The Denbighshire Golfing Union Seniors’ Championships were held at Wrexham Golf Club last Thursday with a field of fifty or so players over the age of fifty five years of age. Originally played only as a net championship, over the last twelve years it has included a gross prize as well with both titles, gross and net, being eagerly contested by members of all the clubs in the Union.
County Secretary David Ethelston thoughtfully put the players out in handicap ascending order with the lowest handicaps out first, and not one player intentionally playing with a member of his own golf club.
Many of the present County Seniors squad were present on the day and expectations were running high that one of the squad would feature in the final reckoning.
Eventually a card with 74 gross found its way on to the pile in the name of Gary Roberts of Rhos on Sea who is a regular in the team. This was not to be surpassed all day and he took the gross prize by two clear strokes.
Terry McDermott of the home club had only dropped five of his eighteen strokes on the front nine holes and was going along in fine style until an untidy 7 on the short 14th hole rather blotted his copy book. Tim Gorin of Ruthin Pwllglas was also making a good day of it, as was R Paul Williams of Wrexham who was playing very steady golf off 11 handicap.
The eventual winner was Paul with 77 – 11 – 66 from Tim on 68 net and Terry on 69, the prizes being presented by Tony Harcombe of Clays golf club who is this years County Captain.
From the left; "Jim Johnson, President of Wrexham golf club; David Ethelston, Secretary of the D.G.U.; Gary Roberts, Rhos on Sea Golf club, gross Champion; R Paul Williams, Wrexham Golf Club, Net Champion; Tony Harcombe, Captain of the D.G.U.
A busy Sunday followed with the playing of the Ted Clutton Am- Am for no less than forty teams of four who occupied the course for the full day. The promised rain held off and the day passed quite smoothly with little in the way of hold ups on the golf course. Winners were one of the teams from Mold Golf club which comprised R Trinick, M Connah, T Cooper and L Locket. They handed in 87 points with a back nine of 44 points to win from second placed Wrexham team of Alan Merrill, Steve Lloyd, Steve Owens and Andrew Jones who had a similar score but a back nine of 43.
With a score of 86 points, the team comprising Brian Leach, Alan Guest, Karl Griffiths and G Williams occupied third place, with John Sellwood, Andy Purdy, Paul Harry and Craig Matthews, also of the home club, in fourth position with 84.
The ladies played their first round of their Dodd Bowl last Tuesday which resulted in a clear advantage for Jean Sawford who returned an excellent 85 – 20 – 65 to lead by four clear strokes from Mary Clark on 91 – 22 – 69 and, in turn, Shirley Williams with 86 – 17 – 69.
Wrexham host the Carlsberg Lager day this Wednesday, with the Golf Union of Wales Youth Team Championships held at the Vale of Llangollen on Friday with teams registering from noon on Thursday.