Tenby Golf Club held its Finals Day last Sunday. The sun shone throughout and the northerly breeze lessened just slightly during the afternoon.
Nevertheless, the galleries witnessed some excellent golf and the fact that three of the six finals played were won by junior members bodes very well for the future of the club.
PAUL IN FINE FORM
The Scratch Cup, the club's premier competition, was contested by Paul Haley whose handicap is +1 and Chris Hill, who now play off 3, over 36 holes from the championship tees.
In the morning round, Paul reached the turn in level par which gave him a three-hole lead and by the end of the first round, he had increased his advantage to four.
Chris started the afternoon round very well, winning two of the first three holes, thus reducing the deficit to two. However, with the exception of the long seventh which he birdied, Chris failed to win another hole and Paul, who collected another three birdies in the last eight holes played, ran out a 6 and 5 winner.
The spectators all agreed that the match had been a pleasure to watch. The golf belied the closeness of the battle. With the platform he had established by lunchtime Paul was always going to be difficult to beat.
Two of the highlights of the day were at the 200-yard 12th hole where Paul twice hit a two-iron into the wind to find the heart of the green and then slotted putts for a pair of birdies.
Paul is very pleased to be club champion again. He first claimed the title in 1991, but he lost in two subsequent finals. This year he was under additional pressure as his wife Gemma was expecting their first child as the match was being played.
HOLLY PROVES
HER POTENTIAL
At just 14 years of age, Holly Watkins is Tenby's youngest ever Ladies' Scratch Cup winner. This final was also contested over 36 holes and her opponent was Heather Morgan, who, although not quite as young, is nevertheless a very competent golfer and is still improving.
Holly's game was very solid throughout the day. Midway through the first round she had opened up a three-hole lead, but Heather was also in a determined mood and by the halfway stages she was just two down.
In fact, it was Heather, despite being shorter off the tee, who played the better golf during the first nine in the afternoon. A birdie two at the ninth saw her draw level with Holly, leaving it all to play for over the final nine holes.
The teenager's fitness was probably an advantage towards the end of a long match. Holly finished very strongly. She reached the par five 14th green in just two shots and clinched her first senior title at the next hole by a margin of 4 and 3.
Holly has a great future in golf and this could be the first of many Scratch Cup wins. When presented with the cup, she gave a delightful speech. The ladies section is very proud of Holly, as indeed it is of Heather who also performed admirably.
YOUNG RICHARD
IS VERY STEADY
The final of the President's Cup matched one of the club's leading golfers, Gavin Scotcher, against one of the best juniors, Richard Morton. This proved to be an excellent low scoring contest.
Thanks to some early birdies, Gavin built up a two-hole lead by the sixth, but then lost three out of four holes around the turn.
Young Richard never lost his advantage. He managed fine par saves from the pit at the 12th and the bunker at the 15th, before clinching the match in real style with a 30-foot birdie putt on the last green.
Although he played as well as he could, Gavin found the eight shots he had to give Richard just too much on the day. Richard has a fine all-round game and he struck the ball very well throughout the afternoon.
JUNIOR DAVID
FINISHES STRONGLY
Another junior, David Ayers, is this year's Davies Cup winner. His final against Tim Edwards, whose wife Denise is expecting twins shortly, proved a very close struggle until David's birdie-par-birdie burst over the 13th, 14th and 15th holes saw him win 4 and 3.
Sound golf was played by both David and Tim. David is another junior with a very promising future.
VICTORY FOR
SENSIBLE PHILIP
Philip Lees-Griffiths proved too hot to handle for Ian Thomas in the final of the Charles Mathias Cup. Philip's course management was superb. He intelligently used a five-iron off many tees, but was still able to reach the greens in two shots - not bad for a 20 handicapper.
Ian unfortunately had an off day; perhaps the fact that three of his juniors were in finals had an effect. Phil won 7 and 6.
FINISHED ON
25TH GREEN
The most exciting match of the day was the final of the fourball-better ball competition, the Colwyn Williams Cup. This game pitched two stalwarts of Tenby's winning Dyfed League side, Loz Phillips and Simon Jones, against the experienced Peter Hughes and his evergreen partner Ron Johns.
Loz and Simon raced into an early lead and were three-up after eight holes. The turning point perhaps came at the 14th hole where Ron sunk a monster birdie putt which meant he and Peter were just one down crossing the railway line.
Simon and Loz missed makeable putts on the 16th and 17th, respectively, but Loz made amends with a magnificent chip off a concrete step on the last to keep the match alive.
Extra time was stimulating. Fabulous birdie putts by Peter on both the third and the fifth were matched by Loz. The amazing match was eventually decided with Ron's four net three on the seventh extra hole. All four competitors and indeed the referee, Steve Sharma, were exhausted.
All the six finals were played in fine spirit. All the winners played below their handicaps and can expect to be cut. Credit for the success of the junior members is due to current organisers Ian Thomas and Julia Swee, together with previous co-ordinators such as Mike Scourfield, Alan Morton and Clive Deeley, plus of course the club professional, Mark Hawkey.
Earlier in the week, Gary Willars won the Veterans Cup beating Bob Wilkins in a tight game.
The finals of the Allen Cup, the Sellar Cup and the Reason-Jones Cup have still to be played.