Ladies' Section

No doubt there will come a time when a golf report does not begin with accounts of postponements and cancellations as a result of bad weather, but it is not yet.

At the beginning of April, a Greensome Foursomes was won by Ann Blackmoore and France Lain on the last nine from Ann Morris and Liz Storey, with Ann Follon and Ann Wilks a further point behind and again on the last nine from Janet Mabbett and Mary Rowell. As usual, indifferent Thursday weather kept scoring low.

The following weekend the weather was again quite awful and the match against the Rabbits was abandoned as an honourable draw when it became impossible to hold the clubs and for those of us with glasses very difficult to see the course, let alone the ball.

Then on Thursday, surprisingly, the Jubilee Foursomes were also abandoned, this time with no-one playing at all.

The qualifying round for the WLGU Challenge Bowls was played in much better weather and the qualifiers were, in the Silver Division, France Lain on nett 72, with Holly Watkins second on 75, and in the Bronze Division, Ann Wilks, again on nett 72, followed by Rachel Scourfield on 76.

It is good to record successful rounds by two junior members in this national event.

Another national competition was played last week, the qualifying round for the LGU Coronation Foursomes, and this time Lyn Bonar and Anne Morris qualified on nett 73.5, with Marion Jenkins and Linda Thomas sharing second spot with Ann Follon and Toni Lucas on 75.5.

The first match of the Three Counties League was played last week and Tenby Ladies were delighted to record 4-1 wins in both divisions against Ashburnham at Tenby. Fingers crossed that we can maintain this standard for the rest of the season.

B.M.S.

Mid-Week Medal

Forty-six players took part in the recent Wednesday Medal. Only eight players managed to break 80, with Mark Poole having a fine round of 69, which won both gross and nett prizes.

Leading scores: Mark Poole 69-2-67 (medal and £25 credit); Keith Jones 91-23-68 (£15 credit); Peter Brown 75-6-69 (£10 credit); John Stenson 81-12-69 (£10 credit); Steve Amos 75-5-70; Alun Jones 94-24-70; Richard Hyland 84-13-71; Oliver Duckett 75-4-71.

Full swing

The golf season gets into full swing this coming week. The club visits Carmarthen for a Dyfed Golf Union fixture on Sunday. The NatWest Cup is on Monday, May 7 (Bank Holiday). The Tipton Cup Shotgun Foursomes is on Wednesday, May 9, and on Saturday, May 12, the Mixed Foursomes competition for the Mathias-Thomas Cup will be played, followed on the Sunday with the Cobb Cup and Regimental Bowl, 36 holes gross and nett stroke play.

TIGER

Neil Rees Cup

This year's competition will be held on Friday, May 25, and as usual it will be open to all past and present players of Tenby United RFC's First, Second and Third XVs.

Those interested in taking part should contact Richard Ormond on Tenby 844243.

A joint 'clutch'

A clutch of Chickens flew in on Friday to share first place on a beautiful bright April morning. These were John Tasker, Paul Bradley and Des Wickland, all used to having their handicaps cut and being sin-binned. It just goes to show, perhaps Vince is not severe enough!

Two points behind were Ken Fletcher and Jim Taylor - both used to the same thing - but with them on 28 points was newcomer Tony Key. Welcome to the sin bin Tony, and welcome to the Chicken Trotters.

Two clutches on the same day, Chickens have never seen anything like it.

Just two 2s from Dick Boobyer and Richard Morgan, both achieved on the sixth. On such a lovely golfing day, I was surprised there weren't more, and equally surprised was Bill Morgan who walked away with the booby - free golf for Bill.

For notices, read last week's report: Danny Carew Putter on May 18, with lunch; helping out with Open Week; and replace divots. Oh what a memory.

M. J.

Sullivan wins the Golden Eagle, but Edwards retains the Trubshaw Cup

After battling with very strong gales on the long Ashburnham links on Saturday, the elite of Welsh amateur golf competed at Tenby on Sunday for the Golden Eagle in kinder conditions.

The Welsh golfers were this year joined in the 72-hole strokeplay event, the Trubshaw Cup, by a small contingent of Irish youngsters. Ireland had tied with Wales in a youth international at Ashburnham on Friday and five of their 19 and 20-year-olds had been invited to enter the Trubshaw Cup.

In fact, it was Gary Maybin, of Ballyclare Golf Club, just north of Belfast, who led after the first day. Maybin is of small physique, but he is an impressive striker. His 36-hole aggregate of 146 against a standard scratch of 152 was amazing and he won the Carmarthenshire Open by three shots.

In second place was Haverfordwest's Richard Scott, who had also played in the youth international. Third place was ominously occupied by the experienced and in form Nigel Edwards, of Whitchurch, a further shot adrift.

Close behind were two more of the Irish party, Darren Crowe, of Dunmurry, and Mervyn Owens, of Mallow, together with Welshmen Kyron Sullivan, of the Vale of Glamorgan, Carl Rowe, of Pontardawe, Matthew Griffiths, of Woodlake Park, who won the Welsh title at Tenby in 1999, Gary Marfell, of Maesdu in North Wales, and Brian Lee, who is now assistant professional at Newport.

The wind at Tenby was less severe, but nevertheless there was a stiff and tricky breeze which tested the ability of all who took part. Young Maybin seemed a little nervous and his first round of 74 meant he was overtaken by Edwards who scored 69 and caught by Scott who recorded a 71.

Before lunch, four scores of 68 were recorded by James Williams, of Pontypridd, Ian Campbell, of Marlborough, Lee Griffith, of Coed-y-Mwster, and the evergreen Mark Skinner, of Pontnewydd, who three-putted the last green.

With Crowe and Sullivan both shooting 70s, but Owens faltering slightly with a 74, it meant that the Trubshaw Cup effectively became a five-horse race.

The fourth and final round of the weekend saw a monumental battle at the top of the leaderboard, but it was Edwards who always seemed to have the slight edge during the latter stages.

Campbell posted the early clubhouse lead with an aggregate of 296 which stood for over an hour, during which the wind began to pick up. Griffith and Lee then both came in with totals of 295, but this was bettered by Griffiths who scored an excellent 67 and then Crowe.

Sullivan also recorded a 67, for which he later thanked his caddy and host Billy Farrell, himself a former winner of the Golden Eagle, for his valuable assistance. This meant Sullivan's total of 289 was the best with just three still to finish.

However, although Maybin was able to equal Sullivan's aggregate, it was Edwards who had the luxury of being able to three-putt the 18th and still take the overall title. He needed all three after attacking his first which he had to sink to pip Sullivan for the Golden Eagle.

During the prize-giving, the winners praised the condition of both Ashburnham and Tenby courses and the latter's greens in particular.

Tenby's president Gwynn Tibbs made reference to the fact that Phil Price, who won the Portugese Open on Sunday, was a former winner of the Trubshaw Cup.

Edwards, who is a member of this year's Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup squad, admitted that he can thank his short game for his victory.

Tenby had three competitors in the event, namely Paul Haley, John Morris and Gareth Rees. Morris' rounds of 72 and 69 earned him a very creditable joint eighth place in the Golden Eagle.

The weekend's leading scores were as follows:

Carmarthenshire Open (Ashburnham) - Gareth Maybin 146, Richard Scott 149, Nigel Edwards 150, Darren Crowe 151, Mervyn Owens 151, Kyron Sullivan 152, Carl Rowe 153, Matthew Griffiths 154, Gary Marfell 154, Brian Lee 154.

Golden Eagle (Tenby) - Kyron Sullivan 137 (on last 18), Ian Campbell 137, Nigel Edwards 138, Adam Campbell 139, James Williams 139, Lee Griffith 139, Matthew Griffiths 140, John Morris 141, Richard Scott 141, Brian Lee 141.

The Trubshaw Cup (overall) - Nigel Edwards 288, Kyron Sullivan 289, Gareth Maybin 289, Richard Scott 290, Matthew Griffiths 294, Darren Crowe 294, Lee Griffith 295, Brian Lee 295, Ian Campbell 296, Carl Rowe 296, Adam Campbell 297, James Williams 297.

The highest placed Welsh golfers earned valuable ranking points from which the Welsh team will be selected for the Home Internationals to be played at Woodhall Spa in September.

The Trubshaw Cup is played over the last weekend in April each year. It attracts amateur golfers of a very high quality and some of this year's play was very impressive, as witnessed by the appreciative spectators.

Junior section

Two of Tenby's young juniors played in a competition at Newport Pembs at the beginning of the Easter holidays. Oliver Duckett and Jack Guerririo made the journey and played really well. Both boys came third in their respective categories, Jack doing particularly well, playing 18 holes with no putter, having to use an iron! Congratulations to both boys.

Oliver also travelled to Cardiff with Niclas Thomas later in the week, to play in the South Wales Boys Championship. Oliver struggled over the first five holes, but managed to salvage his score on the back nine, but this was not enough to get him in the prizes!

Niclas, however, played better and finished in the top 20, so congratulations to Niclas on doing so well.

Saturday morning was the second part of the Golf Foundation; this week it was all about putting. Mark taught the golfers the stroke, while Julia went over the correct etiquette on the green. The first group were lucky with the weather, but the second group were caught in a heavy downpour and finished off in doors with a quick chat over the rules.

Not everyone turned up, let's hope you all remember next week. Two sessions 9-10 and 10-11.

The putters who stood out in the first group with Mark were Glen Conbeer, Greg Lees-Griffiths, Elliot Scotcher and Megan Macro, who all earned themselves a golf ball. Hugo Wellum showed us all how it's done and with his first putt, he put the ball straight into the hole. Adam North, Jack Merrony, Rhys Lewis, Sam Baxter, Charles Upham and Ian Carpenter also showed us how to make your second putt that much easier, by placing the ball very close to the hole.

Ian's group practised their long game, with George Lander hitting the bucket and Joe Worley hitting straight into it! Jessica Wellum and Claudette Pouton showed how their practise had been paying off; both girls played some lovely shots onto the green.

Ben Roberts, who has returned now hopefully the climate is warmer, did really well in Colin's group, scoring the top points, with Leo Moreland a very close second.

Toby Rossiter, David Webb, Shelby Rossiter, Sam Turton all did well with Simon and produced some excellent shots using their irons. Oliver Worley and Georgia Thomas came first respectively in the group with Margaret and Barbara.

I'd like to thank Margaret and Barbara for giving up their Saturday morning to help us out.

Tomorrow (Saturday) is Golf Foundation, the third session with Mark, and we will hopefully present you with your cards ready to be filled in. Sunday there is no Junior competition, but if you wish to go out the course is not closed all day; just sign in on the time sheet.

Some of our Juniors may be playing against Glamorgan, and you may want to go and watch some of the lower handicappers.

There is an Open at Haverfordwest on Monday, May 28. If you are interested in going, please ring Ian as soon as possible. It is an Order of Merit event as well as a Daily Telegraph event. If there are enough of you wanting to go, we will put a bus on for you.