In the last Friday Stableford of the summer season Neil Bunting triumphed over the cold and gloom to claim first place with what may seem a modest 37 points, writes George Carr.

In remarkably consistent round, he birdied the ninth and 18th holes to give his card a pleasing symmetry, notwithstanding the bogie he carded on the 13th; a hole he would normally regard as a birdie ‘chance’. However, Neil should be pleased with his ‘summer Stableford’ performances; there have been very few weeks when his name did not figure amongst the leading scores.

Another steady performance from Roger Freer brought him second place with 35 points when, following a ‘blob’ on the 13th, he went on to par the 14th 15th and the difficult 16th before managing to drop three shots on the closing two holes.

Mike Teague, playing off 22 must have been pleased with the third place his 33 points earned him on a difficult day. For the record, and in case you were wondering what happened to Steve Crabb, he was fourth with 32 points, and, but for ‘blobs’ on the 10th, 13th and 18th, might have been mentioned much sooner.

?The Friday League was also settled this weekend. Played throughout the summer this format awards 10 points for first place in the weekly competition, then nine points for second place and so on down to the 10th spot, which earns one point; evidently then, consistency is the name of the game, and so it proved. John Jones, playing off a handicap of three and providing the perfect model, finishing with 100 points, a clear winner by a whacking 10 points from runner up George Barber on 90 points and Steve Crabb (once more) with 87. Chris Roberts, fourth with 86, was clear of Mark Thomas who trailed nine points behind with 77 and Mark Shoebridge 10 points further back. It was in all truth, a bit of a one-horse race this year; but there is always next year, to which we may all look forward.

?Sunday Texas Scramble. A new format this for early risers on Sunday mornings. A change put in place, I understand, by Club Manager Jonathon Lee, who drives very long and mostly straight off the tee. And Jonathon it was, with his partners, Mark Boscence and Mark Laired who came in with a 13 under par 53 to scoop the top cash prize. In this format, all three players drive off and then the best drive is selected, then all three players play from that spot (within a club length - no nearer the hole) and so they proceed until the green is reached, where all three put out from the same spot.

As can be imagined this system can lead to very low scores; evidence the winners’ 13 under par 53. In second place, John Emmott, Kevin Howe and Chris Grubb were three shots behind on 10 under par on 56, well done to them.

In third place a team that might have been favourites to win off the tee; namely, Paul Hitchcock the club captain, Dave Pepperell, next year’s vice-captain, and Neil Bunting and all three playing off a handicap of seven; but in the event their 8 under, (57.9) left them with third place prize money.

The Texas Scramble is a ‘good fun’ format and it would be nice to see more members out on the course on Sunday mornings working up an appetite. Come on!! You know you want to!!!