GOLF ROUND-UP: Harvey New claims victory at Cirencester Golf Club

Mixed Stableford – July

CRICKET’S loss has been golf’s gain as Harvey New claimed victory in the July Mixed Stableford at Cirencester Golf Club with 42 points.

As golfers returned to action much earlier than cricketers, the Fairford 1st XI off-spin bowler has had more time to hone his skills on the fairways and the range – and it is paying off.

Becoming the latest of assistant pro Mitch Caunt’s protégées in the week before the competition seemed to produce an immediate effect for Harvey, who is also a member at Burford Golf Club.

“After just a couple of lessons with Mitch, I managed to work on keeping my arms more connected to my body on the back swing which enabled me to consistently hit the ball straight for a change,” said the 23-handicapper.

“I hit driver on 12 of the 18 holes, which was the first time I’ve used one on a course for over a year.”

It certainly helped him on the 18th off the back tees as he sealed his win with a fine par four.

Tom Montgomery was even better on the homeward hole with a spectacular birdie three to secure second place on 41 points. Paul Loxton and Nick J Brown also made the podium with 39 points, while Jess Brown, who heads to college in North Carolina this autumn to pursue her golfing career, was the leading lady in fifth place with 38 points.

Two-handicapper Jess was one under par over the final 16 holes.

Seven members had birdie twos. They were Mark Bailey on the 9th, and Nick J Brown, Tony Francis, Shane Froude, Luke Risby, Paul Simpson and Steve Titchener all on the 13th.

RESULTS

1st – Harvey New (42 points); 2nd – Tom Montgomery (41); 3rd – Paul Loxton (39); 4th – Nick J Brown (39); 5th – Jess Brown (38); 6th – Callum Flett (38); 7th – Scott Andrews (38); 8th – Dan Gregory (38); 9th – Sam Tanner (38); 10th – Craig Sutherland (38).

Seniors’ section

NEIL HALLS can place a down payment on another guitar for his collection after winning the latest Seniors’ Stableford competition, which drew another tremendous turnout of 122 players.

Neil put together a very tidy round for his 41 points which just edged out Jeff Salter on countback. Both players parred the difficult 18th to maintain their challenge until the very end.

(PICTURED: Neil Halls, who took the second Seniors’ Stableford competition of the summer series)

Ironically, Neil has been cut just one shot to 19, but Jeff has been slashed from 15 to 13.

Jeff had put together five pars in a row on the front nine and added a birdie on the par-five 12th

Just one point separated the top seven players – the quintet on 40 points being John Buck, Graham Clarke, Dave Jones, Danny Hall and Jim Kennedy.

Eight twos were recorded by Clive Bennett (2nd), Jerry Homan-Green (9th), John Buck (13th), Mike Brown (13th), Dave Jones (13th) and Ian Perry (13th). But special credit must go to Ross McDonald and Rod Rapley who got eagle twos on the 16th.

Trivia note: if you want to do well in seniors’ competitions, join the section’s committee, who had three in the top 10. Or buy a property in Cirencester’s Corinium Gate, like a trio of neighbours who were also in the top 10.

RESULTS

1st – Neil Halls (41 points); 2nd – Jeff Salter (41); 3rd – John Buck (40); 4th – Graham Clarke (40); 5th – Dave Jones (40); 6th – Danny Hall (40); 7th – Jim Kennedy (40); 8th – Pete Ayers (39); 9th – Andy Tunnicliffe (39); 10th – Mike Brown (39).

Ladies’ section

CONGRATULATIONS to Karen Pracy-Jennings who has been announced the winner of the Winter Eclectic series in the ladies’ section.

It was a particularly noteworthy effort from Karen as she completed only six of the maximum 10 rounds to count.

(Karen Pracy-Jennings, winner of the ladies’ Winter Eclectic series)

There were no ladies’ competitions last week but three of the membership had good results in pro Ed Goodwin’s daily mixed stableford competitions.

On Monday, Jess Brown came fifth with 39 points – no mean feat as she plays off a 2 handicap.

Katie Norton had a very successful week; on Tuesday she scored a fabulous 40 points to finish fourth overall and two days later she came second with 42 points.

Then, on Saturday, Blanche Neal finished eighth with 38 points.