Saturday was a Red Letter Day for local golfer John Gottwaltz in more ways than one (perhaps you can also spot him elsewhere in this issue). Indeed, he certainly had plenty to smile about, for as well qualifying as one of Tenby's representatives in the Welsh Handicap Team Championship, he also celebrated a hole-in-one in the monthly medal. His ace came at the end of a terrific three-hole run for John, which saw him cover the sixth to eighth in just seven shots (three under gross). Having carded a birdie two on the short sixth, he chipped in for a par four on the seventh and then canned his tee-shot on the short eighth. Wow. His gross 70, nett 66, which earned him a handicap cut from 4 to 3, was not quite enough to win him the division one medal, however. That went to another four-handicapper, Vincent Thorne, who, on a day of low scoring, was one shot better as he returned a fine nett 65. He did not add his extra £1 entry fee for the Welsh qualifier, however, and so misses out on a spot in the team. It was a similar story in division two where 17- handicapper Phil Goodridge certainly took advantage of the conditions to romp home with a tremendous score of gross 80, nett 63. That was three better than his nearest rivals, Barrie Frayne and John Rees, who both returned 66s, with Barrie edging out John for second place thanks to a better back nine, while one shot further back was John Hall with a 67. None of those qualified for the handicap team, however, as, like the division one winner, they decided not to enter. One division two player who did try his luck, though, was Stephen Poole, and, although his 67 saw him finish out of the prize money, it was good enough to get him into the team. As well as John Gottwaltz, he will be joined by Christopher Davies and Mervyn Tucker from division one, with Jim Moffat being first reserve and Nick Thomas second reserve. The regional final will be played at Ashburnham Golf Club on Sunday, June 3. Leading scores in the monthly medal were as follows: Division One (40 competitors): Vincent Thorne 69 -4-65 (medal plus £30); John Gottwaltz 70-4-66, last nine (£22.50); Christopher Davies 73-7-66 (£15); Mervyn Tucker 72-5-67, last nine (£7.50); John Helliwell 79-12-67; Ian Thomas 80-12-68 last nine; James Moffat 75-7-68 last nine; Nick Thomas 74-6-68. Division Two (47 competitors): Philip Goodridge 80-17-63 (medal plus £30); Barrie Frayne 82-16 -66, last nine (£22.50); John Rees 81-15-66 (£15); John Hall 84-17-67, last nine (£7.50); Stephen Poole 84-17-67; John Cook 89-21-68, last nine; David Webb 86-18-68. Twos: Michael Argent, Peter Brown, Richard Davies, John Gottwaltz (2 - hole in one); Paul K. Heywood, Alan E. James (2), Steven Keating, Gary McNeilly, David Merritt, James Moffat (2), Martin Morris, John Stenson (2), Vincent Thorne (2), Gary Willars (£4.83 each). Bag draw: S. Poole, M. Tucker, P. Goodridge, C. Beecher, O. H. Thomas (£16.40 each). Handicap changes: Geoffrey Aston 12 to 13; Philip Booth 14 to 15; Mike Brew 15 to 16; John Cook 21 to 20; Christopher Davies 7 to 6; Barrie Frayne 16 to 15; John Gottwaltz 4 to 3; John Hall 17 to 16; John Helliwell 12 to 11; Robert Howse 11 to 12; Owen Thomas 15 to 16; Vincent Thorne 4 to 3; David Webb 18 to 17; Alan Yates 17 to 18.
