SENIORS SOMERSET BOWL SUCCESS FOR BREAN

On a breezy and sometimes damp early October afternoon at Mendip Spring a group of Seniors from Brean created a slice of history for their club. Already in uncharted territory, ever since they reached the Semi Finals stage, they teed it up against Weston Super Mare Seniors in the Final of the Seniors Somerset Bowl.

Seniors Captain Mike Short entrusted the leadership of this team to Trevor Pitt and Pitt and his chosen team duly delivered the first ever Brean win in the event. A total of 18 players had represented the club over the completed matches and it was Barry Fellows and Seniors Captain Elect John Cranley who had the honour of leading Brean into battle in the Final. They did so in superb fashion as well with Fellows flawless driving and Cranley's wizardry on the greens the duo closed out the game on the 16th green to secure the opening point for the team. Behind them Weston were in control of the 2nd game all the way as Pete Barton and Brian Read succumbed on the 15th green to level the match. Despite the loss Barton was responsible for a contender of shot of the day as he holed out his 8 iron approach for an winning eagle 2 at the 9th hole.

The third match saw Seniors Club Champion Leighton Jenkins and Chris Fairchild represent Brean and again they were in control as they ventured up the 16th fairway 3 holes to the good. Behind them Matt Haskins and Pete Dunn were clinging on to their opponents but seemingly running out of holes to prevent a Weston win. The next point on the board was in Brean's favour as the anchor pair of Neil Barker and Kevin White played some excellent foursomes golf to secure a 4&3 win which put them within sight of victory. White holed the decisive winning putt on the 15th green after yet another superb approach from Barker. 

Up ahead Fairchild and Jenkins found some tree trouble at the long 16th which saw them lose the hole and move to the penultimate hole with a 2 hole advantage. As they did Haskins and Dunn shook hands in a 3&2 defeat so everything rested on this game. The Weston player found the left hand trees from the tee ahead of Fairchild flirting with the out of bounds down the other flank. It stayed in bounds just and after a drop from a cart path Jenkins moved it down just short and right of the putting surface. Weston could only advance their ball a few yards out of the thick rough and then came up short of the green with their third. Showing a deft touch and nerves of steel, with both sets of players and supporters looking on, Fairchild chipped the ball over the bunker to within 4 feet of the hole. As soon as the Weston chip shot failed to find the hole a concession followed and the celebrations could begin for the players as well the large number of Brean members who had travelled to support their team.

Back at the clubhouse the Vice President of Somerset Golf Union Ian Poole presented the Trophy to Seniors Captain Mike Short and Brean Golf Club for the first time in their history. Commiserations go to the Weston Seniors in a closely fought game that was played in an excellent spirit throughout.

The winning team with the Trophy: (Left to right) Pete Dunn, Leighton Jenkins, Pete Barton, John Cranley, Barry Fellows, Mike Short, Kevin White, Neil Barker, Chris Fairchild, Matt Haskins, Brian Read & Trevor Pitt.

Report submitted by Andrew March Brean GC PGA Professional

2021 INTER-CLUB KNOCKOUTS

It has been agreed that the 2021 inter-club knockouts will be played on a home/away basis with home advantage being decided on Friday 23rd October by a coin toss. The Secretary of the SWCGA Geoff Green is expected to conduct the coin toss and the website draws will be updated by close of play on the same day. 

We will look to fix a neutral venue for the  final with a set date if course availaibility and Covid-19 restrictions allow at the material time .If possible semi finals will also be played at a neutral venue (TBC) Our aim is to minimise  travel whenever possible and reduce Covid risk.  

Home captains/managers will be responsible for arranging each fixture with a choice/flexability of dates being availiable. Please play every round by the play by date and submit the results immediatly by email "secretary@somersetgolfunion.co.uk". Only in exceptional circumstances will a short extension to the rounds play by date be considered and if the fixture remains unplayed within any extension period the result will be decided by coin toss to be conducted by the SGU. 

COVID-19 restrictions will be followed at all times and please respect the host clubs rules, restrictions and hospitality.

Holders (2019) Wells GC

The dates to be played by set for each round will be enforced unleess exceptional circumstances arise to necessitate a short extension. 

Winning Club -  Please update the County Secretary with the result of each round played and on the day played ; secretary@somersetgolfunion.co.uk

SENIORS SOMERSET BOWL DRAW 2021

Seniors Somerset Bowl 2109
Final 1st October 2019
WELLS v FARRINGTON PARK
at
The MENDIP GC 

BACK TO BACK WINS AS WELLS RETAIN THE BOWL 

On Monday the 1st October a day when the weather threatened to close the Course this year’s finalists descended upon the Mendip Golf Club for a 1pm start.

Torrential rain and the threat of thunder was always in the back of the players minds and as the game got underway the rain came hammering down as the sound of thunder was heard over the hill.

Thankfully the longer the contest went on the better the weather became and by the end of the days play the sun had come out.

The course was in remarkable condition considering the recent downpours and a big thank you must go to the greens staff for its presentation.

So who would triumph in this most local of finals, would it be Wells last years winners or Farrington Park. Neither had travelled far both were determined to come out on top.

Match 1 win for Wells 2/1 was cancelled out in match 2 as Farrington Park won 1up. In match 3 the Farrington pairing of Phil Thomas and Steve Hobbs overcame their opponents 3/2. Wells bounced back to tie the scores as Nick Wilson and Bill McCoulm rounded off a fine performance 4/3. So it was left to the Wells Captain Glen Crocker and partner Mike Metcalfe to bring home the spoils as they beat Dave Harvey and Jim Lunt 3/2.

Victory for Wells 3-2 and unlike many local derby’s in sport this match was played in the true spirit of the game.    

There has to be a winner and runner up so well done both clubs for making the final and good luck next year. Thank you to the members of the Mendip and all its staff for making the County Seniors Bowl final so welcome.

Wells win 2018

Seniors Somerset Bowl Final 2018
     
Terry Stacey & Dave Jones 0 4&3 1 Nick Carter & Mike McGrath
2 John Ward & Rob Thain 0 4&3 1 Bill McCollum & Andy Williams
3 Phil Thompson & Steve Symonds ½ A/S ½ Martin Barnes & Steve Clark
4 Keith Shepherd & Fred Grist 0 2&1 1 Tim Harris & Martin Waller
5 Paul Thomas & Steve Ball 0 5&4 1 Glen Crocker & Nick Wilson
Wells win 4½-0½