Richard Owen
Richard Owen
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.
Friday Sweep
A warm sunny day without significant wind – ideal for golf.
Naveed continued his fine form in the Midweek Club Championship with a gross 71 (3 over par) to win comfortably with 39 points. Taking 2nd place (after a score entry correction) was Charlie Haines on 36 points. Gerrard Quinn takes 3rd place on countback, being the best of 3 players on 35 points – the 18th hole being critical. (Gerrard got his 2 points, Mike Assender followed up his consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th with a double bogey 6 for 1 point, and Mike Jones had a blob).
Friday Sweep
After overnight rain, it was a dry, mainly sunny, very windy but not unpleasant day for golf on the Duke’s course.
Scores were probably depressed a little by the wind and the top three all scored 36 points, 3 clear of Cheryl and Teddy, both on 33 points. Colin Price came out top on countback (17 out and 19 back), Richard Owen 2nd with 19 out and 17 back, and Leigh Drake 3rd with 20 out and 16 back. There were just 2 birdies, Colin’s 2 on the 10th and Naveed’s 3 on the index 1 14th.
Sweep pay out to the top 3.
NAPGC Ballantyne – National Semi-Final
Richmond Park won their National Semi-Final match by 2 to1 points against Wycombe Heights B at Thorney Park (neutral course) on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon. The team will now play at the NAPGC National Finals at Thornbury Park golf course, near Bristol, on Saturday September 28th. The wins at Thorney Park in this round of the pairs matchplay competition came from Uli Katte & Adrian Wells (4&3) and Paul Green & Tamas Ladacs (1 up); Mark Bean & Richard Owen narrowly lost their game 2&1. A photo of the winning team at the 18th green after the match is pictured below.
NAPGC Ballantyne Trophy 2024
Richmond Park won their Area Final match 2.5points : 0.5 points against Addington Court at The Oaks Golf Centre (neutral course) on a warm, cloudy then turning sunny day. The team will now play a National Semi-Final against Wycombe Heights B at another neutral course, with the winner going to the National Finals at Thornbury, near Bristol, towards the end of September. The wins at The Oaks in this pairs matchplay competition came from Paul Green & Tamas Ladacs (2&1) and Mark Bean & Richard Owen (4&3), with Richard Back & Adrian Wells claiming a half, after fighting back from 4 down.
In the previous round, on June 23rd, the team played at Portsmouth Golf Club and secured a 2:1 win, with Paul Green & Tamas Ladacs winning 6&5 and Mark Bean & Richard Owen winning 3&2. Richard Back & Uli Katte were our 3rd pair, going down 3&2.
In our first round, on May 26th, the team played at Tilgate Forest and secured a 2:1 win. Richard Back & Uli Katte won their match 4&3 and Paul Green & Adrian Wells finished 1up. Pete Goodall & Tamas Ladacs were our 3rd pair, going down 3&2.
Friday Sweep
Competition played on a perfect summer’s day with all greens open and the Prince’s course in good condition (and new sand being put in the bunkers by the greenkeepers)
From the field of 26, winner with 20 points out, 20 points in, was Pralab Barua, playing early morning. Second was Peter Miller one shot adrift with equally steady scoring front and back nine. Third, on 38 points was Charles Haines who parred the seventh in an exceptional first seven holes (before falling back to earth somewhat).
Friday Sweep
It was a warm sunny day, ideal for golf, but the course proved challenging with long grass off the fairways, and the bunkers generally in a very poor condition to get out of (many were hardpan sand with a barely scratched surface). It was good to have the 5th green in play for the first time in 5 or 6 months.
After a poor front 9 (only 12 points), Richard Owen started playing proper golf and with a back 9 of 21 points (including 2 birdies in the last 3 holes) takes the win with 33 points. Ian Burgess (30 points) came in 2nd and Rannesh was the best of those on 29 points and takes 3rd place. Best front 9 was 17 points by Seymour Laird and Bill Jennings. Brian Ransom still leads the Birdie Tree but Uli moved up to 2nd and Adrian, Julian and Richard O. share 3rd spot. Sweep payout to the top 3.
Kelso Hamilton Rounds 1 -3, Pairs Knockout
Richmond Park entered 2 teams in this year’s Surrey Golf better ball pairs knockout competition. The RP1 team (Brendan O’Sullivan and Russell Stewart) beat Surrey National in Round 1 and London Scottish in Round 2; their Round 3 opponents are Dulwich & Sydenham.
The RP2 team (Adrian Wells and Julian James) beat Lingfield Park (away) in Round 1 and Coulsdon Court in Round 2. Their 3rd round match was a 5&4 win against Banstead Downs, played on May 3rd on the Prince’s course. Heavy overnight rain resulted in Glendale closing both the Prince’s and Duke’s courses, but as the match had already started it was allowed to continue to a conclusion. Adrian reports that the Banstead players just couldn’t come to grips with the soggy conditions and long grass off the ‘fairways’ and weren’t as prepared as Julian, who came with 5 pairs of dry gloves. RP2’s next opponents will be either Malden or Wimbledon Common.
2024 Toprock Salver Round 1 vs Rickmansworth
On a warm and sunny day, Brian Ransom and Richard Owen played on Prince’s against Rickmansworth C’s seniors captain Glyn and his playing partner Rob in this 4BBB matchplay competition. 3 and 8 shots had to be given to the Ricky pair. Good golf was played by both teams and it was a very close and friendly contest. On the front 9 Ricky twice took a 1 hole lead, only for that lead to be quickly cancelled out. On the back 9, Richard’s long birdie putt on the 11th put RP 1 up and Brian’s par on the 12 put RP 2 up. However by the 15th, we were all square again and the 15th -17th were all halved, so all to play for on the 18th. Rob had a shot but made a mess of the hole, Glyn sank his par and Richard followed with his par; time for Brian to sink his 3 foot downhill birdie putt – which he duly did. RP win 1 up. Next up Tilgate Forest or Addington Palace.
Friday Sweep
Competition played on yellow tees in lovely weather. With a strong back nine Richard Hodgkinson won with 37 points, Richard Owen was second with 36 points, closing out with a birdie on 18th, and Julian James was 3rd with 34 points, beating Brian Ransom on countback. Two more birdies for Brian at top of birdie tree and William Balakrishnan storms in with 3 today.