Derllys Court crown Roberts as winter champ

GERAINT Roberts was the inaugural winner of the seniors’ Winter Eclectic at Derllys Court, but only by the narrowest of margins.

After the final round of competition, Roberts was just half-a-shot ahead of runner-up Roger Horsfall with three shots separating the top seven.

Roberts's outrageous 30-foot putt on the 11th gave him a rare birdie to cancel out Roy Gallop's effort on the third hole and Horsfall's two-stroke improvement overall.

At the end of 108 holes, Gallop’s eclectic score of 63 was good enough for third place, one behind the champion, with Les Burgoyne and Peter Jones making up the top five.

Jones had led the standings with Roberts before a disappointing penultimate round. The latter picked up one shot in that event to remain at the summit and that’s where he stayed.

Promising Pennard junior Ollie Dickson celebrated his inclusion in the Wales Boys’ team to face Ireland with a five-under-par 66 and second place in the club’s St. Patrick’s Day Stableford.

Despite his excellent performance, Dickson was beaten to first place on countback by 13-handicap Peter Prifti, who also carded a net 66 for 41 stableford points.

Alan Jones, Andrew Coates, Brian Kelleher and Anthony Holmes all registered 38 points with Jones getting the nod for third on countback. For Dickson, he will be in action for his country when the Irish visit Cardigan on April 10 and 11.

Hiroko and Tai Yasuda teamed up to win the PING Welsh Mixed Foursomes at the Gower club, their 43 points was one better than Jon and Julia Dickson.

Jayne and Jim Loft had to make do with third on 40 while Tony Smith and Sarah Taylor just missed out on the top three with 39 points.

To entice more youngsters to take up golf, Pennard is holding Monday evening training sessions for beginners aged six to 10, starting on April 16. Places are limited and parents of those interested can call the club pro (01792 233451).

The club will also hold a Golf Development week from April 15, with free lessons and taster sessions, and to complete their campaign to encourage new players, reduced subscriptions are on offer for those up to 30 years of age.

Those wishing to join any of the schemes should call the club secretary (01792 233131).

The Lakeside Winter League is now down to the last six and the players competing for a place in next weekend’s final are Jason Thomas, Gary Tamlyn, DJ Williams, Nigel Howell, Paul Thomas and James Matthewman.

At Swansea Bay, the triumvirate of Les Evans, David Tobin and Neil Griffiths all continued their recent good form with victories in the various stableford events at the club in the last week.

Griffiths produced the best score of 44 points to win the Sunday Stableford which followed his third place on Thursday. Tobin took the Club Stableford with 42 points and Evans clinched the Thursday equivalent with one more.

There was a titanic struggle to win the Wales Open qualifier at Ashburnham with no fewer than four golfers recording scores of 41 points while the top six were separated by just one point.

After pouring over the hole-by-hole scoring, Mark Bathgate emerged as the champion on countback ahead of Derek Connor, Roger Rees and Wyn Jenkins.

For Dennis Hughes and Lynne Williams, 40 points was only good enough for fifth and sixth respectively.

Jean Barratt and Ann Morris were also locked on 41 points at the end of Carmarthen Ladies’ 3-clubs-and-a-putter event with Meinir Hunter one further back on 40.

Countback was needed again and Barratt was the grateful golfer taking first prize.

Things were a little more clear cut at Tawe Vale where 32 points gave Robert Howes the Sunday 12-hole Stableford. Eirwyn Jones was next best on 27 and Stephen Rees finished third on 26.

The International Shotgun at The Grove was also determined via countback after three teams returned home with 46 points. A better back nine gave David Thomas, Terry Thomas and Terry Emlyn-Jones the edge.

James Hicks, Ian Pritchard and Gareth Carter-Clare had to settle for second with Ken Bale, Norman Vincent and Francis Robertson third.

The National Club Qualifier at Royal Porthcawl was won by Barry Melhuish with 41 points. Graham Davies was runner-up on 40 and Nick Gareth Jones came third with 39.

Results

ASHBURNHAM: Wales Open Qualifier; 1. M. Bathgate 41pts, 2. D. Connor 41pts, 3. R. Rees 41pts

CARMARTHEN: Ladies’ 3-clubs-and-a-putter; 1. J. Barratt 41pts, 2. A. Morris 41pts, 3. M. Hunter 40pts

PENNARD: PING Welsh Mixed Foursomes; 1. H. Yasuda & T. Yasuda 43pts, 2. J. Dickson & J. Dickson 42pts, 3. J. Loft & J. Loft 40pts

St. Patrick’s Stableford; 1. P. Prifti 41pts, 2. O. Dickson 41pts, 3. A. Jones 38pts

ROYAL PORTHCAWL: National Club Qualifier; 1. B. Melhuish 41pts, 2. G. Davies 40pts, 3. N. Jones 39pts

SWANSEA BAY: Thursday Stableford; 1. L. Evans 43pts, 2. A. Davies 41pts, 3. N. Griffiths 40pts

Club Stableford; 1. D. Tobin 42pts, 2. G. Evans 41pts, 3. M. Grieves 41pts

Sunday Stableford; 1. N. Griffiths 44pts, D. Dalling 40pts, 3. S. Drewson 39pts

TAWE VALE: Sunday 12-hole Stableford; 1. R. Howes 32pts, 2. E. Jones 27pts, 3. S. Rees 26pts

THE GROVE: International Shotgun; 1. D. Thomas, T. Thomas & T. Emlyn-Thomas 46pts, 2. J. Hicks, I. Pritchard & G. Carter-Clare 46pts, 3. K. Bale, N. Vincent & F. Robertson 46pts