NORFOLK OPEN - 26th August 2021
Held at King's Lynn Golf Club
This event is played by professional and amateur golfers from around Norfolk.
The course was presented beautifully but the tricky conditions meant the scores were quite high, with only Alex Holmes & Giles Evans (professionals) and home member Kale Heath breaking par on 69 and 70’s respectively. Warren Bates was level par with a 72.
The weather did not improve in the afternoon and the swirling winds kept scores high, with only Craig Butler (professional) and Warren Bates breaking par.
Giles Evans shot level par in the afternoon to finish on 142 for the day and take the professionals trophy and top prize but his overall score was matched by Warren Bates from Heacham Manor, so a playoff was required to decide the Norfolk Open Champion for 2021.
Warren Bates took the top amateur prize and Kale Heath was awarded the Henry Craske trophy for the best aggregate score in the Amateur Championship and Norfolk Open.
Both players have had an amazing season, including reaching the last four of the Eden Trophy at St Andrews. Bates lost in the Final but won the Victory Cup for the best stroke play performance.
The season is fast coming to an end but in September Bawburgh GC hosts the Myhill and Cullington Finals, whilst in October Sheringham has the Scratch Finals and Heacham Manor the Matchplay finals.
NORFOLK SENIORS' CHAMPIONSHIP - 5th August
Held at Wensum Valley - Wensum Course
There has been a trend in Norfolk Championships this year, for those players going out first to post a score that no one can better and amazingly this was the case yet again.
Robert Webb (pictured with Mike Devlin, County Vice President and Robert Barnard, Vice President) from Bawburgh was first off the tee at 8am and posted a very creditable gross 78. Robert was convinced this would be bettered but the competition was played off the white tees, a long course with a lot of tricky water holes on the back nine. As the wind got up, it became obvious this was the score to beat to win the Scratch Trophy.
The closest competitors to Webb’s 78 were John Little, Mark Jennings, Brian Smy and Paddy Green, all on 79’s.
Paddy Green (pictured) from Bawburgh was playing off a ten handicap, so his 79 gave him the best nett score of 69 on the day, to clinch the Handicap Trophy.
Bawburgh rounded off an excellent day by clinching the Scratch team shield. The team was Richard Bunn, Ian Rafferty and Robert Webb; with Webb also taking the Scratch Trophy after four hours of waiting!
They also won the Handicap shield, with team members Tony English, Paddy Green and Paul Greengrass.
Thanks went to Wensum Valley Golf Club for allowing the Championship to take place and presenting the course in excellent condition.
President Robert Barnard also presented some glassware to past President Chris Taylor and a special award to David and Margo Horsburgh (pictured), for their outstanding contributions to Norfolk Golf.
BOY'S CHAMPIONSHIP - 30th July
Held at Heacham Manor
Swaffham’s Ben Willis (pictured with the trophy) had won the Scratch Trophy for the previous three years and had to work hard to defend his title, with nearest challengers James Tipling and Mason Bernstein just falling short.
NORFOLK HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP - 19th June 2021
Host Club Bawburgh members dominate
One week on from the County Amateur at Hunstanton, the Handicap Championship was played at Bawburgh, on a cool and grey June day. The Bawburgh green keeping staff presented the challenging course in excellent condition and only five players managed to break par.
Bawburgh has some very competitive golfers, who love to play County competitions and they made up 30% of the field on the day. The earlier scoring was average but things started to heat up when the group of Kevin Webb (70), Darren Critchlow (70) & Paddy Green (71), posted the scores to beat.
A few groups on, Bawburgh member Justin Warr posted a fantastic three under par nett 69, which was not to be beaten. Ian Rafferty posting another score on 70.
The team event was also dominated by Bawburgh, with the team of Kevin Webb, Ian Rafferty & Shaun Rafferty posting a record breaking two under par total of 214.
The County wishes to express its thanks to all at Bawburgh Golf Club, the starters, administrators and referees on the day.
Winner, Justin Warr (Bawburgh) 78 - 9 = 69
Runner Up, Darren Critchlow (Wensum Valley) 84 - 14 = 70 on countback from
Third, Ian Rafferty (Bawburgh) 80 - 10 = 70 on countback from
Fourth, Kevin Webb (Bawburgh) 74 - 4 = 70
Fifth, Paddy Green (Bawburgh) 81 - 10 = 71
First, Kevin Webb / Ian Rafferty / Shaun Rafferty (Bawburgh) 214
Second, Mike Payne / Robert Webb / Justin Warr (Bawburgh) 218 on countback from
Third, Paul Cottingham / Charlie Green / Paddy Green (Bawburgh) 218
Photo left to right, Shaun Rafferty, Ian Rafferty, Kevin Webb, Robert Barnard (County President)
NORFOLK AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - 12th June
Held at Hunstanton Golf Club
It was encouraging to the County team selectors that Norfolk’s players were generally mastering the conditions well, with Kale Heath leading the morning rounds with a two under 70, closely followed by Thomas Rutherford with a level par 72. There were other good rounds by Brandon Hobley (74) and Ben Terry & Warren Bates (75’s).
Despite great afternoon rounds by Darren Abbs (73) and Mark Borley, Ben Terry and Mason Bernstein (all 75’s); no one could get anywhere near Kale Heath. Kale plays at King’s Lynn and Hunstanton and his course management created brilliant rounds of 70 & 72 = 142 to finish eight shots clear of second place Ben Terry from Royal Norwich with 75 & 75 = 150.
Third place – Warren Bates (Heacham Manor) – 75 & 78 = 153
Fourth place – Darren Abbs (Sheringham) – 81 & 73 = 154
Fifth Place – Mark Borley (Eaton) – 79 & 75 = 154
Sixth Place – Ben Willis (Swaffham) – 78 & 78 = 156
The team shield was one by King’s Lynn for the fifth year running, the team consisting of Kale Heath, Mason Bernstein and Iain Yule.
Robert Barnard, the County President thanked Hunstanton Golf club for presenting the course in superb condition, the referees on the day and the event sponsor Doug Gilchrest of Norfolk Dry Wall. He also congratulated Kale Heath on his hard work and dedication to the game and two excellent rounds of golf.
The next event is the County Handicap Championship at Bawburgh.
CORONATION SALVERS - 30th May 2021
Held at Middleton Hall Golf Club
First off were County players Warren Bates and Kale Heath, playing off plus two and taking a cavalier approach to a tight golf course. Their positivity paid off, as they posted a target score of 36 points. As other groups started to post their scores, Warren and Kale were asked to stay on, as it looked like the score to beat. John Gorman and Mark Sizer came in with 35 points, followed by Andrew and Jill Gooch, also on 35 points. The Gooch’s had narrowly missed out at Thetford a couple of years ago and were to just miss out again.The only other 36 points came from Neil Newton and Maisy Farrelly but they lost out on countback to Warren and Kale.
Full Results:
Winners – Warren Bates (Heacham Manor) & Kale Heath (Kings Lynn) – 36 points on countback
Runners Up – Neil Newton & Maisy Farrelly (Dereham) – 36 points
Third Place – Andrew & Jill Gooch (Bawburgh) – 35 points on countback
Fourth Place – John Gorman & Mark Sizer (Wensum Valley) – 35 points
Fifth Place – Richard Abbs & Paddy Green (Bawburgh) – 32 points on countback
Sixth Place – Wilf Gibbons & Frank Sheppard (Great Yarmouth & Caister) – 32 points
The next event is the Amateur Championship at Hunstanton on 12th June (entries closed), followed by the Handicap Championship at Bawburgh on 19th June (entries close on 6th June)
COUNTY FOURSOMES
Photo L to R Lewis Daniel, Robert Barnard (President), Harry Brister
The first County Championship of 2021 was played at Royal Norwich last weekend. The golfers arrived to a frost delay but the sun soon sorted that and the whole field of 150 golfers, successfully completed all 36 holes in the County Foursomes.
Leaders after 18 holes were the pairs of Jamie Beeby & Ryan Thordgood and James Smart & Paul Reade, both on 36 points. Five pairs were in close pursuit on 35 points, so there was all to play for in the afternoon round.
In general, the scores improved in the afternoon, as players got to grips with the trick greens.
Early leaders in the Clubhouse were Royal Norwich pair Bruce McQuade and Joe Robinson, with a very fine 36 points to add to their morning score of 35, giving them an aggregate score of 71 points.
Another pair who wanted to improve on their morning score of 35 points were the Bawburgh pair of Harry Brister and Lewis Daniels. They teed off the 10th hole in the afternoon and after a slow start, they finished their front nine with birdies on the iconic 17th and then the 18th. They then moved to the 1st tee and things got even better, with yet another birdie. They closed the round out with yet another birdie on the 7th hole to finish their back nine with an incredible 22 points.
Their afternoon round was 39 points, giving them an unassailable aggregate score of 74 points and the outright lead by three points.
It was not to be beaten so the results were as follows:
1st Harry Brister & Lewis Daniels - 35 / 39 = 74 points
2nd Bruce McQuade & Joe Robinson - 35 / 36 = 71 points
3rd Adam Saunders & Ben Philips - 32 / 36 = 68 points
4th David Thomas & Tom Clements - 32 /
36 = 68 points
5th Gary Haze & John Gorman - 30 / 37 = 67 points
6th Nick Abbs & Simon Youd - 32 / 35 = 67 points
7th Josh Halliday & Joshua Craske - 33 / 34 = 67 points
8th Jamie Beeby & Ryan Thordgood - 36 / 31 = 67 points
Our thanks to Royal Norwich for making their course available for the event, so early in the golfing year and to all the county officials and referees who made the day run like clockwork.
Special mention to the strong field of players who kept slow play to a minimum, allowing the 36 hole event to finish in daylight.
The next event is the Coronation Salvers at Middleton Hall on Sunday 30th May.
Robert
Barnard
NCGU
President
Third place – Warren Bates (Heacham Manor) – 75 & 78 = 153
Fourth place – Darren Abbs (Sheringham) – 81 & 73 = 154
Fifth Place – Mark Borley (Eaton) – 79 & 75 = 154
Sixth Place – Ben Willis (Swaffham) – 78 & 78 = 156
The team shield was one by King’s Lynn for the fifth year running, the team consisting of Kale Heath, Mason Bernstein and Iain Yule.
Robert Barnard, the County President thanked Hunstanton Golf club for presenting the course in superb condition, the referees on the day and the event sponsor Doug Gilchrest of Norfolk Dry Wall. He also congratulated Kale Heath on his hard work and dedication to the game and two excellent rounds of golf.
The next event is the County Handicap Championship at Bawburgh.