Cirencester Golf round-up with Danny Hall

LEIGHTON REES ended a drought stretching back three years when winning part one of the Fur & Feather mixed stableford competition with a near-flawless 41 points in benign conditions at Cirencester Golf Club on Saturday.

“My last win was the Centenary Putter in 2017, I hope it will not take another three years for the next!” said Leighton, who has had his handicap cut from six to five.

“I thought the course looked great for this time of year, all credit to the green staff. And we were very fortunate with fine weather – no wind for once.

“My one-over-scratch round was helped by three birdies and hitting the ball consistently straight for a change.

“I do enjoy this time of year with the softer greens and being able to play target golf.

“I was a bit lucky to hit the flag on the 13th with a thinned tee shot which left an easy putt for a bonus second 2 on my card.”

Gary Clifford, another single-figure handicapper, got within one of Leighton’s 41 points as a fine birdie on the 18th helped him claim the runner-up spot.

The top trio in division two – Robin Rose (39pts), Clive Montgomery (39pts) and Keith Miller (38pts) – finished third, fourth and fifth in the overall competition.

Robert Gough claimed division three with his 37 points for 13th place overall.

Our leading lady golfers, Alison Kelly (38pts) and Emma Brereton (38pts) were separated on countback with Ali claiming the ladies’ section of the Fur & Feather. They finished sixth and seventh overall.

Deb Mills was third in the ladies’ section on the same 38-point score, and 14th overall.

The calm day led to 18 birdie twos being recorded, two of them coming (as previously mentioned) from outright winner Leighton Rees (2nd & 6th holes).

RESULTS (Men)

Division One (Handicaps up to 10): 1st – Leighton Rees (41pts); 2nd – Gary Clifford (40); 3rd – Dan Gregory (38); 4th – Paul Loxton (36).

Division Two (Handicaps 11-15): 1st – Robin Rose (39pts); 2nd – Clive Montgomery (39); 3rd – Keith Miller (38); 4th – Steve Sweet (38).

Division Three (Handicaps 16 to 54): 1st – Robert Gough (37pts); 2nd – Phil Smith (36); 3rd – Alex Crease (36); 4th – Frazier Phillips (36).

RESULTS (Ladies)

1st – Ali Kelly (38pts); 2nd – Emma Brereton (38); 3rd – Deb Mills (38).

Gloucester & Somerset PGA Ladies’ Pro-Am

CIRENCESTER pro Ed Goodwin took a team to the Gloucester & Somerset PGA Ladies’ Pro-Am last week, played on the Cherington course at Minchinhampton, and they narrowly failed to win it for the third year in a row.

Ed was accompanied by Sam Mitchell, Deb Organ and Emma Brereton and they put together a team score of 84 points.

That was just four shots adrift of the winning team from Badgemore Park Golf Club near Henley-on-Thames led by pro Martin Woodbridge.

Martin also edged Ed into the runners-up spot with their respective scores of 67 and 69 in the individual competition.