The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
UNBEATABLE: County President David Brotherton (left) is pictured presenting Spalding’s Simon Richardson with the Amateur Trophy.
Spalding Golf Club’s Simon Richardson has retained the Lincolnshire Amateur Strokeplay Championship title after winning the 36-hole competition at the par 71 Elsham course.
Richardson was among a field of more than 50 of the county’s top amateurs at the Brigg event – and he carded two superb sub-par rounds of 69 and 68 for a winning total of 137.
That saw the Spalding ace finish four strokes clear of second-placed Arron Ashberry (Woodhall Spa).
Richardson (handicap -3) will now represent Lincolnshire in the Champion of Champions tournament at Woodhall Spa in September.
Team-mate Andy Grimwood came in with rounds of 79 and a superb two under par 69 (148) to finish in ninth place.
And with the top two club scores to count, their 285 total beat the Boston GC combined aggregate total by six strokes, winning the right for Spalding to represent the county in the national champion club final.
That will be played at Trentham GC in Stoke-on-Trent this September.
Harry Hunt, the third player representing the club, put in a very creditable performance with a 158 total.
Spalding have now represented the county in this final four times in the last five years, with their best finish being fifth.
p Spalding’s first team returned to winning ways in their South Lincs Scratch League campaign with a narrow 3.5-2.5 home win against arch rivals Sleaford.
Andy Grimwood and Harry Hunt won 7&5, followed by a halved game from Dan Hines and Paul Johnson.
But late wins from Lloyd Chatham and Chas Lacey (3&1) and Mark Cooley and Wayne Wallace (4&3) secured the vital points.
- The second team, however, lost their first game of the season going down 4-2 away at Belton Park.
Lawrie Haley and Calum Walker continued their unbeaten run, winning 6&5, while Phil Tweddell was outstanding in a 3&1 win partnered with Chris Ward.
Ward, along with Dave Middleton and Calum Lewis, were all making their debuts.
- Spalding’s third team have had mixed fortunes in their latest social matches, winning at the Surfleet course 5-1 against Seacroft and losing 4.5-1.5 away at Burghley Park.
The winning pairs against Seacroft were Mike Murphy and Stuart Parker (4&2), Simon Rothwell and David Bergmann (5&3), Dave Colwell and Rod Filby (2&1), Nick Edwards and Dave Fitter (4&2) and Ray Barnett and Graham Rudkin (2&1).
At Burghley Park, always a tough match, the only winning pair was Robin Roffe and Rod Filby (2&1), with Mark Crozier and Keith Moore halving.
