Melton Golf Club: Final line-up confirmed for Race to Woodhall Spa

The Race to Woodhall Spa (RWS) finalists were decided on Sunday when the top 30 golfers in the competition went head-to-head ayt Melton Gofl Club.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Oct 2018, 12:02 BST
RWS winners, from left - Ray Catton, Doug Woolley, Sam Pollard, Ian Townsend, Geoff Townsend, David Taylor, Kev Robertson EMN-180210-165228002RWS winners, from left - Ray Catton, Doug Woolley, Sam Pollard, Ian Townsend, Geoff Townsend, David Taylor, Kev Robertson EMN-180210-165228002
RWS winners, from left - Ray Catton, Doug Woolley, Sam Pollard, Ian Townsend, Geoff Townsend, David Taylor, Kev Robertson EMN-180210-165228002

They were all vying for the few remaining places to join Sam Pollard who qhad qlready qualified by topping the season-long Order of Merit after 26 competitions.

With the Melton course in excellent condition and on receptive greens, each golfer set off with his own caddie in tow.

This year’s series began way back in April and only concluded in mid-September.

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Geoff Townsend and Ian Townsend headed the play-off with level-par rounds of nett 70, with Ray Catton one shot back on nett 71.

The remaining spots went to David Taylor, Kev Robertson and Doug Woolley, all with nett 72, but knee replacement surgery will keep Doug out of the final to be held at Woodhall Spa on Sunday, October 21.

* Melton GC’s seniors turned out to play in the Tony Houghton Trophy in good conditions with bright sunshine and little wind.

The competition, one of the seniors’ most prestigious events, was run over three rounds with different team formats, and was once again well supported.

After the first round of a Texas scramble, the leaders on the day were Tom Eadon, Dick Chapman and David Hirst.

In second place, also with a score of 63.56, was Bob Purkis, David Bailey, Nick McDonald and Brian Wray.

* On one of the last competition days of the season, a field of 21 Melton GC ladies turned out to play in a series of medal qualifiers for the Evans Bowl and the Bronze and Siver Salvers.

The rough grass was still short and not too punishing, but the long run of the ball had disappeared as the temperatures fell.

Sally Hudson was overall winner of the Evans Bowl with a very creditable nett 74.

The Bronze and Silver Salvers were played as bogey competitions

Results –

Bronze Salver: 1 Elizabeth Clark 3-over, 2 Drina Terzza 4-over, 3 Karen Middleton 4-over.

Silver Salver: 1 Nancy Denny (lady vice-captain) 3-under, 2 Julia Brown 2-under, 3 Jean Moulds par.

* This week saw the return of the Monday Morning Mingles which was well supported by the club.

Denis Dayman and Alison Gatwood won the first round with nett 33.8, ahead of runners-up John Squires and Bettyne Norton (nett 35.0), and Tom Eason and Liz Clarke, in third, with nett 37.4.

The day’s best fourball was that of Denis Dayman, Alison Harwood with Mike and Gill Hoggan with a combined nett 73.6.