Ribble Valley Golf Scene

The extremes of weather failed to dampen the efforts of winners lady captain elect Patricia Leyland and Frank Havard as they took the win with an excellent net 76, 1.5 shots ahead of Jean Sanderson and Brian Bradshaw, the latter couple also scooping the twos pot with a birdie on the ninth hole.

Third spot was taken by the father and daughter team of Angela and Stephen Frankland from Marsden Park with a net score of 78.5. The day was something of a family success, with Margaret and Andrew Frankland also winning the best Visitors’ Team prize.

On the previous day, again in blustery conditions, Mytton Fold held their Inaugural Captain’s Day competition. Steve Brooks made the most of his early start to shoot a 77-8-69, the lowest gross of the day, and take the lead in the clubhouse.

As scorecards dropped into the results box no one was to better his score, and he held on for the win. Best of the rest was John Whittaker (84-14-70), just one stroke behind, closely followed by Dave Pennington ((91-20-71).

Glynn Watson (82-10-72) came in fourth, just pipping Competitions and Handicaps Chairman Peter Main (91-19-72) on a card play-off.

It was a profitable day for Dennis Leaver and David Halsall when they split the Twos pot. Dennis started well by birdying the first, whilst David waited until the ninth before striking gold.

Tumbled dried! Mytton Fold’s winners are pictured fresh from the event (from left) captain John Berry, second-placed Jean Sanderson and Brian Bradshaw, winners Patricia Leyland and Frank Havard, third-placed Angela and Stephen Frankland, lady captain Jean Havard (s).

• CLITHEROE Golf Club’s Peter Harrison is used to keeping things tidy and he gave a polished performance to win Saturday’s Single Stableford with 40 points. Birdies on the 5th and 10th were the highlights of his solid round.

Tom Forrest found four birdies in his back nine to claim second place from Steve Ackers after cards, both finishing on 38 points.

Ackers had two twos on his card but a hiccup on the 10th proved costly.

A few competitors returned 37 points but Richard Lowery and Denis Greenup slotted into fourth and fifth places in Division one after the obligatory countback.

It was a close call for although Greenup birdied the 12th and the 16th, Lowery took it on the last three.

Early Bird David Hughes had a roller coaster round after his 7-40 a.m. start. He failed to score on the penultimate hole but recovered his composure to score well on the last and win the Division Two prize with 39 points.

Young Bill Birch had time for a leisurely breakfast before he set out and it paid rich dividends as he got the better of Brian Stokes for the runners up spot after cards, both scoring 37 points.

Stokes had a cracking front nine but fell away on the return leg and allowed Birch to cane him on the run in.

Fourth prize went to David Pickup with 36 points and he had a one shot margin over late starter Nigel Fitton in fifth.

The weather had an impact on entries for Sunday’s Fourball and a number of competitors failed to finish the course.

No Premier League nerves from Paul Connolly and Julian Troup as they remained cool to win a head to head with local football legend Denis Underwood and all round sportsman Daniel Turner for first prize, both having 39 points.

The Preedy’s Daniel and Dominic took third with 37.

Round three of the Spring Championship for Juniors was a runaway victory for Hayden Moorcroft with a 80-17-63 return.

Callum Darcy put his name in the frame with a nett 76 for second prize and Louis Barrett was two shots away in third.

• THE Max Aitken Trophy was contested for at Stonyhurst Park Golf Club last Sunday, and on a day that tested the resolve of the most hardened golfer, some very respectable scores came in.

The competition was full handicap strokeplay and the winner of the Category 1 prize with a score of 79-11-68 on a card play-off was Adam Hayhurst. The Category 2 prize went to Nigel Smith with a score of 95-11-68, but the overall winner, with a score of 84-17-67 was Clitheroe golfer John Simpson.

• THIS week saw members of Whalley Golf Club compete in the Three Man Team event.

he conditions are seeming to become the norm now at Ribble Valley’s Premier nine-hole course as high winds prevail and the golf becomes incredibly difficult.

It was the talented group of Steve Shoreman, Dan Rodgers, and Mike Conroy who took the spoils on a card play-off from Trevor Thornber, Clive Rees, and Paul Wray, both teams carding a very respectable 77 points in very trying conditions.

There were seven recorded twos going to Colin Elliot, J. Spencer, Danny Jones, Paul Chalker, Neil Pollard, Captain, and Arron Ripley

Still at Whalley, the ELLGA Handicap Shield and Annie Chambers Trophy Qualifying Round was won by Julie Taylor (98-25-73) ahead of Karen Thompson (102-28-74) and Jane Smedley (87-12-75).

The team event the previous day saw Agnes Flanagan, Carol Ashley, Valerie Warrilow and Karen Thompson win with 87 points, from Joan Whittaker, Julie Stephenson of Whalley and Kris Baldwin and Jan Burrows of Clitheroe with 86 points.

Third were Carrie James and Kath James of Whalley, Sarah Clemson of Stonyhurst Park and Vicki Edmondson of Clitheroe, also with 86.