More than 20 members of Stoke Rochford Golf Club’s “Thursday Gang” gathered for the second time to play a competition in memory of much-loved former regular Jack Leaton.
Lots were drawn for teams of three, with the best two scores to count on each hole, and it was the trio of Tim Beard, Mike Nixon and John Booth who finished 3 up against the course on a cold, blustery April day.
After the competition, Jack’s widow Sally and their daughter Katie Genever joined the players for a meal and presented the unusual trophy, made by Thursday regular and former Stoke Rochford greens chairman Gerald Morley, to the winning team.
The trophy has three elements – a golfer to represent Jack’s love for the game, a footballer to represent his lifelong support for Peterborough United and a model car to signify Jack’s business as a car dealer at Tallington, near Stamford.
l A birdie at the final hole was enough to see Philip White win the April Monthly Medal competition, which also doubled as the PGA Pro-Am Qualifier.
Philip, playing off a handicap of 11, shot a gross score of 77 to finish on net 66 – a total of four under par. He was joined on that score by fellow competitors Mike Nixon and Paul Verner, but scooped the top prize thanks to a stronger finish than his rivals.
The lowest gross score of the day went to Glen Barlow who shot 75.
Seniors’ section
Stoke Rochford seniors suffered a home defeat to Stanton on the Wolds in their first match of the season.
The captain and vice-captain set good examples by winning the opening games, but most of the rest of the team were unable to get the better of the visitors who won the annual fixture for the first time since 1996.
Results:
Stoke Rochford 3½
Stanton on the Wolds 4½
Mick Rance and John Wright won 4&2, Barry Coop and Ray Elsome won 5&4, Mike Dickinson and Ray Beal halved, Greg Ewart and John Callow lost 2&1, Mike Nixon and Cliff Mills lost 1 down, Ernie Armstrong and Keith Eddy lost 3&2, Roy Rowe and Richard Leverett lost 4&3, Don Werner and Roger Nicholls won 2&1.
l There were further woes for Stoke’s seniors the following day when the juniors whitewashed them 4-0 to regain the Terry Braime Trophy.
BELTON PARK
C Team
Belton Park 3½
Rutland County 2½
Belton Park names first: Tony Davies and Stewart Boylan halved with Kevin Moxham and Andy Vernon, John Cooke and Bob Rogers beat David Rippin and David Whitehead 3&1, Simon Denton and Ross Denton beat Roger Overton and Cliff Knapp 3&2, David Nock and Clive Horn halved with John Chatburn and Ian Dimbleby, Dave Wing and Ben Bayliss halved with Gerry McIntyre and Chris Palmer, Ian Carroll and Robert Pask lost to Pete Sis and Jordan Taylor 4&2.
Seniors’ section
Belton Park 3
Radcliffe 5
Bill Brogan and Shaun Boney won 6&5, Fred Williams and Tony Robinson won 3&2, Tony Noble and John Clarke lost 3&2, Willie Baudraun and Terry Bond won 1 up, Manny Barker and Keith Ball lost 2&1, Dave Langley and Collin Farringdon lost 2 down, Alan Addis and Barrie Stainton lost 1 up, Mike Robinson and Mike Monaghan lost 3&1.
Ladies’ section
The Marjorie Moore Trophy was closely contested last Tuesday, with the winner being decided on countback.
Emerging victorious was Linda Midgley with a score of 71, just beating Norma Howitt into second. Third place went to Marjorie Thompson with a score of 74.
BELTON WOODS
The weekend’s monthly medal competition was a strokeplay with full handicap allowance, played on the par 72 (CSS 74) Lakes course.
Division One, for handicaps of 12 and below, was won by Master Chris Anderson with a score of 71. Runner-up was Alex Scorer and Graham Bell was third, both of whom scored 73.
James White triumphed in Division Two (13 and above) with 71. Second with 73 was Nick Amos and Tony Hardy (74) was third.
Ladies’ section
Belton Woods ladies took on Sleaford in the Daily Mail Classic foursomes competition for pairs. In a closely fought encounter, Belton Woods lost the national knockout match 3-2.
Seniors’ section
Belton Woods 7
Rutland County 1
Alan Lowen and Colin Thornton won 2-1, George Forbes and John Sabin won 5-4, Mike Whitington and John Bratt won 6-5, Pat Stanford and Mick Hall won 5-4, Ian Nisbet and Ray Woodcock won 4-2, Bob Clarke and Henry Knight won 2-1, Les Vine and John Robertson lost 3-2, Steve Hudson and Roland Shepperson won 6-5 .
SUDBROOK MOOR
Dave Guy leads the Thursday Seniors’ Summer Eclectic after the first week, ahead of Bryan Heydinger, Rod Edwards and John Came. Maurice Green’s carded 45 stableford points to reduce his handicap from 19 to 16.
Tony Sealey was in the prizes in Category 4 on 37 points, ahead of Barry Kay, Paddy Doherty and Rod Edwards. In Category 1-3, Tony Rose (34) was two points in front of John Costall.
l Top points were earned by John Costall in the Senior of the Year Medal roll-up. Maurice Green was overall runner-up, followed by Ted Johnson, Bryan Shelley, Mick Massingham, Harry Cruickshank, Steve Squires and Jim Brooks.
l The monthly Junior Intermediate Medal was won by Steve Bradley and daughter Olivia. Second were Trevor Eldred and grandson Robert, who also recorded a birdie two on the third. Joshua Smith and Jared Hackney birdied the seventh.
Top of the Order of Merit are Trevor and Robert, ahead of William Hopkins and Charlie Hare.