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The Suffolk must make most of home draw, writes Chris Boughton




The Suffolk Golf Club Seniors, captained by Bob Hope, are through to the third round of the Beaumont Trophy, after a comprehensive 11 hole win over Fynn Valley last week.

This is a Suffolk County Golf Union match-play competition for players of 55 years and over, but each eight-man team must include at least two players over the age of 65.

The Suffolk matched those criteria with ease, fielding three players over 70, all of whom featured in the winning pairings.

At 6,392 yards, The Suffolk isn’t a long course, by modern standards, but it defends itself with water traps on every hole, and therefore needs very cautious navigation.

The Suffolk team used their local knowledge very effectively to help them win three of the four pairings.

Brian Newel and Doug Coe won by five holes, Peter Plumb and Malcolm Johnson won by four holes as did Brian Wiltorn and Alf Jackson.

The only losing Suffolk pairing were Peter Sharpe and Eddie Stone.

The Suffolk face a formidable challenge in round three, away to Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club, who were last year’s Beaumont Trophy runners-up.

As the course is situated right next to the sea, if the wind blows it could be as significant a factor as The Suffolk’s water hazards.

Wiltorn and Plumb, from the victorious Suffolk Beaumont team, also enjoyed success the following day, in the club’s mid-week Stableford, both scoring 36 points.

Wiltorn, who is the club’s senior course marshal, beat Plumb, who is the club’s President, on count-back. Wiltorn also leads The Suffolk’s competition order-of-merit table with 51 points followed by Ivan Snelling on 46.

Stowmarket Golf Club

There was a big turnout of 80 golfers for Stowmarket Golf Club’s Gotelee Bowl competition last week.

This competition is played in a Stableford scoring format but with a twist, as you can only use seven clubs, which lends itself to some interesting and creative shot-making.

Despite only having half the usual number of clubs in their golf bags, four players still managed to score 38 points. Leading the way on count-back was Michael Eaton, followed by Trevor Hellyer in second place with Lee Gregory and Ian Hill third and fourth.

Last year’s Stowmarket captain, Annie Tyler, who is the ladies’ press officer for the club, sent in this report: “Last week 79 ladies greatly enjoyed Sue Knight’s Captain’s Day. The weather was a mixture of sun and showers, but we Stowmarket ladies are made of strong stuff!

Spirits were kept high with lots of chat and laughter (as well as hitting golf balls), topped up with a superb selection of savouries and cakes washed down by Pimms at the half-way house and a well-deserved lunch afterwards.

The raffle raised £350 for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), Sue’s chosen charity for her year.”

* The outcome of the competitions on Captain’s Day can be found on page 160.

Congratulations to ladies’ member Sylvia Pearce, who recently enjoyed a hole-in-one at the par three second hole.

Thetford Golf Club

To celebrate Thetford Golf Club’s centenary in 2012, three handsome trophies were presented and the 2016 winners of the Centenary Trophies were decided last week.

In the men’s event, Robbie O’Brien came in with 77-9-68 to win by one stroke from Simon Gorrod, Matt Harben and David Fawcett. Carolyn Beaumont won the ladies’ event with 96-23-73, beating Vicki Smith 99-26-73 on count-back. Third place went to Sheena Setchell with 98-20-78.

The Junior Trophy went to Dean Scott with 84-10-74 followed by Abigail O’Riordan 84-8-76.

Flempton Golf Club

Flempton held their club championship last week with the competitors playing 36 holes for the Brigs Cup.

Junior member Alfie Halil had a dream start and led by one stroke after the morning 18 holes.

In the afternoon, plus one handicapper, Mark Rae, showed his class with an outstanding 68 to win the championship with a total gross score of 146.

Halil finished second with 150 and Marcus Lee had a combined gross of 151 for third.

The following day, Rae entered the Suffolk Amateur Championship at Aldeburgh and came third with a two-round score of 146. Congratulations to him on a super weekend of golf at both club and county level.

Bury St Edmunds Golf Club

Just three days after co-hosting the highly successful Captains’ Weekend, at Bury Golf Club, Joan Garrett celebrated with a win in Division One in the ladies’ mid-week competition.

Garrett (13 handicap) paired up with Wendy Flack (16) to score an impressive 45 points in the 4BBB. Just one point behind were Melanie Lesser (19) and Hannah Clark (19). Bury’s Hambro Cup team won a close match by a play off, on Sunday. There will be a full round-up of all recent team results next week.