Richard Owen
Richard Owen
Round 3, Ballantyne 2025
The Richmond Park team entertained a very strong Tilgate Forest B team on the Prince’s course, on what was at times a breezy but very warm day. The result was a 2.5 to 0.5 win for Richmond Park, who will now play Wycombe Heights B in Round 4 (the Area Final).
Our first pair (Mark Bean and Brendan Sullivan) went 2 down after 9 and were still 2 down after 13. They then won holes 14, 15, 16, and 17 to finish 2&1 winners. Club captain Brendan had a very strong all round performance and was the player of the day.
Our second pair (Ray Esin and Mel Dunn) were also up against stiff opposition. After trailing for long periods of time, they had to dig deep to finally draw their match demonstrating a never give up approach to their game against a strong pairing.
Our third pair was made up of Justin Wildman and Russell Stewart. They found themselves 2 down after 2 holes and despite one of the opposing players losing the head of his club on the second, his tee shot still ran to the back of the green from where he managed to win the hole. Hanging on until the 7th Justin, got one back, then Russell got another back at the 8th. From that point it was tight and the low handicap player from Tilgate had 4 birdies. However taking advantage of the shots given the Richmond park pair closed it out on the 18th, winning by 2 holes.
The games were played in a very competitive but convivial atmosphere and the teams enjoyed drinks and pizza together on the veranda after play.
Friday Sweep
The rounds started in hazy sunshine and slightly more humid conditions than the previous heatwave days but the high clouds cleared by midday and it was another very hot day. With rock hard fairways, good tee shots ‘ran a mile’ but the greens and approaches were is great condition, due to their daily watering.
Charles Haines and Tom Laybourn were both in great form and tied at the top with 40 points. However Charles was the winner on countback (18 out, 22 back); Charles had a ‘purple patch’ in the middle of his round with birdies on the 9th, 10th and 12th – his birdie 3 on the 10th being a 60 yards ‘chip in’.
Tom had 22 out and 18 points in, with birdies on the 6th (a 25 yards chip in) and the 12th. Tom drove the back of the 9th green in 2 but only par’d the hole. Also, a better last 3 holes and he could have won with 44 points – that’s what pressure does to you!
Third place finds Seymour with 37 points (20 out and 17 in), continuing his steady, resurgent form. Without sluggish scores on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes he could have been challenging for top spot.
Easiest holes yesterday were the 9th and 12th and most difficult were the 7th and 8th (as usual). Lee Frost still leads the Friday Birdie Tree on 10, with Simon McKnight and Richard Owen sharing 2nd place on 8. Richard also narrowly missed out on an eagle 2 on the 17th by leaving his putt 9 inches away !
Rickmansworth match, Home Leg
The first leg of our annual match against Rickmansworth was played on a warm but overcast day and the Ricky team came with a strong team to avenge the 5-0 drubbing they suffered last year at the park. The rain held off long enough for the first 4 matches to finish in the dry but the heavens opened as the final 2 matches were finishing.
The match result swung one way and then the other as the scores came in but finished as a 3:3 draw. The winning pairs for RPGC were Alan Treacy & Craig Johnstone, Joe Gonclaves & Gerard Ouattara and Richard Back & Peter Harrison. So, much work to do to retain the cup, when we go over to Rickmansworth for the away leg of match, in its 60th anniversary year.
Hawtree, Rounds 1 and 2
The Richmond Park team met Portsmouth in Round 1 of this mixed greensomes competition and had a narrow win by 3 points (156 vs 153).
In Round 2 we played against Hoebridge and had another win, this time by 5 points (159 vs 154). Our ‘away’ team of Sheena Harrington & Paul Green and Caroline Stilwell & Mel Dunn scored a very creditable 77 points (to Hoebridge’s 79); at home, on the Duke’s course, our team of Cheryl Woodhouse & Richard Owen and Joe Gonclaves & Joan Mulcahy scored 82 points (to Hoebridge’s 75). The matches were played in a very competative but friendly spirit on a gloriously warm day.
Kelso Hamilton Quarter Final
Richmond Park B (Adrian Wells and Julian James) were beaten 2 up by Reigate Heath on the Prince’s course. The Reigate Heath team went up early then we came back and were two up and looking good, however then they worked to three up. By the 18th tee we’d got them back down to 1 up, but they had the better final hole. Good match played in good spirit.
NAPGC Ballantyne pairs matchplay
Following a bye in Round 1, the Richmond Park team played South Bucks (The South Buckinghamshire) on the Prince’s course, on a breezy and occasionally showery Bank Holiday Monday. The result was a 2:1 win for Richmond Park, who will now play Tilgate Forest B in Round 3.
Our first pair (Paul Green and Richard Owen) started with a birdie win on the first hole but then exchanged holes and it was all square after the 10th. Richard then birdied the 11th and won the 12, making it 2up and the match was closed out by Paul on the 16th, for a 3&2 win.
Our second pair (Justin Wildman and Mel Dunn) were up against stiff opposition playing well (and had to give shots), losing on the 14th hole, 5&4.
Our third pair (Russell Stewart and Adrian Wells) gradually piled the pressure on their opponents during the front 9, being 5up at the turn. They then went on to be 6up after 11 holes and closed their match out 5&4 on the 14th. Our star player was Russell, who had a fantastic day on the greens.
The games were played in a competitive but convivial atmosphere and the teams enjoyed drinks and pizza together on the veranda after play.
Surrey Fives Round 3
Reigate Hill came to Richmond Park and played a close match against us, unfortunately beating us 3:2. The match was played in a good spirit.
Kelso Hamilton 2025
RPGC entered 2 teams in the Kelso Hamilton East 4BBB knockout in 2025. The Richmond Park 1 team comprised Richard Owen & Alan Treacy; The Richmond Park 2 team comprised Adrian Wells and Julian James.
The Richmond Park 1 team had a bye in the first round but lost 4&3 away to Walton Heath Artisans in Round 2.
The Richmond Park 2 team beat Dulwich & Sydenham 2 in Round 1 (on Prince’s); it was a tight match until the 17th and we won 2&1. The team then beat Surrey Downs 2 in Round 2, which we chose to play away although drawn at home. It was one of those days when our putts went in, particularly Julian’s, while theirs didn’t and they accepted defeat with very good grace.
In Round 3, Bill Norman (standing in for the injured Julian James) and Adrian Wells beat Surbiton 1 4&3, playing at home on Prince’s. The team built a 5 hole lead by the 10th and were never really threatened, thanks in large part to Bill’s good play in what was his best round ever.
2025 Surrey Fives
Following a bye in Round 1, our Surrey Fives team played Shirley Park A (away) in Round 2 and scored a great win, prevailing 3-2.
In the opening match Joe Goncalves played very well but met a steely opponent and went down to a 2&1 defeat.
Angus Robertson didn’t play well but managed to squeeze a 1 Up win by making a birdie on the 18th.
Sunny Lall had a close game and spectacularly levelled by holing from off the green on the 18th…..but then lost on the 19th hole.
The ever-steady John Perkins also had a close game but came through to win 1 Up.
Anchor-man Justin Wildman secured the overall victory winning his game comfortably, 6&5.
In Round 3 the team will play either Woodcote Park or Reigate Hill B.
Midweek Charity Trophy
An overcast mild morning (without the forecast mist/fog thankfully) and the sun came out around midday to make it a pleasant and relatively wind-less day. Both the fairways and the greens could have done with a visit from the mowers and the course was playing ‘long’ due to a lack of run and the numerous wormcasts on some fairways.
Early starters Russell Stewart and Gerard Quinn set the pace with 36 and 35 points respectively only to be overtaken by Peppe’s 37 points in Game 3 of the mid-morning starters. However that was quickly overtaken by Leigh Drake’s winning score of 40 points and Peter Fisher’s 2nd place 37. There were no birdies on the Par 3’s but Brett birdied both the 2nd and 3rd holes. Peppe had the best front 9 (23 points) and Peter Fisher & Leigh both had 21 points on the back 9.
Unfortunately for Peter Fisher he didn’t enter the sweep, so the sweep prizes go to Leigh, Peppe, Stewart, Peter Miller and Gerard Quinn (£18, £13, £10, £7, £4 respectively). All the competition entry monies go to charity.