The competitions for the Lifeboat Spoons are traditionally played over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Two spoons are awarded, one to the player with the best gross score and the other to the player with the best nett score. Competitors can play on either the Saturday or the Bank Holiday Monday or both days if they so wish. Proceeds from the competitions are donated to the RNLI.
With the event spread over three days, the weather can have a profound effect over the results. Not so this year, the weather on both days was identical, warm, partly sunny with gentle sea breezes, ideal conditions for golf. There was no advantage gained from playing either day, as can be seen by the results.
The competition winners played on separate days. Mark Poole, with a handicap of one, playing on the Bank Holiday Monday, shot an excellent 68 to win the Lifeboat Spoon for the best gross round. The Lifeboat Spoon for the best nett score of 66 was recorded by Neil Lovatt, playing off eight, who completed his round on the Saturday.
The Saturday competition was combined with the August Monthly Medal and Neil's score not only won him a Lifeboat Spoon, but also the Division One Monthly Medal and a voucher for £30.
The Division Two Medal was won by Ross James with a nett 68, playing off a handicap of 19. Steven Court had a similar score, but lost the medal on a count back. For their endeavours, both Ross and Steve were each rewarded with a voucher for £30.
A full list of winners is shown below:
SATURDAY
Lifeboat Spoon (best nett score) - Neil Lovatt (66).
Monthly Medal: Division One, winner - Neil Lovatt, nett 66 (£30); runner-up - Peter Brown, 68 (£20); 3. Tim Edwards, 68 (£15); joint 4. Phillip Rees, Michael Schooling, Paul Hoyland, Bob Follon, 70 (£6 each).
Division Two: winner - Ross James, nett 68 (£30); runner-up - Steven Court, 68 (£30); joint 3. Sam Morgan, James Doyle, 70 (£14 each).
Seventeen players recorded twos, each earning themselves £6.40, while Ralph Johns, Steven Nicholls, Phil Rees and Nic Johnson shared the bag draw, winning vouchers for £24.75.
MONDAY
Winner - Mark Poole, nett 67 (£30) and Lifeboat Spoon for best gross, 68; runner-up - Duncan Wills, 67 (£30); joint 3. Jamie Preston, Steve Amos, Dan Cope, Stephen Williams, Neil Dickinson, Michael McCarthy, 68 (£12).
Eighteen competitors carded a two, each winning vouchers for £3.45. Geoff Aston, Brynley Hurle, Mike Allen, and Mervyn Tucker won vouchers for £18 when their names were drawn out of the bag.
B.F.