Tuesday, February 21, last chance saloon for Seniors to better their eclectic score and leap into the top spot in the 2016/2017 tournament, with this aim in mind, 36 optimistic gentlemen braved a dull, damp and breezy morning to compete.
As if this situation was not exciting enough, there was also a ‘rollover’ in the charity raffle draw - because only 13 players competed on February 14, no draw was held, so this week there was a big one (one in 36 chance) and a little one (one in 13 chance). I am pleased to report that the little winner was Martin Neilan and the big winner was Peter Woodhouse - well done chaps, start squandering!
There was some very tidy scoring in the eclectic - it is even possible that the top three places have changed, but, our secretive competitions secretary Jim Martin is playing the result very close to his chest and not informing us via master scoreboard - we demand to know!
In the meantime, the results of Tuesday’s bash were:
In third place with 39 points, playing off 11, vice-captain Idwal David.
In second place with 41 points, playing off seven, Allen Watts.
In first place with a splendid 42 points, playing off 13, our trusty treasurer, Stan Hudson.
I have attached a photograph of captain Dudley presenting loads of lolly to the winning trio - I trust you will forgive me, dear reader, if some of the faces seem familiar, but these chaps are always chipping away at the lead!
On Tuesday, February 28, the Seniors will be divided, as some play for the captain’s team and some play for the vice-captain’s - sort of a friendly grudge match, but great fun! The post-mortem discussions over the sumptuous three-course lunch have to be heard to be believed!
And finally - have you put your name down for the Chicken Trotter/s game and end of season lunch on Friday March 3? - do!
M.F.
Stone me! Des does the double
Friday, February 17, was quite an eventful day, the weather was friendly - quite mild, no rain and not too windy. Twenty-two Chicken Trotters turned out - the last time we had this many was October 23, 2009 - keep it up! Just for the record, Brian Waters’s grandson, Oliver Maund, played with his grampa and accomplished two things; he was the 34th different player this season, and he brought the average age down by about five years! David Rees scored the 12th two of the season on hole six, winning 55p, and Stan Hudson got the 13th and 55p when he popped in his second shot on the 12th
In the main competition, Mike Fox, Neil Dickinson and Stan Hudson all scored 27 points, however, Stan’s score on the back six holes was minutely better than Mike and Neil’s - so he was awarded fourth place and an award of 60p, while they had to make do with this publicity! Third place went to David Rees and his 29 points, 90p and a handicap drop of one shot was his reward. In second place with a mighty 30 points, dark horse Peter Williams not only pocketed £1.20, he surged up the Booker Prize ladder as well!
The champion of the day was Des Stone - not only did he amass an excellent 34 points (10 better than the CSS!), he also made a bit of history by being the only Trotter to win twice this season! £1.50 seems a rather a scant reward for this performance, but the Chief Trotter has never been accused of generosity!
At the slightly sad end of the money list, Brian Waters failed to impress grandson Olly, ‘cos he won the booby prize - Sod’s law Brian!
The race to win the Booker Prize is hotting up - the current top five contestants are: In joint fourth with 134 points, Des Stone and Allen Watts, in third place with 136 points - Mike Fox, second is David Lamb with 137 - and at the top of the list with 138 is ‘The Boss’ - Steve Cole
And finally, it was nice to see vice-president Russell Clarke out on the links - and - it was also nice to see so many names on the entry list for the end of season competitions and luncheon on Friday, March 3 - if you haven’t put your name down yet, do it!
M.F.
Extension leads
A bit of a mizzle met the 24 eyes that looked out from the clubhouse onto the links last Sunday as the Winter League entered its closing stages- only three more counting weeks left after this one, writes Warren Hacker.
The draw for those venturing out took place, then we had a bit of re-jigging, then the first three ball teed off- Steve W, Robin and our leader, Grant. They zipped around the course and they all had something to cheer them up at the end - one in a double way.
The next group on the tee consisted of Steve C, John, Peter and Adrian. They also managed the last putt of the competition! Their endeavours were rewarded with increases in all their Winter League scores, and one of them increased their eclectic score - but left it to the last hole!
The final fourball to take to the course were captain Martin, treasurer Mark, Phil and Chris. Half of them were doubly pleased at the end but, again, their Winter League scores all saw improvements.
The damp scorecards were put into some sort of order and captain Martin announced the scores, but the wetness prevented more than half a dozen getting their scores into the 30s.
Just missing out on a podium place was Chris, but he managed to increase his eclectic score by two to move up level with Steve W in fifth. Steve C managed his third third place with 36 points, but that was one behind captain Martin, who got his entrance money back, and that’s his second second place. Top of the pile, for a fourth time, was our leader, Grant, and he even managed a tap-in birdie on the fifth to boost his eclectic score by one and his lead is now two. It was Adrian who parred the 18th to move joint third with Tom, and captain Martin also moved up one to join Peter in 10th.
There were no twos this week, so the kitty will rollover to next week.
As for the Winter League scores, it is going to get increasingly harder to improve their best eight totals, although more than half of the top 10 have scores in the 20s as their lowest to get rid of. Grant, with an average of over 38.5, increased his lead by four over Phil, Steve C climbs above Robin to third, Martin moves ahead of Steve W and Adrian and Mark swap places.
Will we have as many movers next week?
Rabbits League
P Eclectic Best 8
Grant Watkins 13 62 309
Phil Carpenter 9 54 291
Steve Cole 11 60 289
Robin Bradbury 9 55 288
John Ball 9 55 279
Chris Smith 10 56 272
Martin Durham 10 52 264
Steve Watkins 13 56 263
Adrian Palmer 8 58 254
Mark Edwards 11 51 243
Peter Turton 9 52 226
Mackie Harts 8 47 202
Wyndham Collins 6 48 177
Tom Watkins 4 58 145
Kieron Plested 3 41 73
Paul Crawford 3 37 63