Hello golfers, 

 

Autumn Meeting

A board competition always attracts a big field and last weekend was no exception and it was a superb weekend for 22 year old Adam Tilley, as he won the Autumn Meeting played over the East course on Saturday and the West on Sunday. Adam shot an excellent 135 to win the 36 hole nett prize by a clear 5 shots from Dave Baxter, who was the runner-up with nett 140. Richard Jennings took 3rd place with nett 143, Jack Edge was 4th with 144. The 36 hole scratch winner was Danny Smith shooting a gross total of 143 which included a fine 66 on Sunday. Andrew James was runner-up on 150. 

The individual day's results are as follows.

Saturday Nett - 1st Martin Sullivan 69, 2nd Joby Thorogood 72 (C/B) and 3rd John Foreman 72 
Saturday Scratch - Tom O'Reilly 75 
Sunday Nett - 1st John Calver 63 (C/B), 2nd John Lawrence 63 and 3rd Steve Manser 67 
Sunday Scratch - Dave Nash 71 

It was just as clear cut in the Ladies Autumn Meeting as a fine nett 68 from Julia Wright secured the top prize to win by an impressive five shots from Tita McCart who shot a nett 73 and third place was secured on countback by Gilly Ashley with a nett 74.


 

Kent Seniors Champions

For the first time since 2002 our Seniors have won the Kent Veterans (Over 60) Club Championship against an excellent Sittingbourne team at Sheerness on Friday. The squad of players had battled through 5 previous rounds to secure a place in the final. 

In a pulsating finale the result went to extra holes to decide the outcome:- Gordon Hedley & Brian Haynes were bombarded by birdies & chip-ins from an inspired Sittingbourne pair to go down fighting in the first match. However Trevor Heath with Brian Hassett levelled the final with a Presidential display of golf to wear down the opposition to win 2&1. 

It was all hanging on the last match still playing with John Reeves & Bernie Rowlands fighting for the win despite being 1 down with 4 holes to play. A birdie by Napoleon at the par 5 - 16th levelled the score. The difficult 17th & 18th holes were halved in par. Onto the first extra hole, Bernie hits a long drive splitting the fairway followed by an excellent wedge shot leaving an 8ft. birdie putt, the opposition were on the ropes and their approach shots fell short of the front pin position. The Sittingbourne pair then failed to get up & down for par's leaving Bernie the comfort of 2 putts to win the day for SPGC. 


 

Hole-in-One

Congratulations to SPGC member Bal Bains on his 1st ever Hole-in-One on the 2nd at Stono Ferry in South Carolina. Bal scored his Hole-in-One whilst on a golfing holiday in the USA. 


 

European Tour This Week

Although some of Europe's very best players are in the USA for the FedEx Cup playoffs, an impressive cast list has gathered in Zandvoort to contest this historic tournament over the seaside (and often breezy) layout at Kennemer. 

Two-time Major champion and former winner of this event, Martin Kaymer is on the start sheet. So too are a number of former Ryder Cup stars like Darren Clarke, Stephen Gallacher and Thomas Bjorn. Talented English players Tommy Fleetwood and Eddie Pepperell will tee it up, together with Scottish wind specialists Richie Ramsay and Paul Lawrie and home favourite Joost Luiten. 

Opened in 1927, the seaside course at Kennemer is the work of the ubiquitous designer Harry Colt. It has a links feel and wind is always a factor here. It's this brilliant old course that has attracted a number of star players to the event. Links specialist and golf course connoisseur Tom Watson is one of those keen to see the Colt classic. 

"The reputation of Kennemer made my decision to play an easy one really," he said. "It's a world top-100 track and I just hope my old game is up to the task of playing such a wonderful course." 

The Dutch Open was first contested back in 1912 when Englishman George Pannell was victorious. Since then many famous professionals have claimed the title including - J.H Taylor, Bobby Locke, Roberto De Vicenzo, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

Last year Paul Casey held off the challenge of fellow Englishmen Simon Dyson, Andy Sullivan and Eddie Pepperell to claim his 13th European Tour title. Simon Dyson is something of a specialist in this tournament. He has won it three times (2006, 2009 and 2011,) he was third in 2013 and second last year. But he won't be able to add to that impressive tally of results this time. He's out for the rest of the season following an operation on his wrist. 

As expected at this tournament, the weather forecast suggests it could be windy this week. That could make things interesting and will have some players licking their lips, while others will find themselves licking their wounds. 

Player watch: 
Tommy Fleetwood - The talented Englishman has been quiet of late and hasn't played on the European Tour since the USPGA Championship. But he's got the game to tame this tricky course and has never missed the cut in this event. 
Soren Kjeldsen - A superb wind player, Kjeldsen will relish the challenge here if the breeze picks up. He won this year's Irish Open at Royal County Down in extremely challenging conditions. He was tied for second in his last outing - the Made in Denmark tournament. 

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