2002 Clapham Common Competition
2003
 
The Clapham Common is a national men's greensome knockout competition run by the NAPGC. The earlier rounds are regional. The competition is unusual in that each match is determined by an away and a home leg played on the same day. The format is greensome stableford and the winner is the team with the best cumulative score of the two legs.

Richmond Park Golf Club has entered one team this year, whose members are selected by the Club Captain for each round. The teams and results for each round of the competition are set out below.

Check back regularly to see how the team gets on.

First round against Shoreham Kent on 11 May
Result: Win

 
Away Team Home Team
Tim Fox & Richard Tate 34 Jon Cooper & Toby Hunt 34
Dave Williams & Paul Appleton 33 Stewart Kendall © & Bill McSorley 32
John Collender & Martin Wright © 39 John Bennett & Tim Meyer 33
 
9.15 Breakfast 10am Breakfast
10.33 Tee Time 11.30 Tee Time on Dukes Course

This was a solid start to the club's assault on the competition. The Home team won by 6 points and the Away team won by 21 which was enhanced due to a default.

Second round against Addington Court on 7 July
Result: Win by 23 points

 
Away Team Pts Home Team Pts
Paul Appleton & Ian Smith 42 Jon Cooper & Robert Urqhart 34
Tim Fox & Richard Tate 37 Paul Patching & Toby Hunt 42
John Collender & Martin Wright © 34 John Bennett & Dave Williams 38
 
10.30 Tee time 9 am Breakfast
Sandwiches afterwards 10.00 Tee time on Dukes Course

A great win for our lads! Both teams won - the Away team by 5 points and the Home team by 18. The next round will be against either High Elms or Lullingstone Park and must be played by 11 August.

Third round against Lullingstone Park on 28 July
Result: Win by 2 points

 
Away Team Pts Home Team Pts
Paul Appleton & Ian Smith 38 Jon Cooper & Robert Urqhart 32
Tim Fox & Richard Tate 40 Paul Patching & Toby Hunt 34
John Collender & Martin Wright © 34 John Bennett & Dave Williams 30
 
11:00 Tee time 10:00 Breakfast
Sandwiches afterwards 11:00 Tee time on Dukes Course

Richmond Park scraped a 2 point win over Lullingstone Park 208-206. The Away team distinguished themselves with a 7 point win whilst the Home team allowed the visitors a 5 point advantage.

The next round is the Area Final to be played by 8th Sept against either Beckenham or Cobtree Manor. Watch this space.

Fourth round (Area Final) against Beckenham on 8 September
Result: Win by 3 points

 
Away Team Pts Home Team Pts
Paul Appleton & Ian Smith 36 Jon Cooper & Robert Urqhart 36
Tim Fox & Richard Tate 40 Paul Patching & Toby Hunt 36
John Collender & Martin Wright © 30 John Bennett & Dave Williams 39
 
11:00 Tee time 9:15 Breakfast
Food afterwards 10:32 Tee time on Dukes Course
Great match, very nail biting with a 3 point difference between the two teams.  Beckenham finished with a total 214 points with Richmond Park on 217.

Beckenham are the current holders of the Clapham Common Shield which is displayed in their Clubhouse for all to see. Now Captain Martin Wright knows what could be resting on his mantelpiece next year.

Richmond Park qualify for the next round due to be played on or before 22/9/02.

Fifth round (Regional Final) against Harefield on 15 September
Result: Loss by 19 points

 
Away Team Pts Home Team Pts
Paul Appleton & Ian Smith 30 Jon Cooper & Robert Urqhart 34
Tim Fox & Richard Tate 38 Paul Patching & Toby Hunt 32
John Collender & Martin Wright © 35 John Bennett & Dave Williams 33
 
9:15 Breakfast
Food afterwards Dukes Course
Having made it this far in the competition, it was a great shame to drop out at the final hurdle before the national finals. On the day Harefield had a great team effort with 3 of their pairings scoring 40 points. Martin thinks it's better the team lost by the margin that they did. This way, not any one person could have made it better.

It was a marvellous effort for the team to make it to the regional final. All credit to them and their Captain. No doubt Richmond Park will be back next year with another spirited effort.