Golf round-up: Rooney rewarded in Basildon clash

A tally of 43 points on a countback, 24 of which were claimed on the back nine, were enough for club champion Rooney to lift the trophy from his rival as he produced a sparkling display in brilliant weather.

Special prizes went to S Perry, who hit the longest drive on the 18th hole, and L.Thomas, who claimed the most points (par 4's).

Alan Merrington came first in the veterans meeting and Marc Etherington finished ahead of the rest in the Cadets' round. Jeff Harrison scored a hole in one at the fourth hole.

In ladies' competition Toni Bushell, with 40 points, beat Margaret O'Leary (40) on countback, as the Chairman's Cup raised £303 for the Children in Need charity.

Meanwhile Basildon ladies continued their excellent run of Silver matches with a 4-2 triumph at Romford.

They have now won five of their last six meetings, but this latest success against Romford almost certainly ensures the New Town ladies a place in the quarter-finals of the Essex Competition.

In the Kingham Cup Greensomes, dynamic duo Eileen Prendergast and Margaret O'Leary took top spot with 42 points and a better back nine than their closest rivals Yvonne Clow and Josie Wilby. Sue Cable and Jenny Frizzell came in third with 36 points.

Silver lining - Basildon's Ladies Silver team after their 4-2 win over Romford Fyvie on form for Heather

Rochford Ladies competed for the Heather Cup - for grandmothers - with victory going to Pauline Fyvie with a superb 39 Stableford points.

Shorley Verney (37) was second and Judith Scoging third a point behind.

Other members held a Stableford competition with Silver success going to Jo Rumsey with 38 points ahead of Rosemarie Gemmell who edged out Tina Dye, Joan Parr, Margaret Brockes and Jackie Waghorn for second place on countback after they all notched 32 points.

Salley Smith (37) took Bronze honours ahead of Susan Clarke (34) with Pauline Richardson pipping Susan Packer for third spot on countback after they both had 32.

Charity cheer for Hanover

Charity week golfers at Hullbridge's Hanover club were in generous mood as they boosted the coffers of Brompton hospital's RSA department by £9,200.

A celebrity pro-am, quizzes, raffles and golf events all contributed to raise the money which will buy vital medical equipment for the hospital's respiratory disorders wing.

In a special Stableford competition, the Brompton Cup, Hugh Montgomery took top honours with 43 points, ahead of Craig Harbrow, who came in second, just one point behind.

In the Hanover Georgian course's monthly medal, Ron Hunt-Terry (10) showed the Division One field a clean pair of heels with nine under par 64.

The nearest challengers finished four strokes back, Andy McCarthy (12) taking runner-up spot on countback from Mick Seaby (9).

Things were even tighter in Division Two were in-form Alex Gibb claimed the medal on 65

He held off the challenge of George Sutherland who finished one stroke back.

Brian Hughes took third with 67.

Taylor achieves his goal

Competition Committee chairman Jack Taylor raced to success in Rochford Hundred's August medal over the weekend.

Taylor, brother of ex-England Under-21 and Southend United soccer boss Peter Taylor, fired birdies on the 4th and 6th plus 12 pars on his way to 74-6=68 to see off the challenge from Tom Grant (75-6=69) and Dan bailey (76-7=69) in the Senior section.

Grant birdied the 1st, 6th and 10th and added 10 pars while Bailey notched birdies on the 4th, 5th, 11th and 13th with nine pars but saw his hopes disappear with disastrous quadruple bogey on the 17th.

Intermediate winner was Kevin Jefferson (78-13=65) with Dennis Bailey (77-11=66) in second spot and Bob Locke (79-12=67) pipping four other players for third place on countback.

Jefferson birdied the 3rd and had 10 pars while Bailey had a birdie on the 6th plus 12 pars. Locke had a very consistent 13 pars but two double bogeys wrecked his chances.

Cadet Sahil Buta left more experienced players trailing in his wake as he lifted the Junior section with a superb 82-20=62 - three shots ahead of his closest rival Anthony Gough (85-20=65) with Steven Jennings (83-17=66) third.

Buta shot nine pars while Gough birdied the 4th and had eight pars. Jennings had seven pars.

Sisters' winning habit

Sisters Kirsty and Michelle Lane made sure they kept it in the family by dominating the proceedings at the Three Rivers golf club's 36 hole ladies' championship.

Kirsty became the Cold Norton venue's newly crowned champion, after hitting 84 in the morning session before returning a score of 88 in the afternoon.

Michelle beat her sister's efforts in the morning with a splendid return of 80, but had to settle for second spot after carding 94 later in the day.

A handicap competition was also held alongside the championship, which was won by Denise Irving who clocked up a net score of 73 after two outings. Runners-up spot on countback went to Beryl Platts.

However, Beryl came first in Division One of the July medal with a score of 76, ahead of Elaine Atkins.

Medal action in Division Two saw Heather McCullough's net score of 68 take first place, with Denise Irving coming in second with 76.

Bob's top dog in the Belfairs heat

Fevered brows were everywhere when Belfairs held their guest day.

With the major prize going to the best aggregate of 18 morning and 13 afternoon holes, there needed to be some steely resolve in conditions that brought to mind Noel Coward's "Mad dogs and Englishmen."

On a better ball stableford format, scores were mostly in the 40 points plus zone after morning play and three teams led the way with 46 points.

The best of these, on countback, was the pairing of Roy Mason (16) and Jimmy McDonald (18) who, by birdieing the first two holes, had a dream start.

Consistent play throughout brought then first prize for the morning round beating Terry (16) and Martyn (8) Silverton and Bob Mace (10) and nine handicapper Ivan Parke.

If anything the afternoon round, over 13 holes, was tougher than the morning.

Despite the sultry, energy sapping heat, there was some fine returns.

Best of all, with 32 pints, was the effort of Kevin Buck (12) and his Icelandic guest star Ivar Hauksson who plays off one.

Ivar also won the nearest the pin competition at the 10th when he got to within six feet of the cup.

second, with 31 points, was Tony Fagg (24) and scratch player Wayne Selley.

Overall, five pairings finished with an aggregate score of 74 points and the best of these, on countback of the last four holes, was Tommy Thompson (23) and his son Bruce (14).

Now in his 80's, Tommy's effort was greatly admired by all who played.

The "villains" who deprived Tommy and Bruce were Bob Mace and Ivan Parke with points.

Former Belfairs member Ivan, who now plays at Chelmsford, had little trouble in playing the course where he learnt his golf and enjoyed many a past success.

His six birdies on the day allied to Bob's steady play during the afternoon saw them home.

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