Trophies and trophy winners for the golf club’s financial year ending 31 October 2023 are as follows:
Fred Sorenson Shield
The first trophy event of the club’s 2023 financial year was the Fred Sorenson Trophy, an ambrose competition, played on the Tuart Course on 25 November 2022 in generally fine conditions, partly overcast with a couple of very light showers during play. The course was in fine condition (as always) and consequently some good scores were recorded and the results were tight. With three birdies on the second nine, the count-back went to the captain’s team, Tom McClain, Mike Spencer, John Campbell and Barry Boyd with gross 65 and net 56.5. Runners up with a gross 64 were Tony Fisk, John Stone, John Allen and Tom Guthrie – Tony’s handicap of 5 meant that their adjusted handicap was lower and their net was also 56.5. Of note was Barry Boyd’s birdie on the 18th – a low tee-shot cleared the water and entered the bunker to the left-front of the green, exiting over the back of the bunker to end up about 60cms from the pin – unfortunately he missed his putt, but his team found the mark! The photo below shows the newly-elected president, David Hayes, on the right, congratulating the winning team – L-R Barry Boyd, Mike Spencer, John Campbell & Tom McClain.
Gerry Gillett Perpetual Trophy
We competed for the Gerry Gillett Perpetual Trophy on 9 December 2022, playing stableford with a maximum of 4 clubs, one of which had to be a putter, and a full field of 24 members were present for the event. It was overcast and somewhat humid at the start but the clouds moved away and we finished in plentiful sunshine with a sea breeze. David Lynn was exceptional in the first few groups in coming in with an 87 gross and 35 points, but later groups produced the other placegetters with Tom McClain in the last group shooting a stunning 78 gross 39 points wielding a driver, a 6-iron, a wedge and a putter. His back nine produced 22 points to win him a ball. Barry Boyd in the penultimate group shot a 96 gross for 35 points to win second place from David Lynn, and Barry also took second place in the best nine with 19 points. Steve Parkinson’s card didn’t add and lengthy attempts by his partner to reconcile the differences didn’t clearly resolve the position, so he ended up with a gross 102 which should have yielded 35 points but nobody could get it past 34! The photo shows Gerry Gillett, aged 96 and recovering from a hospital stay after getting covid, congratulating the winner, Tom McClain.
Jock Oehlers Match Play Competition
The 2023 match-play championship was entered by 25 members. The initial elimination round was played during the week ended 3 March with winners going through to the round of 16 the following week. The winners of that round played quarter finals in the week ended 17 March with the winners going through to the semi-finals. In the quarter finals, Ian Johnsen beat Steve Parkinson 5 & 4, Graham Guy defeated John Allen 6 & 5, Alf Pezzali beat David Lynn 3 & 1, and John Campbell defeated Rolfe Heldt 3 & 2. The semi-finals saw Alf Pezzali defeat John Campbell 4 & 3 and Ian Johnsen progress to the final on a walk-over after Graham Guy went on an overseas golfing holiday. The final on Friday 31 March was a close fought battle between Ian Johnsen and Alf Pezzali. Alf initially had the upper hand but the pair were even after nine holes. Ian then won four holes straight to make the score 4 up with 4 to play and then won the 14th to take the match 5 up with three to play and emerge as the 2023 John Oehlers match-play champion. Congratulations Ian – ladder attached
In the photo, Ian holds the shield with Tom McClain (captain) and Alf Pezzali (right)
Captain’s Trophy
The trophy stroke event was contested by 22 members on a sunny day on the Tuart Course. The competition was tight at the top of the field with 3 players on the same net score in the lead, and a further 2 players one shot more and 3 with two shots more. The winner on count-back was the captain himself, Tom McClain, with 75 off 85 gross, on count-back from Stephen Huckle (gross 95) and Rolfe Heldt, who had the best gross of the day – 84. Closely following the leaders were Ian Johnsen and Richard Russell with a net 76 and Alan Smith, Stephen Thomas and Grant Saunders on 77. The picture shows the captain being presented with his trophy by president David Hayes:
President’s Trophy
The President’s Trophy was donated to WCGC by past President Richard Russell in 2021. The inaugural competition was won by Steve Huckle and last year Ian Johnson took the honours. Even though the weather forecast was for showers, this year’s turnout on 9 June 2023 was a little disappointing – quite a few members were away ill or overseas but golf is an all-seasons sport! Congratulations to this year’s winner, Alan Smith who won on a last-6-hole count-back from Rolfe Heldt both with a net 74 on the Old Course. Alan is on the right and Rolfe on the left in the photo with current president David Hayes:
Cecil McPhee Trophy
The Cecil McPhee Trophy was played for on 11 August 2023 and was won by David Lynn with a score of 38 stableford points. The trophy is known as the Cesspot and the competition is medal stableford where points are awarded hole-by-hole off scratch – ie 2 for a par, 1 for a bogey and zero for a double-bogey with a wipe earning minus 1. Chris Wynne was a worthy runner-up with 36 points. There was a small turn-out for the event partly due to a rather dismal start to the day weatherwise although it turned into a sunny morning by the time we were off the first tee, and partly due to holidays and a number of other commitments preventing members attending. The photo shows captain Tom McClain congratulating the winner, David Lynn.
The Ray Dale Perpetual Trophy (Pairs)
The Ray Dale Pairs Championship (stableford – best ball) was competed over two days, Friday 15 and Monday 18 September 2023 in generally fine conditions although there was a light sprinkle on both days. 18 members competed for the trophy which was won on count-back by Garth Irvine and Barry Boyd with a total score of 84 points over the two days. Three pairs scored 43 points to top the leaderboard after day 1 – John Allen and Steve Huckle leading on count-back from Graham Guy/Tom Guthrie and David Lynn/Andy McLean at that point. The eventual winners, Garth Irvine & Barry Boyd were one point behind at that time with 42 points. On Day 2, they scored another 42 points to claim a total of 84 points with Tom McClain and Bruce Morrison also posting 42 points on Day 2, whereas the best of the leading three pairs from Day 1 was John Allen and Steve Huckle with 41 points to tie with Garth and Barry. The count-back process is set out in the Rules of the championship, utilising Day 2 scores, handing the trophy to Garth and Barry, pictured below receiving it from captain Tom McClain.
Annual Club Championship
The club championship competition was played over two days, 20 and 23 October 2023, on both courses at Wembley Golf Complex. Friday’s play on the Old Course saw Rolfe Heldt heading the leader board with 86 gross, 75 net. He was followed up by David Lynn and Carl Colli with 87 and Richard Russell with 88 gross. Handicap leaders at the conclusion of day 1 were Graham Guy with a net 70, followed by David Lynn 71 and Carl Colli and Richard Russell on 72. Monday’s play saw Rolfe Heldt claim the A Grade championship with a gross 84 (combined 170) and Richard Russell followed him home in second place with 89 gross (combined 177). Third and fourth places were claimed by David Lynn and Carl Colli with a combined gross score of 178. Handicap honours went to Richard Russell whose net 73 on Day 2 gave him a combined net 145, followed by David Lynn with combined 147, and a tie between Carl Colli and Alan Smith with combined net scores of 148. In B Grade, Alan Smith and John Campbell tied with a combined gross score of 187 and played off for the championship on 27 October, with Alan Smith being confirmed as the B Grade Champion with a gross of 93, compared to John Campbell’s 103. Third place went to Steve Huckle with a combined gross of 189. Detailed results on attached sheet.
Club president David Hayes (left) congratulates handicap champion Richard Russell (left) club champion Rolfe Heldt (centre) and B Grade champion Alan Smith (right)
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