2 of the Winter Competition, Julian Diamond just pipped Jon Cooper (both with 38 points), being followed by Kerry Sargeant and John Sowter with 37 points in weather conditions progressively deteriorating. Results…
CSS remained at SSS 37. Men’s handicap list…
Jon takes the lead in the accumulated Winter Competition, two ahead of Rob Urquhart.
In the associated Prince’s Eclectic Julian Diamond heads Peter Harrington by two.
Winter Competition Rd 1
LADIES
New member Jayne Maxwell just pipped Julie Smith on the back 9 to claim victory in the first round of the Dukes Eclectic with 35 pts. Two points further behind were Maureen Slade and Tracy Wright. Results…
The CSS increased by 1 over the SSS to 36 pts.
Julie Smith takes an early lead in the Dukes Eclectic on net 79½ (off ½ handicap) with Tracy Wright in 2nd (81).
MEN
A count back on the last 6 earned Rob Urquhart 1st place over Graeme Syme. Rob’s round was skilfully crafted with ‘bad luck’ causing a couple of blobs. Gurpal Sekhon also had 36 points finishing 3rd. Results…
CSS remained at SSS 35. Men’s handicap list…
It is believed the Winter Competition has started. Paul Appleton and Graeme Syme share the early lead in the associated Duke’s Eclectic.
Sweep
LADIES
The ladies’ competition of the day was a Stableford which was won by Maureen Slade with 36 points. In 2nd was our newest member, Louise Williams (32pts), who beat Sheena Harrington on the back 9. Results…
The CSS increased by 2 (34 pts equivalent).
MEN
Players grappled with an infrequent format – bogey – and by and large it was the low-handicappers who coped best. Kerry Sargeant led the way carding an extremely commendable 2 over par 71 for +5. Second and third were Graeme Syme and Tim Meyer at +2 with Graeme finishing strongly on the back 9 @ + 4 and Tim motoring until 3 closing losses with the Devil’s 6-6-6 limited his result. Results…
With 50% of Category 1-3 players scoring within SSS +1 or 2 less, CSS was elevated to +2. Men’s handicap list…
Ruffian’s Ryder Cup
Result: 11½ to 3½ Loss
This year’s event took place at Ludlow Golf Club on Friday October 6th and Saturday October 7th. Ludlow was a team of 7 men and 3 ladies, captained by their club professional, Dan Francis. RPGC (8 men and 2 ladies) were represented by Ian and Julie Smith, Peter and Sheena Harrington, Kerry Sargeant, Paul Grand, Toby Hunt, Graeme Syme, Jurek Strelcyn and Richard Owen (2006 team captain). Following RPGC’s resounding win (12:3) last year, Ludlow were clearly looking to turn the tables. Extremely heavy rain the day before, and for the RPGC team travelling up on the Friday morning, made it all the more surprising to see the greens being watered as we arrived at midday. (How nice it would be if our course was underlain by free draining sand and gravel).
The first afternoon’s fourballs did not go RPGC’s way. It was not until the final match, when Jurek and Richard gained a ½, that we got our score on the board. The Ruffian’s dinner took place on the Friday night at a modern restaurant inside Ludlow Castle, and then moved on to the hotel bar where half the RGPC team were staying. The Ludlow crowd, led by their president Michael Hinks-Edwards, made us very welcome in Ludlow and a couple of them tried to drink us under the table on Friday evening.
It was always going to be an uphill task starting the second day in deficit by 4½ to ½. Despite good singles wins by Kerry, Ian and Toby, RPGC lost the match 11½ to 3½ and the cup had to be handed back to Ludlow as worthy winners. Home advantage seems to have taken its toll again and there were suggestions that we should try playing the event at a neutral course next year.
Monthly Medal
LADIES
The ladies’ October medal, played in torrential rain, thunder & lightning on 1st October, was won by Julie Smyth (net 103), who was the only lady to hand in a fully completed card.
MEN
Undeterred by early inclement autumnal conditions, Tim Meyer set the tone for his winning score of 71 with a rare birdie at the first. Jon Cooper and Jason were close behind with 72s. With the heavy rain and at times lightning, a number of cards were returned incomplete and some players walked in for safety. Results…
CSS remained at SSS 70. Men’s handicap list…
Hoebridge Away Day
The intrepid golfers who ventured on the away day were rewarded with ideal weather and a nice day out. Report…
Lissaman Cup
Proving that a full set of clubs is not necessary for an astonishing round, David Marsh carded 63, dropping just 3 shots on the front 9. He finished just 2 ahead of Tim Meyer who must rue that seven at 17. Best lady with a very commendable 69 was Julie Smith, showing her versatility just in time for the upcoming Ruffians Ryder Cup. Results…
The outcome leaves the Top Dog Trophy positions unchanged, confirming Dean Morgan the 2006 Top Dog one point ahead of Nick Rogers. Top Dog results…