Championship hat-trick

Duncan Taylor retained his Club Championship with a magnificent total of 134, just two over par.

After a disappointing first round 72, Duncan followed this up with a superb four under par 62. The morning leader Terry Jones couldn’t continue his first round of 66, and followed this with an 80. The ever steady golfer Martyn White found form in his early round, posting a respectable 67, and the betting money would have been on him to continue this form. However, after starting with a birdie, he eventually scored 72 for a 139 total.

Stuart Coles must have thought he had done enough after shooting a level par 66 in the afternoon, but his first round 71 had put paid to his chances.

Congratulations must go to Duncan, as not only is this his third title on the trot, he is also in with a chance of winning the Challenge Cup and the Hall Trophy again, and the Rockey Cup. Club historians would be able to tell me, but I don’t think any one has ever won all four in the same year.

? The last Stableford of August, kindly sponsored by www.lastminuteteetimes.co.uk was won by Matt Fripp with 42 points. Playing off 20 handicap, his back nine of 37 gross was the highlight.

This gave him a 24 point back nine, and the victory by two from Steve Miles.

Also on the leaderboard was club captain Nick Bater, also with 40 points, but losing out on the back 9.

The race for both the eclectic and the birdie count takes a very interesting twist now as leader, by 37 in the birdie count, and by 2 in the eclectic, James Pickard has played his last event as an amateur and is now turning pro.

This means that with eight Stablefords left in the season, his huge lead could now be caught by fellow chasers. Closest of this pack is Nigel Winchester in the birdie count and John Jones in the eclectic

? The Upper Crust Bakery Trophy was played on Saturday and a strong field entered the popular American Foursomes format.

American Foursomes is played with a partner, both of whom drive, and each player hits their respective partner’s ball for the second shot.

The players must then decide which of the two balls is in the best position, and this ball becomes the ball in play. The other ball is picked up.

The ball in play is then played by the partner who did not play the second shot with that ball, and subsequent shots are played alternately until the ball is holed. Penalty shots do not affect the order of play.

Taking full advantage was the in-form Colin Macklin, who doesn’t seem to mind who he plays with, he just wins!

Results: Men’s Winners - Colin and Spencer Macklin (41 points); 2, R Davies and D Cocker; 3, A Salway and G West.

Ladies’ Winners: Marie Timms and Julie Lye (36 points).

Nigel Winchester’s excellent recent form continued with 42 points in the latest Monday Stableford, sponsored by lastminuteteetimes.co.uk, which sees his handicap reduced to 4.6.

Runner-up, James Pickard, had a very impressive round of 6 under par which included nine birdies, and now plays off +2. Neil Faulkner came third with 40 points.

l The Molyneux Financial Planning Medal, kindly sponsored by Molyneux Financial Planning, was played on Saturday, a relatively small field played the course and returning the best scores were in Division 1, Phil Beer, Division 2, Hugh Dorliac and Division 3, Chris Roberts

l Potburys of Sidmouth were good enough to sponsor the most recent Club day, and were rewarded with fine weather and over 80 entries.

Great golf was played on Saturday with some huge scores, compared to last year when the winning score of 43 would not have even been in the prizes this year.

The steady pairing of Kevin Legg and Roy Turner must have thought their score of 47 was easily good enough to win but, with a few groups left to come in, Steve Crabb and Dennis Fensom amassed a massive 48 points.

Dennis, with his road runner style of play, can often be seen sprinting up the fairway trying to get to the green before his ball does, has driven the 10th green the last six times and this time converted the birdie which helped his team shoot a back nine of 30, with Steve playing the last eight holes in two under gross.

Third place was taken by Bob Welsman and Spencer Macklin with 46. In the ladies’ division Sheila Thomson and Liz Chance won with 39.

As well as the main vouchers, Potburys were also kind enough to donate four ‘nearest the pin’ prizes.

l The final of the Sunday Tigers Matchplay took place with Mat Domhof and Tom Hill contesting top prize.

Some great shots were played during the five hole final but, in the end, Mat came through by making a four on the 17th to win 2 and 1. Look out for details of the next event in due course.

l Alec Salway, president of Sidmouth Golf Club, put on a great day on Saturday.

The weather was fair for all golfers and scoring was something of guess work as the format of one score to count on the front nine and two scores to count on the back nine is not something we see on a regular basis.

Taking advantage of this were Bob Welsman and Colin Macklin who blended superbly to win the trophy by two shots.

All the players seemed to enjoy the format and the evening entertainment that followed was enjoyed by many.

1, R Welsman and C Macklin 65 Pts �40 and Trophy; 2, Don Cooper and T Jones 63 Points c/b �35; 3, Paddy Tallon and Brian Leach 63pts �30.

l Neil Faulkner cruised to victory in the Aylmer Cup with a round of 70-10=60.

Faulkner was five over par after eight holes, before chipping in for a three on the ninth.

He then had five pars, two birdies, and two bogies for a level par back nine. Faulkner’s handicap is now at its lowest ever, 8.9.

In second place was Martyn White with a round of 67-4=63 for the lowest gross.

Results: 1, N Faulkner, 70-10= 60, 8.9; 2, M White 67-4=63 (Lowest Gross), 4.1; 3, R Cutland 84-20=64, 19.3

l The latest Monday Stableford, sponsored by www.lastminuteteetimes.co.uk took place under showery conditions.

The scoring reflected this as usually 40 points would not get in the top three, however this week 42 points won and this was scored by Luke Sheppard whose handicap has progressed very well and he now plays off 7.7.

In second place, with 40 points, winning on the back 9, was Kevin Trivett, who beat Andrew Thomson (40) in third.

In the seniors’ competition Jerry Dewhurst came out on top with 39.

l Unfortunately, rain washed out any chance of action on the course for the ladies’ on Wednesday.

During the season it is strange to see that Wednesdays do seem to attract rain, but we hope that the ladies’ section get back in action next week.