The final qualifying round of the Streatham Trophy took place at Sidmouth Golf Club on a blustery, but warm and sunny day, writes John Rockey.

The Streatham Trophy is a pairs Stableford competition played over four rounds throughout the winter months with the best two scores being taken forward to a final which will be played at the end of March. The playing format is Greensomes, whereby pairs choose the best tee shot on each hole and then play alternate shots until the ball is holed out.

For the team of Trevor Kerridge and Neil Faulkner there was no need for Faulkner to putt his partner’s tee shot on the fifth hole as Kerridge scored a hole-in-one, to bring his career total to six. However, even with this stroke of luck to amass four points on one hole, the team could only garner 38 points, which was three points less than Kerridge scored on his own last week! Matters not being helped when on the last hole Faulkner elected to play the approach to the green after choosing Kerridge’s tee shot, but unfortunately hit the ball out of bounds from a difficult lie under a tree. This wayward shot not only resulted in no points being scored on the final hole, but also the loss of Kerridge’s favourite ball, which some say he has played with for many rounds.

Obviously this difficult format is a minefield for some players, and requires both members of each pair to be on top form together, otherwise the good play of one of the pair is easily offset by any loose shots by his partner. So ideally one has to choose a partner who is either very relaxed about the world at large and can easily take setbacks in his stride, or else someone who plays the game so well that a few hacks by his partner doesn’t make too much difference.

The latter choice was the one which the winners, Martyn White and club chairman Bob Webber took to get their impressive 47 points, although nobody is quite sure who played which role. However, as with most good scores, a little bit of luck played its part, with White getting a very fortunate bounce from the woods on the third hole to keep the ball in play, which together with a chip-in for an eagle from off the green by Webber on the 16th hole, helped the team to their super score.

Second was the team of Phil Spencer and Mike Davis with 41 points who just pipped third placed David Cowler and Lester Wilmington on a countback.

White and Webber lead the pack for the final with 86pts, with Spencer and Davis along with Dave Hoare and Ray Gunston on 83pts and it will need a dramatic change of fortune for any of the rest to overhaul these teams for the Streatham Trophy.