Seniors’ Championships

JERRY HOMAN-GREEN added to his impressive collection of championship titles when lifting the trophy as the seniors’ champion of Cirencester Golf Club for 2020.

Jerry, in only his second season as a senior, reversed the 2019 result when he was runner-up to John Appleby.

This year, Jerry’s gross 76 pushed John (78) back into the runner-up slot.

Three players finished on 79, in countback order – Nick J Brown, seniors’ captain Andy Ponting and Brian Whittaker.

Jerry is a former club champion at Broome Manor and also at South Cerney (four times!), where he also served as captain.

“I had a good start with a birdie from about 4ft on the 2nd and a tap-in birdie on the 6th,” said Jerry, a six-handicapper who has represented the Cirencester A-team.

“I had five bogeys in a row from the 7th and was hanging on a bit but then chipped in for a birdie 3 on 14 and scrambled a 4 out of the left-hand trees on 16.”

In the nett championship, Bob Allen, who posted a 68 off his 15 handicap, came out on top by a shot from Leo Ferro and Keith Miller, who both shot nett 69s.

Jerry Homan-Green was fourth with a nett 70 ahead of last year’s winner Graham Marshall, who was the pick of the 71-shooters in fifth.

“Like a number of competition winners lately, recent lessons have helped me improve,” said Bob.

“In my case, James Harraway has identified some swing faults and given me simple drills to address them, resulting in five recent handicap reductions.

“On the day, I concentrated on what I can do rather than trying to play like a low handicapper.

“Highlights were making par at the 2nd and 6th, where I don’t get shots, tempered by the fact that both birdie putts went close.”

Overall, in a field of 93, there were five twos recorded: Graham Clarke (2nd); Leo Ferro (2nd); Jerry Homan-Green (2nd); Tony Killick (2nd); Simon Burrows (13th).

RESULTS: Seniors’ Gross Championship

1st – Jerry Homan-Green (76-06); 2nd – John Appleby (78-06); 3rd – Nick J Brown (79-06); 4th – Andy Ponting (79-08); 5th – Brian Whittaker (79-06); 6th – Graham Marshall (81-10); 7th – Gerry Bruton (81-09); 8th – Leo Ferro (83-13); 9th - Mark Woodhead (83-09); 10th – Bob Allen (83-15).

RESULTS: Seniors’ Nett Championship

1st – Bob Allen (83-15-68); 2nd – Leo Ferro (83-14-69); 3rd – Keith Miller (85-16-69); 4th – Jerry Homan-Green (76-06-70); 5th – Graham Marshall (81-10-71); 6th – Bill Peach (98-27-71); 7th – Andy Ponting (79-08-71); 8th – Steve Titchener (86-15-71); 9th – David Murray (87-15-72); 10th – John Appleby (78-06-72).

Jubilee Cup

IT WAS Groundhog Day in the Jubilee Cup as Danny Hall repeated his victory of nine years ago – and as in 2011, Glenn Skinley was the runner-up, beaten by a single shot.

The Jubilee Cup, one of the major trophies in the Cirencester calendar, is played in the rarely-used ‘individual bogey’ format in which each entrant plays against the course off full handicap. If they beat nett par they mark the card with a plus (+), equalling nett par earns a half (0) and if a nett par is not achieved they receive a minus (-).

The Jubilee Cup is also one of seven tournaments which determine the Victor Ludorum series, highlighting the club’s most consistent golfer.

Danny shot a clean round which included nine pars to finish 5up against the course off his handicap of 14.

Glenn edged out one of Danny’s playing partners, Andrew Parffrey, as well as Oliver Oram on countback. They all finished on 4up.

“It was a solid round and my short game was on the money for a change with a couple of sand saves and about five other up-and-downs,” said Danny.

“I finished with two great shots into the wind on the 18th which left me just through the green, but after chipping to 3ft I missed the putt which would have taken me to +6. Luckily, it did not matter.

“Meanwhile, Andrew rolled in a 25-footer for a fine par there.

“It’s a long time ago but, back in 2011, Glenn recalls putting in his score of 6up, and thinking that was good enough to win, only for my son Alex to come up and tell him I’d just shot 7up!

“Glenn also missed out by a shot in the Bathurst Cup last week – but at least he must be in with shout for the Victor Ludorum this year.”

Danny is another member who has benefited from the help of coaching staff at Cirencester this season.

“I have to give credit to my golf guru Mitch Caunt for identifying some swing flaws. Trouble is, Mitch has become so popular he’s already booking lessons into 2021!”

There were 10 birdie twos recorded in the field of 105 – 2nd hole: Callum Flett, Shane Froude, Mark Jameson, James Moorcroft, George Peare; 11th hole: Mathew Vines; 13th hole: Magnus Flett, Tom Montgomery, Dan Skinley, Steve Sweet.

RESULTS

1st – Danny Hall (5up); 2nd – Glenn Skinley (4up); 3rd – Andrew Parffrey (4up): 4th – Oliver Oram (4up); 5th – Marc Berry (3up); 6th – Tom Montgomery (2up); 7th – James Moorcroft (2up); 8th – Ben Marsh (2up); 9th – Craig Sutherland (2up); 10th – Steve Sweet (1up).

Ladies’ section

FIONA FYFE, ladies’ captain in 2019, hit a hole in one during the Centenary Celebration competition at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club last Tuesday.

Fiona’s ace came on the 7th hole – and earned her the nearest-the-pin prize on that hole, too.

Three holes later, Fiona had a very different type of birdie when she chipped her ball into a tree and it landed in a bird’s nest!

Nine Cirencester members took part in Bristol. Fiona and her team-mates Kate Dymoke and Elaine Killick were heading for victory when scoring 41 points on the front nine.

However, they faded on the home run and their 68-point total earned them sixth place, seven shots off the winners.

GLCGA Kitcat Cup

ON Thursday, it was the final of the county Kitcat Cup at Lansdown Golf Club, near Bath.

Cirencester GC was represented by Lydia Sutherland, Paula Lester-Powell, Elaine Killick, Kate Dymoke and Jane Salter. On a very windy day, which challenged all 114 players, the winning score was 35 points.

Lydia Sutherland, one of our junior members, played well in the testing conditions to take the Bronze Division with 34 points, just one shot off the overall winner.

Back at home, outgoing lady captain Erika Brooke came third in Ed Goodwin’s daily competition on Tuesday with 39 points.

September Medal

DEB MILLS took the honours in Division One of the September Medal with a nett 71. She also had the lowest gross score in the field of 22, and posted a birdie on the 13th hole.

Deb was followed home by Angela Canty on nett 73.

In Division Two, Jae Berens led the way with a nett 74, from Heather Whelan on nett 75.