Cirencester Golf Club

Winter Mixed Stableford

PHIL SMITH capped a classy and consistent season of golf with a runaway victory in the latest Mixed Winter Stableford at Cirencester Golf Club, putting together a remarkable score of 44 points.

He finished four shots clear of the field helped by a couple of birdies on his front nine.

In Phil’s listed seven competitions since the summer, he has finished out of the first 11 only once – and he also triumphed in the Summer Fourball Knockout with his partner Paul Helbrow.

Cannily, he has been able to avoid the attention of the ‘exceptional scoring guru’ and has looked after his 19 handicap throughout the year.

Runner-up was Steve Paish with a solid 40 points, the 14-handicapper being on level par after the first seven holes.

Particular congratulations, also, to Jack Bastow who returned to the sort of form which saw him win last year’s Bathurst Cup.

Jack, 87, went around in little more than his age to score an excellent 40 points.

New general manager Leighton Walker played in his first club competition and the 2-handicapper rattled off four birdies in his score of 37 points.

Angela Woodward was the leading lady golfer with 36 points and there were a total of 18 birdie twos recorded.

RESULTS

Phil Smith 44 points (off 19), Steve Paish 40 (14), Jack Bastow 40 (25), Bob Hayward 39 (16), Darren Robison 39 (03), Neil Selby 39 (21), Gerald Park 39 (16), Glenn Skinley 39 (07).

Seniors’ Section

November Stableford

SIMON UNDERWOOD proved his recent Hospital Cup win (open to all members) was no fluke by topping the leaderboard in the second qualifying seniors’ stableford competition of the winter with a marvellous 40 points.

He built his Hospital Cup victory on the back of a superb front half which included two birdies, and it was the same in this event.

Being cut from a handicap of 11 to 9 made little difference as Simon stood on the 10th tee at level par, and the feature of his game was some impressive iron play.

Simon said: “I really didn't think it was going to be my day after missing two birdie putts of under six feet on the first two holes, but then the putter woke up and I holed three putts of up to 20 feet at the next three holes for two birdies and a par. That really set me up for a level par front nine (22 points) before playing to my handicap coming home.

“The other highlight was luckily hitting the flagstick with my tee shot on 13 with the ball stopping within two feet of the hole for a tap-in.”

His rivals in the near future will not be pleased to hear that Simon remains on a 9 handicap despite this scintillating run of form.

Runner-up Bob Allen also built his fine score of 39 points on the front nine, the 17-handicapper dropping just three shots to par.

RESULTS

Division One: Simon Underwood 40 points (off 9), Bob Allen 39 (17), Dave Exton 38 (17), Danny Hall 37 (15), Jeff Salter 37 (14).

Division Two: Patrick Hickey 38 (20), Dave Braithwaite 37 (19), Terry Mason 37 (19), Chris Watson 35 (20), Martin Harrison 35 (21).

Ladies’ section

ERIKA BROOKE formally took over the position of lady captain from Fiona Fyfe at the annual general meeting of the ladies’ section on Saturday, November 9.

The ceremonial Lady Captain’s brooch, donated by Dorothy Clark in the 1980s, was pinned on Erika to mark the beginning of her captain’s year.

The various secretaries and representatives of the committee gave their reports on activities in 2019, and there was a long list of Cirencester ladies’ golfing achievements at every level to be celebrated.

These included friendly and handicap matches, through scratch Alliance competitions, juniors and vets, along with a number of county wins.

There was also a minute’s silence held to remember the two lady members who have passed away this year, namely Rosie Rothman and Ann Williams.

On Thursday snow stopped play! The ladies’ competition had to be cancelled as the course was closed.