Chilly with mud summarised the conditions. Some very good scores were returned with Jack Evans the winner of the penultimate midweek winter comp round on 43 points. Jeremy Prescot had a purple patch returning 42 beating Sushant Lal on countback. Kerry Sargeant returned a creditable 39 returning to single figure handicap. Results…

SSS remained at yellows/reds 37 points with no fewer than 10 handicap changes (mainly reductions).

Brett Colley is declared the winner of the associated Duke’s Eclectic on 62.5 beating Paul House by a clear shot. Final leader board…

In the overall midweek Winter Competition Eelco Snijders leads on 114 from Peter Harrington 113 and Paul House 112. With at least one round having to be played on each course, the results have been compiled manually and attached report has an additional column showing what competitors would need to score to beat Eelco on the final Prince’s round. R7 Leader board…

Ladies

Positively balmy conditions in comparison to last week encouraged a few to some good scoring on the front 9 with the ladies who finished in the top 3 spots all recording 17 points. The back 9 wasn’t so kind to them resulting in another reduction only round. Tenesi Karakaneva took first place with 31 points, followed by Habe Crocker on 30. Results… 

After the final round of the Duke’s Eclectic, Habe emerges the winner, having taken five shots off her previous total. Her winning score of 72 beating Susan Smith the previous leader by three. Final Leader board…

Men

At first sight the field didn’t seem to face the harshest conditions. Mild(er) temperatures, less mud/casual water and ever receptive greens might have given the impression that the course was there for the taking. The early starters failed to capitalize. Oliver Maskell overcame a sluggish front 9 with an excellent back 9. Three birdies put him en route to a score of 22pts on the way in and 38pts was good enough to become leader in the clubhouse. To give an idea about the struggles of the early starters until 1.30pm CSS was estimated at 35pts.

The later starters put on a show. Jim Fogarty had three birdies to total 39pts. Michele Prencipe’s round was a mirror of Jim Fogarty’s 18 holes: 19pts out and 20pts in take him into 1st place thanks to the countback rule. Michele sai che è già la seconda volta che fai un punteggio di 39 punti su Duke’s? Questo corso di golf e quasi fatto su tua misura.

Other late starters Chris Lordan, Paul House and Peter Harrington complete the Top6. Michele’s handicap gets cut 0.9 strokes and he now plays of 18. Auguri!! Jim Fogarty and Paul House also get new handicaps. Thanks to the flurry of good scores CSS went back to 36pts. Results… 

In the Winter Competition Paul House had to record a score on Duke’s to keep a chance of winning these series. Today’s score allows him to retain his lead with 116pts. Michele Prencipe is 2nd on 113pts. Oliver Maskell and Jay Barker are a little further back. R7 Leader board…

In the final round of the Duke’s Eclectic – report due soon. Final Leader board…

Conditions varied for competitors – common in winter. Early frost greeted the first games whilst increasingly gale force winds affected the later games. Early players seemed to have the advantage with Alan King taking the honours on 39 points with countback separating Jonathan Rivers, Brett Colley and Kim Chaffart. Only ‘Two’ recorded was by a lady Joan Mulcahy on 2nd. Results…

CSS reflected difficult winter conditions @ 36 points.

In the associated Prince’s Eclectic, Henry Lindesay-Bethune shares lead with Brett Colley on 65.0 from Jonathan Rivers 66.0. R3 Leader board…

In the Winter Competition Jonathan has a lead of two on 112 from Peter Harrington. R6 Leader board…

Ladies

In addition to the mud underneath, today we had to contend with a biting wind, helping to make club selection a challenge. From the scores, it was obviously a challenge to which most did not rise. With 32 points, Jayne Maxwell was probably not overly impressed with her score, but she was way out of reach for everyone else and cruised to a 5 point win over Jane Fraser and Val Riziotis. Results… 

CSS went to 34 points, Reduction-Only round.

Habe Crocker has returned to the top of the Eclectic, kicking her round off with a birdie, but there is rather a chasing pack with Jayne one shot back, and Val and Sheena two back. All is left to play for in the last round. R3 Leader board…

Men

The field faced some real winter conditions: cool temperatures, muddy fairways and swirling winds to name a few. Paul House had a decent start to his round (18pts) but sealed his win today by notching up 22pts on the way in. The only blemishes on the back 9 were bogeys on the 12th and 13th hole. Paul’s handicap gets cut to 11.5. Barry Page earned a well deserved runner-up place with 39pts (20pts out & 19pts in). Scott Sparks (21pts on the way in) and early clubhouse leader Peter Harrison finish on 37pts. Tamas Ladacs (20pts on the back 9) and Caleb Mills complete the Top6. Results…  

CSS: 37pts.

Jay Barker retains the overall lead in the Winter Competition since Paul House hasn’t yet recorded a score on Duke’s. R6 Leader board…

Jay retains his lead in the Prince’s Eclectic (Net 59) ahead of Pete H (Net 61) and Kerry Sargeant (62). R3 Leader board…

Early snow flurries evaporated to leave a largely sunny but cold day. Mud from the weekend was not so prevalent and there were some very good scores for some. Early clubhouse leader Jonathan Rivers shot 66 and in the event this remained the lead until the last game produced the winner. Charlie Renton produced an outstanding 62 to win from Jonathan with Brett Colley 3rd 67 one ahead of Henery Lindsay-Bethune. Results…

Well done Charlie who had a three shot cut to 19. CSS remained at SSS 69.

Ladies

Report due soon. Results…

Men

Cold temperatures and the aftermath of the annual dinner created a list of last minute cancellations. It has to be said that the ladies field lost a lot more players: only 5 out of 10 (!) players showed up for their competition.

On to the matter of the day: Keith Cassidy played an excellent front 9 (where he left an uncountable number of birdie putts short). His back 9 was a bit more volatile. But a scrambling 4 on the 18th allows him to to take 1st place today (based on the countback rule). Peter Harrison’s round was pretty similar (excellent on the way out – shaky on the way in). But bogeys on the last 3 holes push him into 2nd. Oliver Maskell on the other hand proved again that he’s very comfortable on the back 9 on Duke’s. He posted the best score on the last 9 holes to finish 3rd. Barry Page, Jay Barker and Martin Heinrich complete the Top6. Results…

Just 6 players played to their handicap (aka their buffer zone). CSS: 72

Today proved to be a stern test of the players’ resolve and patience. For once the weather forecasters were right. Conditions were not great to use an understatement: rains showers, hail, casual water and gusting winds to name a few.

Two birdies on the shorter part 3’s on the back 9 put Angela Flynn on her way to an impressive 38pts to win today’s comp. One of the other early starters, Jon Cooper, finishes 3rd with 35pts. Paul House’s practice sessions with Jay Barker continue to pay dividends. 2nd place (36pts) is his reward for a consistent round of golf. Michael Choo, Kim Chaffart and Hassan Mouilah complete the Top6. Results…

CSS: 35pts