THE quarter finals of the South West of England Open Winter Foursomes competition, sponsored by DHS Tool Supply Company, Plymouth, was played at Yelverton Golf on Sunday. The weather was fine and the course was in good shape, despite the heavy rain for the first weeks of the year. The first match out was a battle of the professionals, with Yelverton's assistant professional, Simon Wood with partner Martin Petherick, taking on his boss, club professional Tim McSherry, and his partner Gary Hawking. Not only was there the £1,000 prize to contend for, but also professional pride. The first round went to McSherry and Hawking, after Wood pulled his first shot into the rough, and McSherry and Hawking were too steady for the remainder of the round and delivered the knock-out blow on the 15th green, with a 5 and 3 victory. The next match contained the only other remaining professional, Robert Moore, and his young partner Leon Fricker, from Yelverton. Robert also pulled his first shot into the rough, and lost the first hole to the Tavistock pairing of Dave Burge and Mike Beveridge. But the match was close all the way, with only a shot between the two pairs most of the time. Leon's pulled shot on the 12th brought the match back to all square again, but the Tavistock duo finally emerged winners two and one. Yelverton players also featured in the other two matches. Matt Waterfield and his partner from China Fleet, Duncan Sluman, had a close match against David Willacy and Neil Pitcher from Bigbury, being all square on the front nine, but pulled away on the back nine to win 3 and 2. Adam Bridgewater and Joe Yorke, also Yelverton members, had another close match against last year's Plate competition winners, Brett Jones and John Manicom from Wrangaton. However, the local boys managed to hang on to win 1up at the 18th. The plate competition went into the knockout phase. The last remaining ladies, Jane Stribley and Jane Wright(Staddon) lost to Paul Hendy and John Crocker(Elfordleigh); and Steven Thorne and his son Cameron, from Torquay beat their TeignValley opponents Pat Masterson and Jim Mills. The semi-finals of both competitions will be played in two weeks, on Sunday January 28 at Yelverton. Spectators are welcome. l WITH the inclement weather and the reconstruction of the professional's shop and both the ladies and gentlemens changing rooms people would be forgiven for thinking Okehampton Golf Club has closed for the winter. However be assured that the course is open most days even though the course might be shortened due to the weather not the building! Over the Christmas period some club competitions have had to be cancelled, but the fun games have been well attended; on Christmas Eve club captain Paul Rattenbury organised a fourball better two ball Stableford, followed by sausage rolls and mince pies for all members! This was well supported as have been a lot of fun games for all. On Saturday the men played a medal, unfortunately the river holes were closed but the entry was good, Chris Pike won the first division with a gross 61 net 52,with a better back 6, beating Del Owen who had gross 58, net 52. Third was Graham Moysey, 64, 53 and fourth was Pete Murphy, 63, 54. The second division was won by Matt Mills gross 66 net 51, losing on the back six with the same soore was Gary Hodgson; third was Paul Skinmore 68, 54, back six, and fourth was Graham Milford, 68, 54. Matt Milford won the third division with 67, 47; second was Dave Grimes 77, 54 and third was Rober Hodge on 75, 56. The ladies played an Iron Maiden Stableford - an irons only competition though only nine holes were open and the weather was difficult! Cherry James won with 15 pts, second was Dawn Phillott, 13 and tied third were Mary Keir and Lorna Rolfe on 11. On January 10 the ladies then played a three clubs and a putter Stableford over a 15 hole course; the winner with 30 pts was Ann Grokenbrow; second was Lyn Hazelton on 29 and third, Dawn Phillott, 26. Lyn Hazelton, Marcia Jones and Mary Keir had a 'two.' The previous week no competition was held but several ladies played a varying number of holes in the very wet and windy conditions. A hole in one was achieved on the par three seventh hole by Cherry James.
