Tenby Seniors were blown away in the breeze at Cardigan last Thursday. When the team arrived at Gwbert-on-Sea last week, the sun was shining, but there was a stiff breeze blowing across the course, causing problems for the Tenby players' club selection. How nice it was to have local knowledge as this was a strict requirement. To their credit, the greens staff had prepared the course immaculately, especially the greens that were fast, but fair. Captain Roy Morgan had selected Jim Martin as his partner for the day. Based on his early season form, it seemed like a good choice, but unfortunately Jim never really came up to scratch. On top of this, Cardigan seniors' captain, Ted Wells, was in sparkling form, playing below his 12 handicap, ably assisted in the right places by partner Mike Amphlett. Roy did his best to hold off the challenge early on and came in on several holes on the front nine, but was looking for support from Jim, which unfortunately was sadly lacking on the day. Roy and Jim managed to hold the Cardigan pair up to the turn, but after that, Ted clicked into top gear and played some superb par golf on the back nine. When Mike got a five net four on the 14th, this was good enough to see the Tenby pair off. In the second match, vice-captain Brian Waters with Ken Gouldsbrough had a real ding-dong game with Dennis Ludgate and Mike Allen. Brian and Ken found themselves three down early on, but fought back well to go one up, but then Dennis and Mike came back fighting. Brian, especially, was having a great game in which pars were the order of the day to keep in touch. Highlight of their game was when Ken got a birdie from the sand on the third. Despite their tenacity, Brian and Ken were not able to hold on to their lead and the Cardigan pair snatched a dramatic half by winning the 18th hole. All agreed, though, that it was great game, played in tremendous spirit. Brian Morgan moaned after his game with partner Bob Howse that his shoulders were aching! In a very close game that was littered with pars and birdies, the Tenby pair was finding life difficult against Tony Simpkin and Glyn Davies. Not that the Tenby pair were out of it, in fact between them Bob had three birdies and Brian one. Bob, in particular, putted extremely well. It was a game that was always in doubt as to who would win, but it was the Cardigan pair who eventually prevailed on the 17th. In the fourth match, Stan Hudson was partnered by steady John Cook and had an excellent game against Geoff Adamson and Tony Myatt. A scruffy first hole saw Stan and John take an early lead, but after that, the game settled into classic matchplay, with the Tenby pair in the ascendancy for the first six holes, playing some fine golf. Despite building a two-hole lead by the seventh, Geoff and Tony clawed them back to all-square at the turn. Into the back nine, Stan had a fine par three on the tricky 10th into a crosswind to put them back to one up. However, from then on, it was the Cardigan pair who played the better golf to gradually overtake the Tenby pair and Stan and John eventually went down on the penultimate green. Des Stone partnered big Dave Morgan in the next game. Dave gave the Tenby pair a good start against Ken Robinson and Brian Preston by getting a birdie two on the long uphill eighth into the wind; this was quite some task as many of them were using drivers to reach this green. Unfortunately, for Dave and Des, they were not able to maintain the momentum and eventually lost on the 15th. When Owen Monaghan learned that one of his opponents was Brian Huggett, he was overawed, thinking it was really him. At 80 years old, he certainly played like him. Owen and partner Hywel Probert were literally blown away by Brian, who was well backed up by his partner Keith Lewis, not that Keith had to do too much, and the game was all over in the country. Hywel claimed a marriage licence had never beaten him before in his life! Match seven should have seen Tony Morris playing with Rod Clarke; unfortunately Tony had back problems and had to withdraw late and Roy was not able to get a replacement for him. In the event, Cardigan supplied Ray West to partner Rod against Terry Hammlett and Peter Ward. Whilst Ray gave Rod some excellent advice on how to play the course, he must have been keen to get back to the clubhouse as they went down 6 and 5 to the Cardigan pair. What a game the two Sospan lads put on; Peter Williams and Geoff Aston, both Llanelli boys, put in a sterling display against Ken Evans and Cedric Hall. With Tenby being blown away, it was left to Geoff and Peter to restore some pride to the team with an outstanding display. Both the Cardigan pair agreed they were never really in it against the Tenby pair who were in inspired form and were seen off 6 and 5. Well done Geoff and Peter. Despite a really dogged display from Derek Bath and JDR Williams, they went down on the last when John unfortunately missed his putt to let the Cardigan pair, Peter Talbot and Ken Hadley, win by one hole. All agreed, though, a half would have been a fair result. It was another match played in tremendous spirit with the result always in doubt and the lead ebbing and flowing; what a shame that it was not a half. Both John and Derek, though, said how much they enjoyed their game and the company of Pete and Terry. The final match saw another Cardigan octogenarian, Mike King, playing off nine and partnered by Ieaun Davies, playing against Malcolm Arlott and Alan Yates. Sadly, as in most of the earlier games, this one too went the way of Cardigan. Malcolm and Alan could only watch in awe as 84- year-old Mike, who formerly played off +2, gave them a display of straight down the middle golf with every shot. Despite some resistance, Malcolm and Alan eventually went down on the 15th hole. Back in the clubhouse after an excellent meal, Ted welcomed the Tenby team and jokingly said they were lucky it was only a benign breeze! He thanked Roy and Jim for an excellent game and wonderful company. He then instigated the draw and finally Tenby started to win something, the raffle; with Des Stone taking the first prize and Geoff, Alan and Dave taking three of the remaining five prizes. Roy responded by saying how pleasant it was to play at Cardigan and was pleased that Tenby at least won the raffle. He praised the steward and his staff for the service and the excellent meal. After which he gave the teams some Cardigan stories to match Ted's. Results: Roy Morgan and Jim Martin lost to Ted Wells and Mike Amphlett 5 and 4; Brian Waters and Ken Gouldsbrough halved with Dennis Ludgate and Mike Allen; Bob Howse and Brian Morgan lost to Tony Simpkin and Glyn Davies 2 and 1; Stan Hudson and John Cook lost to Geoff Adamson and Tony Myatt 3 and 1; Dave Morgan and Des Stone lost to Ken Robinson and Brian Preston 4 and 3; Owen Monaghan and Hywel Probert lost to Brian Huggett and Keith Lewis 7 and 6; Ray West and Rod Clarke lost to Terry Hammett and Peter Ward 6 and 5; Peter Williams and Geoff Aston beat Ken Evans and Cedric Hall 6 and 5; Derek Bath and JDR Williams lost to Peter Talbot and Ken Hadley 1 down; Malcolm Arlott and Alan Yates lost to Mike King and Ieaun Davies 5 and 3. Tenby 1.5 Cardigan 8.5.
J.D.M.
Mixed fortunes for Tenby in Ali David Cup!
On Sunday, Tenby had their annual match for the 'Ali David Cup' played against Ashburnham by the mixed foursome sections of both clubs. This match has been in existence for 26 years, with only one cancelled match due to extreme weather conditions. The event was started by Mary Rowell, who was the Tenby lady captain at that time, and the Ashburnham lady captain. It has always been a well supported event, played home and away on alternate years. Mary has always made a big effort every year to ensure that she plays in this match. This year she was partnered by our club captain, Bryn Rowell (a golf buggy also helped a little). We had great support, with 12 pairs from Tenby, while Ashburnham were also able to supply 12 pairs. Bright and sunny skies greeted our arrival at Ashburnham, where we were welcomed by the club president, club captain, lady president and lady captain, who was the match official for Ashburnham. As team members gathered at the first tee, the weather took a turn for the worse, with large rain drops and the sound of thunder. Our spirits dropped, with the fear of a possible match postponement again due to the elements, but as the bad weather horn had not been sounded, the first couple of pairs ventured out down the fairway. When the weather changed back as dramatic as the first change and we were back in sunny and warm conditions, it must have been some of the words of wisdom uttered by those waiting to go out. We thought we had gathered a reasonably strong team, but events on the course proved different. We found the Ashburnham course in excellent condition, and credit has to be given to their greens team. The Tenby team included six pairs who were new to the event and to the Ashburnham course. Ashburnham, meanwhile, fielded a strong team consisting of fairly low handicap pairs, although Tenby did have the shots to play with. But this did not help sufficiently, as we went down by nine matches to two, with one half match. It was not as bad as it looks, though, as five matches only lost by the odd hole. Next year it will be a different story as we will have the experience to fall back on. Full results were: H. Morgan/M. Tucker lost 4 and 3; L. Evans/N. Ayers lost 2 and 1; C. Beecher/C. Beecher lost 2 and 1; R. Jenkins/P. Jenkins halved; M. Rowell/B. Rowell lost 3 and 2; L. Storey/B. Morgan lost 4 and 3; L. McQueen/J. Moffett lost 1 down; E. Aston/G. Aston won 5 and 4; V. Martin/J. Martin lost 6 and 4; M. Williams/J. Williams lost 7 and 5; M. Rimel/N. Rimel lost 3 and 2; O. Bradbury/ R. Bradbury won 6 and 4. Our next event will be today (Friday) with our Friday Friendly Foursomes, tee-off approximately 4 pm. The list needs a few more names by Thursday when the draw for partners will take place. The list is also up for the next cup event, which is the Mathias Thomas Cup, to be played on Sunday, May 25, with tee-off starting at 2 pm.
G.W.A.