On Tuesday Orchardleigh held their Seniors Team Competition. As usual Mendip entered two teams and this year the "A" team, captained by John Whyman, managed to come in third place overall. The team was John Whyman, Alan Evans-Jones, Phil Moody, Hugh Campbell, Tony Flagg and Keith Beasley.
Our Mid Week Tankard last Wednesday was played in pleasant conditions, if a little windy.
The greens are speeding up in preparation for the Club Championship on July 5th, and the rough
is getting tougher. Nevertheless good scores were obtained in Divisions 1 and 3, but Division 2 lagged
behind.
Division 1
1st Neil Onslow (5) 39
2nd Tim Parfrey (4) 36
Division 2
1st Nick Harrington (12) 35
2nd Chris Jackson (13) 35
Division 3
1st Matt Loxton (23) 44
2nd Alan Fussell (19) 42
Three matches in four days tested the resolve and fitness of Mendip Seniors. First a local home derby with Farrington produced a fine victory by 5 games to 2, Tony Griggs and Brian Cornell were the stars winning by 6 & 5.
At Worlebury the next day the Seniors were blown off course by a 40 mph wind and lost by 5 games to 2, two halves and a solitary win by Doug Thompson and Trevor Howse.
A day off then a trip to Kingsdown for a splendid close encounter as the home side just edged it 4 games to 3, Mike Smith and Terry Pavey winning by a comfortable margin.
On Thursday Mendip also traveled to Worlebury, but this time it was a representative match to celebrate
our centenaries.
Four Ladies led the field followed by sixteen men, some of whom had played there for the Seniors
the previous day. Once again the wind blew, but this time Don Burrows and Keith Gadsden had a
convincing win by 4 & 3, and the 81 year old Steve Stephenson, partnered with the slightly younger,
Hugh Campbell, saw off the young Vice Captain Keri Allchurch and his partner, by 2 & 1.
The Worlebury Captain, Steve Rowlands arranged a very pleasant meal afterwards and our centenaries
were duly toasted. The return match at Mendip is on Thursday July 10th.
The SHOWERING CUP, presented by former President Keith Showering, produced some excellent scores
but the winner was in a class of his own.
Winner
Garry Elliot 74-10=64
2nd Place
Martin Myers 74-7=67
Division 1
Peter Fox 78-9=69
Division 2
Phil Butcher 82-13=69
Division 3
James Baughan 85-17=68
This last week Mendip has been showing off its attributes to members from other Clubs.
On Friday it was the Seniors Invitation when members from over 30 clubs saw the delights of
the course on a lovely day.
On Saturday the gods were not so kind to the players with low flying cloud delaying the start
for 20 minutes, and rain never far from the horizon.
The Seniors Invitation was well supported and scores were as variable as ever.
Normally a score in the mid forties guarantees a prize but this year one pair with 45 points was
disappointed.
The big winner was Mike Smith's Charity - the Motor Neurone Disease Association - for which £187 was
raised.
Two's were worth three balls but nobody could compete with Jeff Hodder and his partner from Farrington
who scored an exceptional FORTY NINE POINTS!
Winners
J. Hodder (12) E. Nott (21) Farrington 49 points
2nd
J. Whyman (7) A. Cheney (11) Fosseway 45 pts (Count back)
3rd
K. Millard (10) R. Acland (12) Mendip Spring 45 pts
4th
T. Griggs (16) M. Stringer (12) Wells 45 pts.
On Saturday the full entry played in the 36 Hole Mendip Vase, a Greensome Foursome.
Despite the delayed start it was a very enjoyable day and once again the fine condition of the course
allowed the scoring to be good. Last years winners - Paul Smith & Andy Parfitt - put up a good defense
and did figure in the prizes but nobody could match the fine performance of Tony Taylor and John Abdy
in the morning with a net 66, which they consolidated in the afternoon with a net 70.
However George Morgan and Dave Cox must rue the odd shot they lost in the morning round as they had a
superb net 65 in the afternoon to take second place. Tony's son James playing with Duncan Offer also
had a fine p.m. round of 65. All Mendip players unless shown otherwise.
Winners
T. Taylor/J. Abdy (9shots) 136 net
2nd
G. Morgan/D. Cox (2) 137 net
3rd
D. Offer/ J. Taylor (4) 138
4th
T. Williams (Mendip)/ T. Williams (8) Henbury 140
5th
A. Fussell/ R. Chandler (10) 141 (B9)
6th
P. Smith/A. Parfitt 141
Best Visitors
P. Trim/P. Cundick (8) West Wilts 144
After a variable time David Philbeam has at last got the Stragglers on a more even keel and they were able to register two good wins over the weekend. In the home match against Weston on Friday they won 4 games and halved 1. But in the away match at Filton they excelled winning by 5 games to nil. It is hoped that David will now get the support he deserves in running the Stragglers team.
You may remember that the inaugural Centenary Trophy had to be postponed on the May Bank Holiday Monday. It has now been re-scheduled for Saturday September 27th. As previously it will be a three person Bowmaker, and ALL members can play. However the teams must be of the same sex. A good entry is expected.
It has taken a hundred years for Mendip Seniors to challenge Tidworth Garrison Seniors to a match but last Monday (June 9th) pistols were drawn at 13.00 hours The Tidworth course was in great condition, the sun shone and although the tanks on the adjacent battleground were a bit noisy, everything was very pleasant. Mendip had fielded a strong team, including six past Seniors Captains and a former Club Captain.
However our hosts were not so generous as to give us a win. In fact the only heroes of the day were Tony Griggs and Richard Draper (big improvement on last week!) who won one up.
Our captain, Mike Smith, playing with Ron Irons lost to their captain, Roger Miller, by 3 & 2. Bob Clarke & John Richardson lost by 6 & 4, Doug Thompson & Ted Brimble lost 4 & 3 and John Hargraves & Stan Burton lost 2 & 1. Don Burrows & Bill Chard should have won, letting a three hole lead slip away to a half, Harry Thompson & Hugh Campbell came back from the dead being three down with five to play, but got a half. Vice Captain John Whyman & Brian Cornell got their half in a very tight game.
So the result announced by Mike at the end of an excellent three course meal, was Tidworth Garrison 5.5 to Mendip 2.5. This result is expected to be reversed when the return match is played on August 4th.
Bob Clark will remember the day very well. He gave his car keys to Doug Thompson to open the boot and somehow Doug managed to lock them in. When we left the AA man and others were desperately trying to get into Bob's Jag. They did eventually but nobody was very pleased!
On Wednesday the traditional BERKELY HALL FOURSOMES was held with a shotgun start at 6.00p.m. Normally
a score of two or three below par is good enough to win, but this time the players excelled
themselves. The winners go on to represent the club in the Daily Mail Foursomes in 2009.
Winners
Andy Bryant & Rob Baker (6.5 shots) 65.5 net
2nd
John Whyman & Phil Moody (9.5) 66.5.net
3rd
Eric Jordan & Brian Smith (11) 67 (b9) net
On Friday the Seniors played for the Bill Freeman Trophy, a stableford competition.
For the third year in a row, MIKE SMITH, found some inner strength and easily carried off the
trophy again. A unique result, many congratulations. Perhaps he should think about donating his
own trophy, with himself excluded!
1st
M. V. Smith (12) 40 pts
2nd
J. S. Hargraves (8) 38 pts
3rd
J. M. Wyllie (12) 38
4th
P. Moody (12) 38
The Sims Cup, presented by Eddie Sims from the Shrubbery Hotel in Shepton, produced some
excellent scores. The course is playing well, the greens are running true, but the rough
is thickening up to make shots a bit more hazardous. With the Mendip Vase (36 hole) coming
up on Saturday, and the Club Championship (also 36 holes) in two weeks time the course is getting
into peak condition.
Winner
John Longman 72-8=64
Runner up
Doug Walters 83-18=65
Division 1
David Wilkins 71-5=66
Division 2
James Godwin 79-12=67
Division 3
Christy Callaghan 95-28=67