The restricted daylight also has its other implications in that competitive play for a full eighteen holes cannot commence much later than 12 .30 p.m., so compressing the numbers of participants into four and a half hours of tee times.
That particular schedule ideally fitted the needs of the organizers of the Colin Hale Junior Open held at Wrexham golf club last Thursday morning with a spread of tee times from 9.00 a.m. until noon. Colin Hale, Jeweller of Bank Street Wrexham has sponsored this event for very many years and on this occasion was able to be present at the afternoon presentation to actually present his prizes to the successful players.
Played through four divisions and also offering a best gross prize for the splendid Colin Hale Trophy, the first division for handicaps scratch to 8 was won by Lewis Jones of Wrexham with 69 net. He was followed by Alex Pugh of Mold with74 and then Jake Massey of Flint with a similar score.
The second division for 9 to 18 handicaps went to Simon Jones of Mold with 69. He was closely followed by Calum Keay of Old Padeswood with 70 and Ben Chamberlain of Padeswood and Buckley with the same numbers.
Chris Tym of Wrexham won the 19 – 28 category with an excellent 57 net off a handicap of 24. His 81 gross represented playing thirteen strokes under his handicap based on the Competition scratch score for the day which was even par, 70. Second in this group came Cristos Pyrgas of Mold with net 60 and then Matthew Waters of Wrexham with a 67.
The only competitor who handed in a card in the final group was Lewis Mackenzie who returned a creditable net 60 where others fell by the wayside in the blustery conditions.
The best gross of the day went to Michael Platt of Clays on a card scrutiny which revealed his better back nine holes than division one winner Lewis Jones, both boys returning a 76 gross. Michael made an excellent winners speech thanking the Organisers, and especially Mr Hale for his continued involvement and sponsorship of Junior golf.
The Mens’medal played last Wednesday scored well enough for the competition scratch score to be established at 60, one below the par for the course. Winner of division one was Dewi Sides with a creditable net 66 from two handicap Kevin Matthias on 67 and then Tony Darlington with another 67.
The second division was won by Daniel Hunter with a first class net 63 off 12 handicap. His 75 gross only managed to beat Huw Lloyd Williams by one stroke as he returned
76 – 12 – 64 for second place. Third came club captain Tony Brunyee with 78 – 12 – 66. All three of the preceding players now have a one stroke reduction in handicap to carry through the winter months.
Steve McKevitt took the third group with 81 – 16 – 65 followed in turn by Craig Matthews on 80 – 13 – 67 and Jim Sellwood with 85 – 15 – 70.
Graham Wright returned 86 – 19 – 67 to gain victory in the fourth division from Frank Jones on 88 – 20 – 68 and Keith Fox with 89 – 19 – 70.
The low net scores which were replicated through all divisions were in part responsible for the lowering of the C.S.S. to 69.
The Ladies played a Christmas Fayre event last Tuesday which witnessed a win for Pam Valentine with 38 individual Stableford points. She was followed closely by Jean Jones with 37 and then Carolann Jones with 34.
Jim Johnson