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.