Competition Reports
Competition Reports
The Captains’ Day [Top Dog Event 2 of 7]
A fresher day than of late with a good turnout for Captains’ Day (66)
The headline leader of the day was new member Alex Fraser-Cannon still going trough handicapping cards. Overall winner in the competition was Michael Hayden on countback [last 6 holes – scores were identical front and back 9) from Michael Pham both 41 points.
Two women came next with 38 = again separated on countback with Lia Donath winning due to superior back 9 of 23 points to Niamh’s 20; well done ladies!
Novelty prizes for the men:
NTP par 3s:
7th Joe Goncalves
10th Peter Jagger
16th Maher Sharma
NTP in 2s
2nd Paul Green
9th Sunny Lall
15th Jonno McLean
18th Kerry Sargeant
Novelty prizes for the women:
NTP par 3
10th Lia Donath
NTP in 2s
7th Cheryl Woodhouse
16th Sheena Harrington
18th Sheena Harrington
A bar tab was provided for members afterwards and most seemed to take advantage. Time was taken to provide manual calculation of the men’s Top Dog and as per attached after 2 events Michael Hayden shares lead of senior division with Alan Treacy both 12 points; likewise Michael Pharm share junior division with 12 each.
Midweek June Medal (Midweek GM Rd 4 of 8)
Although the sun eventually broke through for a glorious end to our rounds, much of the day was spent under grey skies. However, it was a good golfing day with very little wind.
We were playing for the Midweek June Medal which was also the fourth round of the Midweek Grand Medal competition. As many of you already know, it has been decided to adjust the dividing point between the two midweek divisions to HI 18.6 and below for Division 1 (senior) with Division 2 (junior) being HI 18.7 and above. This has been done in order to try to even out the number of midweek players in each division and therefore the sweep prizes. Today’s medal result reflects that change and the overall Grand Medal standings have also been adjusted accordingly. Sunday competitions remain unaltered.
Winner of Division 1 (senior) today was Toby Hunt playing off 14 with a net score of 66. Toby went out in a respectable 42 and came back in 38. He scored a 4 on 7 holes of his back 9. Peppe Monterosso (16) made second spot with 67 while Lee Frost (15) just pipped Mike Assender (9) to 3rd spot on countback. Both scored 68. Mike had the lowest gross score of the day.
In Division 2 (junior) our men’s secretary Peter Harrington (27) carded a net 62 (lowest net of the day). Peter shot 46 out and came back in 43. In second place with 68 came Kim Jabbour (27) closely followed by Steve Tyrrell and Peter Fisher both with 69.
A special mention for SimonMcKnight who eagled the par 5 9th today.
Of those who have completed 4 rounds in the Midweek Grand Medal, the standings are:
Division 1
Julian James 288
Peppe Monterosso 289
Division 2
Peter Fisher 284
Richard Marriott 308
Richard Norden 313
June Monthly Medal [GMT Rd 4 of 8] & Women’s June Medal
Women
Men
Bright day with a breeze but it remained dry for the June Medal on Prince’s. Recent rains (much needed) brought some thicker rough but greens were reported fast.
Some very good scoring resulted with division 1 (senior) headed by a fantastic (best ever?) 63 from Bill Norman [gross 41 out, 35 (inc. straight pars for final 6) in]; Paul Kamerling in last game chased with a glorious 65 – standing on the 7th tee Paul was 2 under par gross! An outstanding 66 was next from Joe Goncalves – Joe’s was best gross for the day (73) and had best back 9 just 1 over par. Further remarkable scoring in the 60s came from Raymond Esin 67 and Tom Simpkins 69.
Division 2 (junior) also had good scoring headed by Callum Chapple off 18 -67; Callum’s excellent round showed some future promise with 8s at 5 & 8 being offset by a rare birdie at SI 1 7th (!). Tom Laybourne’s 68 had a very commendable gross 40 on back 9. Tony Kopczak edged on countback Gerard Outtara both returning good 69s.
In the Grand Medal through round 4 (of possible 8) those with 4 rounds to date are headed by:
First division: Julian James 293 from Oz Doyle 294 and Iker Lanzagorta295.
Second division: Gerard Ouattara 285 from Alex Catlow 297, Nigel Ward 300 and Rannesh Jansari 302.
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.
Founders Cup – H. Prendergast (4 of 6)
Light winds, warm with barely a spot of rain and good speed greens. It was a a good day for scoring as 31 players made 30+ points.
The clear winner was Henry with a gross score of 74 only 3 over par playing off 9. Second is Mike Assender playing off 12 with 39 points. 22 out and 17 back. 3 players had 38 and on countback Brian Ransom edged out Alex Braun and Mehmet Akdeniz who both had 39 out and back.
It was interesting that of the Five 2’s only 1 was on hole 10 and 4 were on hole 16.
The Centenary Trophy [For 100 yrs: 1924-2024]
Fresher and less humid than of late with a breeze for the Centenary Trophy.
The early leader was Aidan Hurley net 66 including 3 birdies and his score remained best gross [74] of the day; Bill Norman challenged with 66 which included a fantastic back 9 of 2 over par and a flourish at the eighteenth – a birdie.
But the winner of the day was Alex Catlow in the last game with a glorious 65, adding to his recent good form; playing off 23 he just misses out on an ESR but his handicap will surely reduce. Tony Kopczak and Val Panatoni returned highly commendable 66s. Women were headed by Sali Davies 73.
This was the first of the 5 ‘Jubilees’ counting towards the Anniversary Cup.
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.
Midweek May Plate
A blustery day but pleasantly warm in the sunshine.
Richard Norden Had a very steady round of 5 pars 1 birdie on hole 18 and 1 double bogey on 16 and the rest bogies to amass 42 points. I’m sure that WHS will enjoy his score accordingly!! Lia Donarth was second on 40 points with her 6 pars and 18 out and 22 back. Peppe Monterosso was 3rd on countback 17 out and 21 back from Cheryl Woodhouise 18 out 20 back both having 38 Points. Giles Rawlinson raced around the front 9 with 23 points but found the back 9 less to his liking with 14 back 37 points total.
Overall the scoring was good with 29 players scoring 30+ points.
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.