GOLF: Cirencester pair qualify for national finals

Skycaddie PGA Pro Captain Challenge

ED Goodwin and Steve Bishop are heading for The Belfry later this month after qualifying for the national finals of the Skycaddie PGA Pro Captain Challenge in association with Prostate Cancer.

Cirencester head pro Ed and club captain Steve were one of only two pairs who got through at Bowood Golf Club near Chippenham in their regional qualifier thanks to some very fine play.

“Bowood had set the course up to be long and tough with some tricky pin positions so it was a big advantage to have a low-handicapper alongside me – and ‘Bish’ played really well,” said Ed.

“We didn’t drop a shot all day and finished with a better ball score of 3-under gross for 41 points, one behind the winners.”

With the final on October 13 and 14 over the PGA National and Brabazon courses, Ed is hoping he and his partner can maintain their form in the next fortnight and there is a silver lining to the disappointment of not travelling to foreign climes for the finale.

“Covid has meant that we are not travelling to Northern Italy as originally scheduled – but they have increased the prize fund to £22,000,” said Ed.

Fourteen pairings from the seven regional qualifiers head to The Belfry and Ed hopes he can go two better than six years ago when he and 2014 captain Mark Woodhead journeyed to Turkey and returned with an honourable third-place finish.

Ed also gave it a good shot in this week’s Devon Links Festival when he and three friends finished runners-up in a a field of more than 30 at the team pro-am.

Ed tied for joint sixth in the individual pro’s competition.

Ron Card Tankards

ONE of the first team events since Covid struck this year, the Ron Card Tankards, provided a brilliant finish with three groups all coming in on 81 points.

Just edging the competition on countback over the last nine holes were Nick Rutter, Marc Berry and Daimien McConnell.

A low-handicap trio of Hamish Mason, Darren Robison and Toby Harris forced their way into the runner-spot with two birdies on the final hole.

And Craig Sutherland had another fine round of two-over-par 73 to push his team, with Mark Day and Robert Gough, into third place.

The best two stableford scores on each hole counted, off full handicap.

Describing their victory, Nick said: “Marc played very well on the front nine and Daimien played very well on the back nine, while I chipped in with a couple of birdies.

“It was very windy on the top of the course but we still thought we were a few points short of winning.”

RESULTS

1st – Nick Rutter, Marc Berry & Daimien McConnell 81 points; 2nd – Hamish Mason, Darren Robison & Toby Harris 81pts; 3rd – Craig Sutherland, Mark Day & Robert Gough 81pts; 4th – Ken Russell, Stuart Stancombe & Tom Waller 80pts; 5th – Steve Broadhurst, Dave Workman & Robin Smart 80pts; 6th – Andy Stocks, Andy Bradley & Luke Pitman 79pts; 7th – Steve Bishop, Tony Francis & Gary Whiteman 78pts; 8th – Dan Gregory, Tony Wilkinson & Brian Kelly 78pts.

Ladies’ section

(Karen Pracy-Jennings, a double winner in the last week)

KAREN Pracy-Jennings, the incoming ladies’ vice-captain, has pulled off a marvellous double by winning both the Summer Eclectic series and the Macmillan Spoons charity event.

After the final results for the eclectic were compiled and verified, the Silver Division was won by Karen, with a nett 54 on countback from Jane Brodrick.

The Bronze Division was won by Emma Collins with a spectacular nett 44!

Emma’s closest rival was new member Heather Whelan on nett 53, and she beat Gill Hunter (also on nett 53) into third place.

Alison Kelly scored 36 stableford points (off her 3 handicap) in one of Ed Goodwin’s daily competitions and came sixth overall.

The rearranged charity competition, the Macmillan Spoons, was played on a lovely sunny but cold Saturday, with Karen topping the leaderboard with 34 points.

Sheila Telling beat Ann Fisher into second place on countback, both scoring 29 points.