Andy’s handy round clinches Spalding medal

GOOD EXCHANGE RATE: Spalding’s Radcliffe-on-Trent exchange day was a big hit. The winning trio were Mike Murphy (left), David Brotherton (second from left) and Vic Davis (right). They are pictured with club captain Peter Bridge.

A superb nett 67 steered Andy Warnes to glory at Spalding Gold Club’s latest monthly medal competition at the Surfleet course.

Despite the warm weather and good course conditions, only 21 of the 145 golfers played to par or better.

Warnes (72-5=67) was the star turn in the 0-14 handicap section with a round that included a pair of twos in his five birdies.

In second place was Chas Lacey (72-4=68) with a nett 68, with Hugo Kedzlie (72-3=69) taking third spot with a nett 69.

With the top trio all carding a 72, they shared the best gross score prize.

Other leading scores in this category were: Nett 70 – Darrel Cross, Lawrie Haley, Jerry Philo; 71 – Richard Laud, Steve Rogers and Simon Rothwell.

The 15-28 handicap category was won by John Barrett (83-16=67) with a nett 67. His 83 also won him the best category gross score prize.

In second place, on countback was Simon Ward (90-21=69) from Roger Sanderson (86-17=69) after both scored a nett 69.

Other leading scores in this category were: Nett 70 – Mike Murphy, John Stewart; 71 – Brendan D’Abreo; 72 – Steve Hodgson; 73 – James Quinton, Shawn Huggins and Trevor Overson.

• Some 33 Spalding members enjoyed an exchange day at Radcliffe-on-Trent, where they contested a Stableford competition.

The winning trio proved to be Mike Murphy, David Brotherton and Vic Davis, who scored an impressive 84 points. Second spot went to John Crampton, Peter Bridge and John Cretney (78pts).

• Spalding’s third team suffered two heavy away defeats in their latest social matches.

They went down 4.5-1.5 at both Stoke Rochford GC and Rutland Water GC.

At Stoke Rochford, always a difficult place to get a result, only Simon Rothwell and David Bergmann (2&1) managed to win, with Mick Hanson and Graham Chamberlain halving their game.

At Rutland Water, a new fixture, with stunning views over the reservoir, it was a similar story.

The only pair was Monty Brittain and Rod Filby (1up), with Kevin Siddle and Dave Fitter halving their game.

• Talented junior member Edward Brand won the Wednesday evening 13-hole Stableford competition with a score of 32 points.

Both Mark Payne and Andrew Law scored 29 points to fill the top three, with Cameron Roy and Kurt Mason completing the leaderboard on 28 points.