West of England Senior Open

Somerset Golf Union staged the West of England Seniors Open on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday the 4th May at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club.

Somerset Golf Union President Stephen Butterfield with the 2011 winner Stuart Pond.

The recent dry weather resulted in a fast running course and some very slick greens for the players to contend with in the West of England Seniors held at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club. The pace was set very early as Ian Heppenstall from Weston-super-Mare in the first group came in with an impressive 75. This was not matched until late in the day when Stuart Pond from Worksop equalled that score. Four players ended round one with 77, club members John Smith and John Whitcutt and former winners Dougie Arnold (Copthorne) and Roy Smethurst (Crewe).

An early start on Day 2  saw the players again encounter a tricky wind and Heppenstall was unable to match his first round performance but his 82 had him leading the field in the clubhouse for a long period. A 76 from Don McCart (Sherwood Forest) demonstrated that a good score was out there and with the final groups having 3 players who had shot 77 in round one and Pond still to return, the tournament was still wide open.

Another 77 from Whitcutt was competitive but Pond continued his excellent form with a best of the event 74 and won the title with 149. Whitcutt took 2nd place with Arnold edging out Smethurst on countback for 3rd place. Heppenstall had the consolation of winning the net prize with David Beadle (Woking) taking the 2nd net. For all the scores click on the results tab above

Somerset Golf Union President Stephen Butterfield presented the prizes.