Phil Thomas, Junior organizer at Wrexham golf club walked off the course last Saturday having just bogeyed the eighteenth hole for a 65 gross when a 64 would have equaled Matthew Ellis’s course record established a few years ago in the Wrexham Lager Day competition. Following a sad two weeks after the loss of his mother, Phil, who has been a single figure player for the last twenty five years, put together his superb round to become the fourth winner of the club’s Centenary Trophy and winner of the July medal first division as well. He returned a net 59 which is rare at any time but almost unheard of on the first division.
The course record of sixty four has been equaled on a few occasions, most recently by Tim Dykes on no less than three occasions despite him having shot a couple below that score on the Friday afternoon games that are so popular with the low handicap players at the club.
Runner up in the Centenary Trophy was Jamie Durkin with 67 – 3 – 64 followed by Alan Lewis on 82 – 17 – 65. Phil drops down to 4 handicap, Jamie to 2 and Alan to 15 as a result of their efforts.
The July medal ran concurrently with the Centenary event and was played through four handicap divisions. Phil and Jamie were followed in the first division by Tony Darlington, 73 – 6 – 67 and Nathan Phoenix on 72 – 4 – 68.
The second division went to Paul Hogan with 79 – 10 – 69
replicating the score of Paul Graham Roberts who handed in a less good back nine holes score for second place. Andrew Harrington was in third place with 81 – 11 – 70 and Simon Earl Huxley fourth with 80 – 9 – 71.
Alan Lewis, third in the Centenary trophy, won the third handicap group with 82 – 17 – 65 from Daniel Hunter, 81 – 14 – 67 and John M. Davies with the same numbers. Daryl Jones was in fourth place with 83 – 15 – 68. The fourth group witnessed a win for Terry Hughes on 85 – 19 – 66 for a four stroke lead over Neil Edwards, 90 – 20 – 70 and Tony Purcell with 91 – 19 – 72. Malcolm Fennah was in fourth place with 93 – 20 -73.
Just seven ladies contested last Sunday’s medal with the Silver division going to Hazel Parry with 74 – 9 – 65 for a handicap drop to 8. She was followed by Dorne Tym on 85 – 13 – 72 and then Cynth Davies on 93 – 18 – 75 with Beverley Lloyd Jones in fourth place with 99 – 16 – 83.
Mary Clarke won the Bronze division with 94 – 22- - 72 followed by Pam Shaw on 122 – 35 – 87 and Mary White with 110 – 21 – 89.
Wrexham Open week was a resounding success with three days of results to hand. Winning the Mixed last Tuesday came the home pairing of Alan and Jane Prandle with 44 points from Andy Povah and Mary Clarke on 42 followed by Cliff and Monica Jones with nidentical figures. Colin and Janet Sharley were in fourth place with 40. The best gross went to Mr and Mrs Smethurst of Frodsham with 75 gross.
Wednesday’s four ball betterball was won by A Wood and J Lau of Wirral Ladies and Bromborough with 45 points. C Greenwood and J Crompton of Kings Grange were second with 44 points with Keith Miller of Wrexham and ian Skinner of the Vale of Llangollen in third place with 43, beating Paul Fell and John Evans in to fourth place with their other 43 points.
Thursday’s Seniors’ Fourbal was very heavily populated from 7.30 until
4.0p.m.
Winners with 46 points were Glyn Davies and Tony Owen of Wrexham
followed by Chris Wade and Les Shoemark with 44. J Moore and K tait of Bromborough were in third place with 44 with Ron Jackson and George McGowan fourth with another 44 point card. The gross was won by R Paul Williams with Kevin Bostock at level par 70.
Jim Johnson