Stoke Rochford Golf Club seniors mark inaugural match

Joe Lindley (centre) with winners, from left, Peter Smith (Radcliffe), Mike Nixon (Stoke), Graham Manton (Stoke), B. Whitchurch (Radcliffe) EMN-160706-153254002

A field of 72 golfers played an am-am competition in teams of four, two pairs from each club, including Stoke club captain Jeff Purdy.

The three leading teams all finished with 88 points in a close contest.

Stoke’s seniors captain Graham Manton and Mike Nixon, playing with Radcliffe’s Peter Smith and B. Whitchurch won on countback from runners-up Brian Ayto, Mike Graves, J. Jewitt and S. Balodis, and third-placed Steve Major, Charles Scott, G. McKellar and E. Maxwell.

Radcliffe seniors captain Steve Bostock (right) presents the 'Friendship' Salver to his opposite Stoke Rochfpord number, Graham Manton EMN-160706-153240002

The £50 prize for nearest-the-pin at the 12th went to Stoke’s Gary Skerritt.

Prizes were presented by 88-year-old Joe Lindley, the only surviving member of the Stoke team who played in that first match. Joe still regularly plays a few holes.

The day was completed by Radcliffe presenting Stoke with an engraved ‘Friendship’ salver to mark the occasion and to be competed for in future matches between the clubs.