Cirencester Golf Club round-up with Danny Hall

Ladies’ Senior Title at Gloucestershire County Championships

ALISON Kelly, of Cirencester Golf Club, claimed the ladies’ senior title at the Gloucestershire County Championships for the third year in a row with her victory at Lilley Brook Golf Club near Cheltenham.

The players had to face all four seasons in one day and Ali was seriously questioning her sanity when a hailstorm started as she was waiting on the first tee for her second round to begin.

This made conditions even more challenging as the greens were extremely fast in the morning but much slower during the afternoon, following the storm.

Ali won the seniors’ championship by three shots with her gross 76, and also took the senior (over-50) trophy in the county championship itself with a gross 161 over the 36 holes.

“This year the senior championship and the county championship were combined, with the morning round counting for the separate senior title,” said Ali.

“I have won it a few times but I am not sure how many.

“My highlight was playing the front nine in one-under par – not so good for the rest of the day.”

Fellow members Emma Brereton and Kate Dymoke also braved the hailstones and soggy greens to give Cirencester GC great representation at the tournament.

Ellett Cup

CAPTAIN Steve Bishop has emerged triumphant in the club’s annual winter/spring knockout tournament for the Ellett Cup which started way back in 2019 – long before any of us had even heard of Covid-19.

Steve beat Andy Bradley in a tight final 2&1.

“There were never more than two holes in it,” said Steve.

“I did, however, close out the game on the 17th with a four-wood second shot to eight feet for eagle (which wasn’t needed) as Brad took five and conceded.”

Pete Stone and Duncan Barnes were the beaten semi-finalists.

April Medal

STEVE Springthorpe won the April Medal at Cirencester with a fine nett 67.

The tricky conditions – hard running fairways and slick greens along with a chill wind – resulted in just five players breaking nett par.

Ten-handicapper Steve laid the foundations with two birdies on the first six holes and kept it going to record the best gross of the day – a 77.

Runner-up in Division One, and third overall was Adam Collins, whose strong challenge was diluted by a seven on the last.

Scott Reynolds (69) led Paul Simmonds (70) in Division Two and his score pipped Adam on countback for the overall second spot.

Gary Whiteman was the only other member to beat par, his 70 being enough to take Division Three from Chris Bryant.

Just four valid birdie twos were posted so congratulations to Adi Kember (2nd); Tom Stone (2nd); Robert Preddy (13th) and Marc Ramaer (13th) as they netted £54.50 for each of their birdies.

RESULTS

Div 1 (handicap indexes up to 10): Steve Springthorpe (nett 67); Adam Collins (69); Paul Cox (72); Luke Hopegood (73 on c/b).

Div 2 (handicap indexes 10.1 to 14.4): Scott Reynolds (69); Paul Simmonds (70); Terry Hambling (73); Mark Titcombe (74).

Div 3 (handicap indexes 14.5 to 54): Gary Whiteman (70); Chris Bryant (72 c/b); Pete Townsend (72 c/b); Kevin Read (73 c/b).

Ladies’ April Medal

THE ladies enjoyed a welcome return to competitive golf with their first monthly medal of the year being played on Thursday, April 29.

A great turn-out of 41 ladies – 19 in Division 1 and 22 in Division 2 – were blessed with some bright sunshine.

Brenda Taylor won Division 1 with a nett score of 73, which also proved to be the overall winner. She also recorded the lowest gross score (86) of the day and posted the only birdie two on the 9th hole.

Closely following Brenda were Liz Allen (nett 74) along with Ann Fisher and Kate Dymoke (both nett 75).

Pam Mallinson won the Division 2 medal with a nett score of 75 from Elaine Killick and Pat Challens (both nett 77).

Bank Holiday Texas Scramble

THE elements beat many of the teams in the Bank Holiday Texas Scramble, with progressively stronger wind and rain throughout the day ruining many a card.

But despite the weather there was the usual fun from this novel competition format.

The insomniacs had a distinct advantage and the quartet of Robin Rose, Bob Herbert, Alan Selby & John Kilminster made that count with their excellent score of nett 54.8 being posted very early.

There were normal rules for this Texas Scramble with teams being allowed 15 per cent of their combined handicaps – and with each of the four-man team having to take at least three of their tee shots.

RESULTS

1st – Robin Rose, Bob Herbert, Alan Selby & John Kilminster (nett 54.8).

2nd – Johnny Cowley, Neil Little, Nick Peare & James Moorcroft (nett 56).

3rd – Cain Thomas, Harry Styman, Alex Galpin & Jon Whitlock (nett 56.4).

4th – Tom Odell, Archie Day, Luke Hopegood & Scott Reynolds (nett 58.15).

5th – Lester Woods, Andy Reynolds, Gary Clifford & Matt Harrison (nett 58.3).