Last Sunday was the culmination of the 2002 golfing season at Tenby Golf Club with finals day for the club's match play competitions. Ten finals embracing a variety of differing formats and handicaps were due to be played. Because some of the players had reached more than one final, two of the competitions, the Sellar Cup and the Colwyn Williams Cup had to be played prior to finals day.

Sunday dawned with the promise of a continuation of the glorious September weather we have seen recently. Warm sunshine, with a light easterly breeze were fitting conditions for such an important day in Tenby Golf Club annual calendar.

The course itself was perfectly prepared thanks to the effects of the course manager Chris Jenkins and his staff. The competitors arrived at the Burrows knowing that playing conditions were as good as they could expect for such an important day.

SCRATCH CUP

The first to tee off at 9 am were Paul Haley and John Morris competing for the Scratch Cup. This is one of the clubs most prestigious trophies for low handicapped players and is played over 36 holes. The competition, as expected, was very close, with John Morris holding a slender one hole lead after the first 18 holes.

After a short break the second round commenced with the players teeing off again from the first hole at 1.30 pm. The following gallery were treated to a display of fine golf by both players and after 32 holes the game was still all square. However Paul won the 33rd hole (the 15th, second time round) with an excellent birdie, and continued by winning the 34th hole to go two up with two to play.

John responded by playing a superb shot on to the 17th green (35th hole) close enough to the pin for the birdie putt to be conceded. Paul however closed the door on his opponent by chipping in from off the green for another birdie to win the match 2 and 1 and the Scratch Cup. John was later presented with the runners-up prize, the Edwards Salver.

JUNIOR SCRATCH CUP

Both finalists, in the Junior Scratch Cup, Dan Cope and Oliver Duckett were equally anxious to win the trophy for differing reasons. For Oliver this was his third successive appearance in this competition. Having won on both previous occasions another victory would have entitled him to retain the trophy. For Dan this was the first of two competitions that he was scheduled to play that day, and doing 'the double' was certainly on the agenda.

The game was, as expected, hard fought, Oliver had an opportunity to win on the 18th green but missed a tricky six foot putt sending the match to extra holes. Dan, knowing that he had another match to play later that afternoon, had no intention of prolonging events and won the game on the 19th hole.

ALLEN CUP

The Allen Cup is open to entry to all of Tenby's male players whatever their handicap, and to reach the finals through the knockout stages is no mean achievement. Mathew Evans playing off 12 and Loz Phillips with a handicap of 7 were the two who made it through to the last round.

A promising start to Matthew, going three up after six holes, led to a fight back by Loz, winning three holes in succession to square the match at the turn. After that, very little separated the players, as soon as one player won a hole, then the other fought back and by the time they reached the 18th tee, nothing separated the pair. Matthew had an opportunity to win on the last regulation green but just missed a 6 foot putt. The tension mounted as the next three extra holes were halved. On the 22nd hole (the 4th) both players were just off the back of the green in two, an excellent approach putt by Loz set up the par which was enough to win him the Allen Cup.

VETERANS CUP

Tony Morris and Owen Thomas were the two seniors who made it through the preliminary rounds to the finals of the Veterans Cup. After 11 holes Tony held a slender one hole lead from Owen, but by the time they reached the 18th tee the match was once again all square. On the green it was Owen who took the initiative by sinking a firmly struck long putt, which depending on who you listen to, either went purposefully into the back of the hole (Owen's version) or on hitting the hole jumped a good two foot into the air before falling back inside (Tony's version). The undisputed outcome in any event was that Owen won the Veterans Cup by one hole on the 18th green.

REASON JONES TROPHY

The finals of the foursomes match play competition was played between two pairs of players from differing sections of the club. Low handicappers Gavin Scotcher and Simon Rossiter, regular players in the Super Six and Dyfed League teams, were matched against high handicappers Ian Thomas and Phillip Lees-Griffiths. Gavin and Simon, giving 15 shots away to their opponents, put up strong resistance, but Ian and Phillip, having played very steadily took advantage of the shots conceded and claimed a 4 and 3 victory on the 15th hole.

PRESIDENT'S CUP

For his second tournament of the day, Dan Cope playing off 5, was matched against Brain Cramb playing off scratch, in the final of the President's Cup. Nothing separated the two in the four opening holes but then Brian took the initiative by birding four of the next five holes to be 3 up at the turn. Dan fought back with a nett 34 on the back nine to level the match after 18 holes. On the first extra hole, a nett 4 by Dan was enough to gain victory.

Playing a total of 38 holes on the same day, and winning both the President's Cup and the Junior Scratch Cup, is a remarkable accomplishment. Dan's excellent achievement, demonstrates what talent lies at the core of the Junior section and promises much for the future of Tenby Golf Club.

DAVIES CUP

The Davies Cup is a match cup play competition for golfers with a handicap of between 10 and 15, and this year's two finalist were Darren Griffiths and Graham Jennings. After a promising start Darren found himself in the unenviable position of being four down with four to play. He bravely battled on winning the 15th hole but finally succumbed to Graham on the 16th, losing the game by 4 and 2.

MATHIAS CUP

Tony Ranoe and Simon Evans were the two players who contested the final for the Mathias Cup, a match play competition for golfers with a handicap of 16 and above. As they stood on the 15th tee Simon was 3 down, he launched a huge drive just short of the front greenside bunker which helped him win the hole and cut the deficit. However, Tony who had played very steadily, responded by winning the 16th hole and consequently the match and the Mathias Cup by 3 and 2.

COLWYN WILLIAMS CUP

This year's finalists in the fourball better ball match play competition, the Colwyn Williams Cup were Simon Rossiter and partner Richard Ormond playing against the father and son team of Mark and Oliver Duckett. As both Simon and Oliver were playing in other finals day competitions the match was played on Thursday, September 19.

This was another closely contested final going to the 17th hole which Simon and Richard won by a 2 and 1 margin.

SELLAR

CUP

Because of personal commitments the Sellar Cup finalists, Dr Huw Roberts and David Llewellyn also had to play their match early. Huw was reported to have won the competition in a closely contested match.

PRIZE GIVING

The club captain Mr. Alan Morton presented the winners with their trophy's and vouchers in a formal prize giving ceremony on Sunday evening.

He also took the opportunity to thank the match referees, organising committee members and Chris Jenkins and his green staff for their efforts in making the day such a success.

He also went on to add that Tenby Golf Club had been voted into the top 100 golf courses in the United Kingdom in Golf World magazine.