Trio share top honours in exciting finish

THE South Wales PGA event at Tenby finished in a thrilling three-way tie for first place.

The last group out on the course, which included Cardiff's Adam Constable, Creigiau's Richard Brookman and Ashburnham’s Martin Stimson, all ended the competition in front on two-over-par.

Stimson, South Wales PGA tournament organiser Constable and Brookman all had a chance of snatching top prize coming down the 18th, but had to settle for pars on the last green.

The trio's rounds of 74 were one better than Alun Evans of Newport in Pembrokeshire. The PGA’s next outing is at Cardiff on March 7.

Rounds of 68 were good enough for Keith Evans and Callum Dale to secure victories in medal matches at Pennard.

Evans finished first out of a field of 67 in the club’s February Medal, five shots clear of the next best player, Simon Langford, who recorded the best gross round.

But with handicaps taken into account, Langford had to settle for second place on 73 with Nigel Thomas third on back-nine countback.

Meanwhile, Dale took top honours in the Junior Medal competition with Harry Frazer a clear second with 71, three behind the winner.

The youngsters at Ashburnham have also been in action with Lewis Rhys Morgan winning the Junior Stableford with a score of 42 points.Aled Greville was second on 39 points in the boys’ event while Osian Bowen was a close third on 38.

In windy conditions at Southerndown, a dozen of the club’s younger members played in the juniors’ first competition of the year.

Playing off a handicap of 27, Harry Watkisn won the nine-hole stableford event with a total of 21 points over a testing front nine. Morgan Parker was second with a creditable 20 points, followed by Sounisa Bell on 18.

At Swansea Bay, Jonathan Wootton continued his recent fine form with 40 points to win the Saturday Stableford from an unlucky Ian Morgan, who endured the worst possible weather earlier in the day.

Jeremy Bowles's 43 points were more than enough to take the honours in the Sunday event.

Despite the atrocious weather, James Matthewman clinched last weekend’s Winter League competition at Lakeside with a superb 40 points.

Jason Thomas was back among the prizes but he had to make do with the runners-up spot this time, countback giving him second place over DJ Williams after both had returned to the clubhouse on 34 points.

Ian Thomas claimed the latest Leon Warne Order of Merit event at The Grove, his total of 35 points was one better than Craig Jones in second.

Meanwhile, there is no change at the top of the Cock of the North Standings following round 11 of the winter competition at Tredegar & Rhymney.

The first five pairs in division one all picked up maximum points with John Davies and Leon Hillman beating Neil Davies and Glyn Jones to preserve their lead at the summit.

They are now on 19 points, still two clear of the next couple of teams, Gareth Owen and Sean Scannell and Mark Davies and Gwyn Board.

Two pairs continue to share pole position in division two. Mike Shepherd and Glenn Trigg clinched victory over Gail Davies and Stefan Zdzieblo while Nick Watkins and Alan Borja overcame John and Tom Jones who are suffering a poor run of form.

With the first seven pairs all winning the bottom half of the table stays the same with Marc and Craig Watkins propping up the rest.

Dan Cook took first place in the latest Winter League competition at Wernddu though he needed countback to see off the challenge of Mark Batkin. Both recorded 42 points, two clear of Christopher Palmer in third.

RESULTS

ASHBURNHAM: Junior Boys Stableford: 1. L. Morgan 42, 2. A. Greville 39, 3. O. Bowen 38.

PENNARD: February Medal: 1. K. Evans 68, 2. S. Langford 73, 3. N. Thomas 73.

Best of the rest div. 1: C. Stirling 74. Div. 2: 1. A. Ward 75. Div. 3: 1. S. Andrews 80.

Junior Medal: 1. C. Dale 68, 2. H. Frazer 71.

LAKESIDE: Winter League: 1. J. Matthewman 40, 2. J. Thomas 34, 3. DJ Williams 34.

MONMOUTH: Winter League div one; D. Wills 41pts, 2. S. Arthur 40pts, 3. S. Williams 40pts

Div two; 1. P. Byrne 42pts, 2. N. Hollingsbee 39pts, 3. S. Gwilliam 38pts

SOUTHERNDOWN: Junior Nine-hole Stableford: 1. H. Watkins 21, 2. M. Parker 20, 3. S. Bell 18.

SWANSEA BAY: Thursday Stableford: 1. R. Beer 41, 2. M. Keen 40, 3. H. David 40.

Saturday Stableford: 1. J. Wootton 40, 2. I. Morgan 38, 3. B. Ashford 36.

Sunday Stableford: 1. J. Bowles 43, 2. I. Matthews 41, 3. L. Evans 40.

THE GROVE: February Medal: 1. J. Waite net 70.

Winter Pairs 1st rd: 1. C. Rumbelow & R. Evans 43, 2. T. Dowrick & P. Richards 42, 3. K. Godwin & G. Davies 39.

Leon Warne Order of Merit: 1. I. Thomas 35, 2. C. Jones 34, 3. S. Channell 31.

WERNDDU: Winter League; 1. D. Cook 42pts, 2. Mark Batkin 42pts, 3. C. Palmer 40pts