The second day of finals weekend, Sunday, September 16, was as breezy as the first, and the course provided an excellent test for the 10 participants.
The first final of the day was for the F. H. Gilman Junior Matchplay Cup. Nathan Lewis achieved a memorable eagle three at the long seventh, a feat accomplished by very few players. Even so, he found himself four down at the turn, which illustrates just how well Simon Hilling was playing and, try as he did, Nathan was unable to pull him back. The final score was a five and three win for Simon.
Carl French failed to add the Bush House Pairs to his Laidler singles success, but will feel that this was more due to partner Chic Brown's three weeks of excess in the Med than to any shortcomings on his part. The two were looking comfortable at three up after four, but Brian Cowley and Dave McMann rallied well, turned all square, and went on to win 3 and 2. The standard of golf was exceptional, with no holes being won with bogey.
There would have been plenty of repartee during the Paddock Inn final, with the jocular pairing of Mel Beeley and Mel Neale taking on Mike Ansell and Ian Lawrence. As with French and Brown, Ansell and Lawrence were three up after four, but there was to be no fairytale ending for the 'Two Mels', who needed some superb long range putting even to stay in touch. They did fight back to one down, but then fell back to three behind after 14. A birdie for Neale on 15, his second of the round, pulled one back, but there was no stopping Ansell and Lawrence, who eventually won two up.
Competition director Brian Cowley is delighted at the close finish for the Trefloyne Order of Merit. With only the October monthly medal remaining, there are eight golfers still in with a chance of taking top spot in this 'all season' contest. Current placings are: 1. I. Lawrence 22; joint 2. R. Cryer and A. Jones 21; 4. G. John 20; 5. M. Evans 18; 6. R. Evans 17; 7. B. Cowley 15; 8. C. French 13.
Phil Jenkinson was in fine form on Tuesday, September 18, winning with 38 points. Mike Ansell was close behind on 37, and Barry Thorne was third with 34.
Trefloyne Seniors entertained Milford Haven on Thursday, September 20. The top pairing of Graham Wharton and Roger Thompson, the latter in rampant form, set a fine example by winning 5 and 4, and a second point was soon secured for Trefloyne by Brian Cowley and Chic Brown who won 4 and 3. Tom Fletcher and Terry Whiston lost 3 and 1, and with John Cliff and Ken Webster going down 4 and 3, the match score was all square and a close finish was assured. John Smith and Brian Norman registered the best win of the day, 6 and 5, and there were wins also for Mel Beeley and George King, 3 and 2, and Roger Cryer and David Owen, 3 and 1, before Stuart Howe and Dennis Busby lost the final game two down.
Match score: Trefloyne 5 Milford Haven 3.
The Juniors played round seven of their summer league on Sunday, September 16. The best card was handed in by Ashley Evans with 37. David Warren had 36, Daniel Brace and Andrew Birch 35 each, and Luke Laidler and Matthew McMann 33 each.