First-4-Golf

Colin Montgomerie is eager to get the 2010 Ryder Cup year off to a good start when he leads a European team to reclaim the Royal Trophy from Asia this week in Thailand.

The Scot is standing in for Seve Ballesteros at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, with the Spaniard having ruled himself out due to lingering health concerns.
As well as captaining the side, Montgomerie has taken a playing role – a first in the competition’s history – to cast an eye over candidates for his Europe team to face the United States at Celtic Manor in October.

“When I heard that the games were just one game per day then it’s possible to play, but when you have two matches a day and 36 holes a day it becomes impossible to try and fit in the scheduling,” he said. “With one match a day it’s possible to captain and play in the team and it means I’m at very close quarters to watch my team players.”

The European side includes the Swedes, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Alexander Noren and Peter Hanson, England’s Simon Dyson, Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Spain’s Pablo Martin.

While it is far from the team likely to be seen in Wales, Montgomerie said it would help the players good prepare. “It’s a very important year for European golf in 2010, culminating in the Ryder Cup in October,” he added. “We have a great wealth of talent in Europe, more so than I’ve ever witnessed in my career.

“This [the Royal Trophy] is a very good preparation for us in many ways to see how our top players are playing early on in the year while it gives me a great opportunity to witness how they are preparing for at the end of the year.”

Darren Clarke is keen to put a disappointing 12 months behind him when he tees off at this week’s Africa Open in East London, South Africa.

The Northern Irishman is among a handful of high-profile players assembled in the coastal city for the event, which is making its first appearance on the European Tour.Other players in the field include 2009 European Tour winners Nick Dougherty, of England, and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.

Geoff Ogilvy will kick off the 2010 PGA Tour at the SBS Championship in Hawaii believing that Tiger Woods’ world No 1 ranking is up for grabs now that he has taken indefinite leave from golf as he tries to rescue his marriage after his admission of infidelities.

“It’s an interesting time,” Ogilvy said. “A lot of guys will be thinking, ‘Here is my year’.”

Play at the President’s Putter, due to start at Rye Golf Club on Thursday, has been postponed for 24 hours in an attempt to beat the wintry conditions.

“We’re experiencing very difficult conditions but, as ever, we’re very keen to try and play some golf,” said Martin Yates, of the Oxford and Cambridge Golf Society.

“We’ve only ever lost one President’s Putter to the weather and that was to heavy snow in 1979.

“We’re prepared and happy to play in just about every conceivable circumstance, but unfortunately the one thing that can stop us is significant snow on the greens.”

The 25 year-old from Aberdeen came from five behind with a best-of-the-day 65 and then beat Indian Shiv Kapur in the play-off at Pearl Valley.

“There’s no greater feeling than winning and I’m just a flood of emotions – I’m holding back the tears,” said Ramsay, who three years ago became the first Scot to win the US Amateur in 108 years. The pair tied on 275, 13 under par, but the former Walker Cup player grabbed the first prize of £141,745 – and a Tour exemption that runs until the end of 2011 – when he was on the green in two at the 601-yard 18th and two-putted.

“Things just went for me,” he added. “But I am a lot more positive now – I go out believing and thinking I can win.”

Ramsay did not drop a shot all day, going to the turn in 33 and then grabbing more birdies on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 17th.

The last of those, a 14-footer following a superb approach from the rough over water, brought Ramsay into the joint lead and, after he had missed a 25-foot birdie chance on the last, Kapur stood on the same green with a 12-foot putt for his first Tour title but missed.

Denmark’s Anders Hansen, Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and Italian Edoardo Molinari all could have joined the play-off with a closing eagle but failed.

Hansen’s birdie left him third, while the other two parred to be joint fourth – and that was good enough for Molinari to climb into the world’s top 50 just in time to join his brother Francesco in the Masters at Augusta in April. They will be the first brothers to compete at the Masters together since Japan’s Jumbo and Joe Ozaki in 2000.

Overnight leader Pablo Martin, winner of last week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, dropped to sixth with a 73.

Ramsay went into the event ranked 240th in the world and the victory will take him just inside the top 120.

It was not until he came fourth at the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews in October that Ramsay made sure of keeping his card.

He led the Wales Open earlier in the year but found himself in a rules controversy there and the fact he escaped punishment upset a number of other players.

Spaniard Juan Pablo Martin created more European Tour history on Sunday by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

Two years after becoming the first amateur to win on the circuit, the 23 year-old is now the only one to capture titles both as an amateur and a professional.

Martin, ranked 488th in the world at the start of the tournament, was in the depths of despair about his game after missing the first seven cuts of this year. He now ends 2009 on a high after beating home hope and former winner Charl Schwartzel by a single stroke in a tense finish.

It was only on the final day of last season that Martin made sure of keeping his Tour card, but he is now exempt until the end of 2012 – and over £143,000 richer.

The Malaga golfer had had only one top-10 finish since his triumph at the Portuguese Open, but with a closing three-under-par 69 he held off the charging Schwartzel to win with a 17-under total.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “I am so happy and there was so much emotion today.”

While he had the ecstasy, there was agony for several others after the 541-yard 18th at Leopard Creek – one of the toughest finishing holes in golf – claimed more victims.

Welshman Sion Bebb, only one behind after an eagle on the 13th, dropped six shots as he ran up and 11 after tangling with trees and then dumping two balls in the water surrounding the green.

That dropped him from fifth to 17th and alongside Ernie Els, who after starting the day tied for second shot 77.

The former Open champion’s round ended in a double-bogey seven on the hole where he took eight when two in front two years ago, while Ireland’s Gareth Maybin also took seven when lying third and Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera had an eight to fall from fourth to eighth.

Martin was two ahead of Schwartzel on the tee and, despite a huge drive, chose to lay up short of the lake.

Schwartzel, who had had a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th before bogeying the 17th, had to do the same after almost hooking out of bounds, but then piled the pressure on by pitching close.

Martin’s third short was close to going over the green, but hung on and he two-putted for victory.

The squad of James Moore, Nick Hodge, Jack Neal, Jordan Sweeney, Mike Flyn and Callum Jones combined to finish ninth in the team event.

James Moore particularly showed great promise with a gross 74, while the team score was an aggregated score made up of the best gross and four best nett scores from each team.

The group of Padeswood and Buckley members were among 60 aspiring under 18 golfers from across Wales pitched against each other in the hope of winning the Junior Challenge title and the opportunity to represent Wales in the UK Home Nations final.

After an exciting day of golf at Builth Wells, it was Morriston Golf Club’s under 18 team from Glamorgan West who finally clinched the title, becoming the second winners of the competition with a gross of 344.

Morriston will now be invited to join their English, Scottish and Irish equivalents at Five Star Polaris La Torre Golf Resort, near Murcia, Spain, in January, to represent Wales in the Home Nations UK golf finals.

The Vale of Glamorgan came second with a team total of 346, Dewstow from Gwent followed in third place on 349, while teams from Brecon and Radnor, Caernarvonshire, Anglesey, Dyfed and Denbighshire also took part.

A team from Clays, made up of Paul Williams, Josh Green, Jo Beddows, Kim Harcombe, Dave Riley and India Friswell, played at Nefyn in the semi-final of the Wales Mixed Ping Knockout Competition.

A third of all the clubs in Wales entered the competition and the four teams played the semi finals and finals at Nefyn.

Clays were the only team from North Wales to reach the semi finals but they lost 2-1 to Pennard who went on to beat Glamorgan by the same score in the final.

Meanwhile Ray Martin completed his season with a quartet of victories.

The Clays senior member holed out for wins in the Copperwheat Eclectic event, the Round Robin Competition, and he was crowned senior matchplay knockout champion.

Martin also partnered Nigel Moore to success in the Senior Betterball Competition.
Jeanette Williams and India Friswell concluded their season with double successes.

Williams clinched a win in the Lady Captain’s Day, and carded success in the Fan Jones 36 Trophy, while Friswell carded a victory in the Ladies Challenge best gross event, and partnered Ros Carman to a victory in the Ladies Betterball.

ROLL OF HONOUR – Captains Drive in (Men), Harold Hughes; Captains Drive in (Ladies), Hazel Bell; Presidents Day, Stuart Rogers; Ladies Eclectic, Maureen Elkin; Ladies Betterball, Ros Carman and India Friswell; A Hughes Salver, Anne Richards; Aber Rose Bowl, Kim Harcombe; Harcombe Trophy best nett, Sophie Roberts; Ladies Challenge best gross, India Friswell; Lady’s Captains Day, Jeanette Williams.

Captains Day, Michael Evans; Mixed Foursomes, Lee Darlington and Shirley Roberts; Mixed Foursome plate, Howard Lloyd and Ros Carman; Powells Jewellers Trophy, Janet Johnson; Fan Jones 36 Trophy, Jeanette Williams; Junior Matchplay H Lovall, Patrick McHugh; Senior Gemini, Larry Birch and Stewart Poole; Senior Betterball, Ray Martin and Nigel Moore; DJ Bogie, Irwin Elkin; Copperwheat Eclectic Award, Ray Martin; Senior Round Robin, Ray Martin.

Senior Trophy, Andrew Mitchell; Veterans Trophy, Jill Hughes; Senior Champion (Matchplay Knockout), Ray Martin; Flick Cup, Rob Brown and Mike Jones; Gem Trophy, Mick McHugh and Patrick McHugh; Scott Anderson, Stephen Hart/Andrew Hunt; Tom and Kathleen Jones Cup, Greg McAteer.

TM Davies Cup, Neil Gledhill; JCB Shield, Paul Fell; Neil Harden, Neil Owen; Karen Griffiths, Vic Mohun; Aber Shield, Mike Eaton; Clays Challenge Cup, Josh Green; Scratch Cup, Mike Evans; Rowland Cup best nett, Paul McCaffrey; Club Champion best gross, Michael Evans.

Clays, with a deficit of 26 points from their away match at Rhuddlan, won 424-393 at home giving them a winning score of 826-821.

Clays v Rhuddlan: Best scores from Clays, Graham Davidson-Clarke and Alan Garton 49 points; Ray Martin and Fred Court 42; Bill Kelleher and Ken Hutchinson 40.
Shop Saturday Strokeplay: 1 Steve Williams 65-2=63; 2 Paul Woolf 77-9=68; 3 Paul Wyn Jones 82-14=68.
Shop Sunday Stableford: 1 Stuart Rogers 43 points; 2 Paul Venn 37; 3 Timothy Lloyd 37.
Seniors Better Ball Stableford: 1 Dave Lambert/Mike Turner 45 points, 2 Bill Hughes/Noel Jones 45, 3 Nigel Moore/Frank Carrol 44.
Seniors Better Ball Stableford: 1 Mike Hollings/Roger Hudson 44; 2 George James/William Parry 43; 3 Dennis Murphy/Phil Hughes 42. Shop Saturday Stableford: 1 Michael McHugh 42 points; 2 David Riley 39; 3 Ian Connell 39. Shop Sunday Strokeplay: 1 Michael Platt 68-2=66; 2 Danny Williams 83-15=68; 3 Justin Bull 90-20=70.
Seniors Texas Scramble: 1 Ray Martin, Noel Jones, Graham Stokes & Peter Almond 56.5; 2 Don Wraight, Harold Hughes, Ray Jones, Tom Mara 59.7; 3 Roy Jones, Roger Hudson, Bob Brown, Brian Downes 59.8.
CARDEN PARK – Winter League Round Two Greensomes: 1 James Middleton and Duane Mayes 39; 2 Peter Roberts and Robin Macloskey 39; 3 James Dick and Richard Harper 37.
Winter League Number Four: 1 Helen Leek 26 points; 2 Helen Groves 26; 3 Julie Coppock 24.
CLAYS Kitty Individual Stableford: 1 Keith Jones 39 points; 2 Mike Griffiths 38; 3 Bill Parry 38.
MOLD – Ladies 12 hole Fourball Betterball Turkey Trot: 1 Angela Morris and Betty Baird; 2 Pat Jones and Helen Hughes; 3 Beryl Morris and Sheila Delahoy.
HOLYWELL – Fourball Betterball Stableford: 1 Ian Walker and Richard Salisbury 40 points; 2 Dave Lee and Terry Dempsey 37.
UPTON – Ladies Professionals Prize: 1 Rose Hughes and Pam Lucas 39 points; 2 Jenny Turner and Juliet Preston 36; 12 holes: Jean Smith and Pam O’Regan 23.
DENBIGH – Gents Winter League Bogey: 1 Mike E Roberts 8 up.
Gold Division: 1 Brian Peters 6 up; 2 John Kenny 3 up; 3 Arthur Jones 3 up.
Silver Division: 1 Peter A Pierce 5 up; 2 Liam Rowlands 4 up; 3 Alan Williams 4 up.
Bronze Division: 1 David T Jones 6 up; 2 Dilwyn Roberts 4 up; 3 Stuart Clarke 3 up.
Ladies Winter League – 9 Holes: 1 Lynne Monro 20 points; 2 Tracey Ellis 17.
Seniors Stableford Competition: 1 Trefor O Jones 39; 2 Ifor Jones 39; 3 Barrie Fishwick 36.
Ladies Winter League – 9 Holes: 1 Val Jinks 21 points; 2 Jean Batten Jones 20; 3 Sue Baggaley 19.
Seniors Bogey Competition: 1 Mike E Roberts 8 up; 2 Tony Claber 4 up; 3 Tony Austin 2 up.
CHESTER – Medal 6A: 1 J Bright 68; 2 B Worrall 68; 3 P Chapple 69; 4 A Davies 70. Medal 6B: 1 J Taylor-Pogue 62; 2 D Kevan 66; 3 G Dale 67; 4 I Bateman 68.

Three Wrexham Golf Club teenagers took the Flintshire and Denbighshire Ladies’ Championships by storm last week when, as well as one of their number winning the championship, they collectively won the gross and net team prize for the local club.

Old Padeswood golf club hosted the championships last Wednesday and Thursday in what can only be described as excellent conditions on what was a golf course prepared to a first class standard. Chloe Williams, Jessica Jones and India Friswell won both the gross and net team championships and all three girls qualified for the match play stage of the championships. Sadly in the quarter finals, Jessica and Chloe were drawn against each other with Chloe edging her friend out on the last green, India also narrowly losing in her match against Beth Davies who has held the Championship for the last two years. Beth actually beat Chloe in last year’s final and this years final saw the two again playing against each other in what was to be proven to be a match of the highest standard.

Chloe was one down playing the fourteenth but managed to churn out four birdies in the last five holes to win by 3 and 1 on the seventeenth green. She became the youngest player ever to win the championship at this level.

The three girls combined their efforts to win the Minnie Bowler trophy for the best net team score as well as winning the gross total as well.

At the beginning of half term, Chloe had traveled up to Scotland to represent Wales in the Scottish under 16 Girls’championships. The Welsh team of three finished 4^th of nine teams with Chloe taking 7^th overall position on what proved to be very windy golf course indeed. The three girls are coached by Chloe’s father Paul Williams, professional at Wrexham golf club, with Jessica’s father Andre, a past county scratch golfer, adding to her practice sessions at the club.

Following their success at Old Padeswood, Jessica and Chloe then travelled down to Tenby for the very prestigious Tenby 36 holes Scratch event which is a Welsh Merit Award competition. Jessica scored 80, 82 for a plus 12 finish whereas Chloe put together a 76 and 78 for plus 4 and a fifth place finish overall, both girls ensuring that the state of North Wales girls’golf is in firm hands.

The Wrexham club’s Past captains had their playing day last Sunday in a Stableford event which was won by E Gwynn Evans with 38 points from Oscar Wyn Jones on 37 and Fred Whitehead who handed in 36

Wrexham Golf Club captain’s drive-in coincided nicely with the April medal at Wrexham when the 2009 incumbent Tony Brunyee found the middle of the fairway with his drive to the accompaniment of Bill William’s shotgun.

His three-ball was complimented by past captain Nigel Pritchard and vice-captain Keith Miller and followed by Ray Sambrook, Alan Scarratt and Bill Taylor, the three most recent past captains of the club in the next three-ball.

Winner of the first division was Karl Griffiths with 77-7-70 from Chris Marsden on 73-3-70 and then Phil Thomas with 77-6-71.

The second handicap group went to Andrew Purdy with an excellent score of 74-8-66. He was in turn followed by Huw Lloyd Williams with 82-12-70 and then Wynn Davies with identical numbers but in an order to rank him in third place due to his back nine score.

Colin Jones returned the best net score with a 65 (78 gross off 13 handicap). He has now been adjusted to 11 for his efforts.
Second place went to David Sides with 86-17-69 followed by Dean Mullock with 84-13-71.

Jim Keenan had reason to smile with his win in the fourth division by returning 86-20-66 from Richard Derosa on 94-26-68 and then David Stephan Jones with 90-22-68.

Wednesday’s mid-week medal witnessed a first division win for Stuart Fisher with 77-6-71 from Malcolm Sides on 79-6-73 and then Jason Davies with 78-5-73. Brian Neale won the next group with 76-12-64 followed by Phil Tunnah on 76-10-66 and then Gilbert Hunt with 78-10-68.

The heavily populated third division was won by Stan Roberts with 82-17-68 followed by Paul Wyn Jones on 85-17-68 and then Alan Andrew with his return of 87-17-70.

Tony Jacobs took the honours in the fourth group with his offering of 85-19-66 to beat second placed Steve Elson on 94-25-69 and then Mike Smith with 90-21-69.

Wrexham golf club was busy last Tuesday morning to witness the new Ladies’ Captain Mrs Eileen Graham drive into office at 9.30 a.m. prior to the competition that traditionally accompanies her ceremonial strike.

On a fine sunlit morning Mrs Graham struck a fine shot down the middle of the first fairway to the shock sound of Bill Williams’s twelve bore shotgun which coincides with the moment of truth. A fraction early on the trigger and the end product can be the stuff of legend, but Bill has done this deed for many years now having taken over from the late professional, John Powell who was instrumental in starting off this tradition with the even later Donnie Stevens who suggested that the Captains Drive in should “start with a bang”

John performed the ceremony for over thirty years before handing over to Bill who is still going strong. Mrs Graham was followed on to the tee by Ladies’ Vice captain Mrs Ann Davies who produced an equally efficient stroke to the applause of about forty members, predominantly ladies, who had turned out to witness the event.

The competition that followed was in the form of a nine holes Drawn fourball with the best three scores to count. Winning team comprised Janet Brand, Carolann Jones, Janet Brunyee and Maureen Cox with 53 points. They were followed by the second placed team of Anne Morgan, Jo Davies, Mary Hunter and Rachael Davies with 51.

A separate competition was held for veteran ladies over the back nine holes and this was won by Margaret Ellis on 16 Stableford points from Ceris Jenkins with 15 points.

The club Annual General Meeting will be held next Wednesday 25^th March when the Officers change over and the incoming captain looks forward with eager anticipation to Bill raising his shotgun yet again at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday April 4^th when he drives himself into Office accompanied by the outgoing captain and his newly appointed Vice Captain for 2009. This is the occasion of the April medal and the traditional day for this ceremony to take place.

Last Sunday the winter league drew to its conclusion with the top four possible winners taking to the course in excellent golfing conditions. These top four could not be drawn together so the anticipation was knife edge amongst the players to do well on the day.

Two of the potential winners, Andy Wynne and Clive Griiffiths had an indifferent day and rather played themselves out of contention finishing third and fourth eventually with 53 and 52 points respectively.

Neil Edwards partnered John Williams to the days best score gaining 10 individual points, enough to elevate him from last weeks fourth place to this weeks runner up spot, but it was left to Alan Harris who turned in a 73 gross off nine handicap partnering Ian Darlington for second place on the day but a nine point addition to his already strong score giving him a grand total of 54 out of a possible 60 points taking the best six scores out of a possible eight.

The event has been organized for very many years by different members, this year by Alan Harris the eventual winner, and has always been dedicated to the memory of Brian Pattison who was the originator in the mid eighties and the controlling agent for over ten years. His wife Gill Pattison always takes an active interest in the progress of the competition as the weeks go by.

Stephanie Evans, from Vale of Llangollen, is included in the women’s squad who will compete in the event to be staged at Conwy.

Evans will be aiming to help the Welsh ladies squad build on last September’s Home Internationals victory at Wrexham.

Luke Jackson, of Mold, and Michael Evans (Clays) are named in the boys squad, with Wrexham’s Chloe Williams and Emma Davies, from Eaton, both named in the girls squad.

Welsh golf director Nigel Edwards has targeted the European Team event as key to Wales’ development.

With the Men’s Championship being played on home ground at Conwy in July it provides an added incentive to the Welsh players to be successful.

Conwy will be hosting Europe’s best amateur golfers in the European Team Championships at the end of June and beginning of July, with Ireland returning as the defending champions and England looking to improve on last year’s second place.

Wales have to go back to 1993 in the Czech Republic when Bradley Dredge led the team to victory with the likes of US Tour player Richard Johnson also in the squad.

“We have high expectations this season – particularly with the European Men’s team Championships which we are hosting in Conwy,” said Edwards. “We want to win championships, we want winners on an individual basis and as a team.

“The boys and girls teams made great strides forward in 2008 and 2009 will give us a further indication of their development.

“Obviously we want to see individual success with Welsh players in the Walker Cup team and Welsh players winning amateur events on the main British amateur circuits – men and ladies.”

The Welsh squads have already had players’ meetings at Whitchurch and Clays, with Edwards and the Welsh coaches, to plan the season.

“That was just to make them aware of what benefits there are in being a squad member, highlighting how they can make the most of it,” explained Edwards. “We need them to communicate with us so we can help them get better.”

Wales international pair Joe Vickery and James Frazer are Down Under in Australia starting their season, with Frazer having come an impressive 11th in the Asia Pacific Championship.

“On the ladies side, losing players to the European Tour is not ideal but if they go out on tour and are successful then that is great because it raises the profile and says we are doing a decent job,” explained Edwards.

“We have lost two of our most experienced golfers in Sahra Hassan and Breanne Loucks and we wish them well. However, many of the ladies that were part of the team at Wrexham have high expectations and are comfortable competing in the amateur game in 2009 before considering the professional circuits. Amateur golf provides wonderful competitive experience.

“Our players turning professional is a double edged sword because you want them to stay in the amateur game for as long as possible in order that Welsh Amateur golf is as successful as possible.

“There comes a time when players have to make decisions about their future careers – we want them to be very successful as amateurs and professionals.”

More than 100 members and guests tried their luck at horse racing, roulette, blackjack, crown and anchor, dice games, and a special lottery and raised more than £1,000.

The event was the first of many planned by the club for its centenary year in 2009.

Organiser Anne Lloyd Davies, of the club’s centenary committee, said: “It was a brilliant night, great fun and a real tonic for the January blues.”