Golf round-up: Wilkinson on-song to win first Tydd St Giles major of the year

A record 144 competitors took part in Tydd St Giles Golf Club’s Spring Open – dubbed their first ‘major’ of the season.

The individual Stableford competition was won by home talent Phillip Wilkinson on 38 points, with Malcolm Stead (Tydd St Giles) second on 36 points.

Wayne Alder, also of Tydd, claimed third ahead of team-mate Mark Whittaker on countback after both players scored 35 points, with Steven Nichols (Middleton GC) fifth on the same score.

The weather was kind to the players, with no rain falling but there was a stiff breeze to test the golfers.

This, along with the course playing longer and tougher than players have been used to, meant that scores were lower than perhaps expected.

• Results: Men’s April Stableford: Division One – 1st Gino Ciuffini 37pts; 2nd Wayne Alder 36pts (ocb), 3rd Malcolm Stead 36pts.

Division Two – 1st Ben Harrington 40pts; 2nd Derek Hodgson 36pts (ocb); 3rd John Nobbs 36pts.

Division Three – 1st Ash Gedney 40pts; 2nd Steve Grey 39pts (ocb); 3rd Timothy Hipkin 39pts.

• Seniors’ section: Easter Bunny Stableford: Division One – 1st Peter Wheeler 35pts (ocb); 2nd Ken Doughty 35pts; 3rd Brian Newby 33pts.

Division Two – 1st Baz Smith 38pts; 2nd Steve Wing 35pts; 3rd Steve Skoulding 33pts.

Division Three – 1st Paul Jackson 41pts; 2nd Richard Martin 37pts; 3rd Barrie Mutimer 34pts.

Division Four – 1st Malcolm Miller 38pts; 2nd David Truluck 35pts; 3rd John Matthews 33pts.

Spalding Golf Club

Eden Inglis won the first medal of the season in Spalding Golf Club’s ladies’ section after shooting a magnificent 66.

Some 34 ladies entered this competition at the Surfleet course, but Inglis was well clear of the rest.

She earned a handicap reduction of three shots for her efforts.

Second place went to Sally West on 74, with Jenny Wilson third on 75.

• Some 20 pairs of ladies entered the Coronation Foursomes on April 5.

The winners were Margaret Barkway and Sue Matthews with 34 points, with Anne Ellis and Angela Roper second on 33. Eileen Bridge and Ann Tasker, also on 33, completed the top three.

• Spalding Golf Club’s ladies lost 3-1 at Boston West in their latest friendly clash.

Sue Dewar and Sybil Thorpe were the only winners, with Chris Vickers and Anne Ellis, Jackie Bailey Scott and Elaine Harrison and Sue Matthews and Shirley Girbutt all beaten.

Sutton Bridge Golf Club

Ladies’ section: Match result – Boston 3 Sutton Bridge 0 (Team: Anne Clarke & Jill McEwan; Betty Reeve & Nikki Elphick; Diane Wareham & Carol Caney).

• Mixed section: Match result – Sutton Bridge mixed 1 Spalding mixed 5 (Tony & Anne Clarke lost; Paul & Christine Burrell lost; Roy & Margaret Fox won; John & Janet Groves lost; Mick & Diane Wareham lost; Mike & Brenda Bell lost).

Match result – Feltwell mixed 5 Sutton Bridge mixed 0 (Team: Mike & Brenda Bell; Roy & Margaret Fox; John & Janet Groves; Tony & Anne Clarke; Mick & Diane Wareham).

Gedney Hill Golf Club

Men’s section: Mushroom Shield – 1st Kieran Higgs 66 nett; 2nd Steve Sayer 67 (ocb); 3rd James Smith 67.

David Creek Trophy – 1st Pete Vinter 42pts (ocb); 2nd Pat Moeller 42pts; 3rd Adam Britton 40pts (ocb).

April Medal – 1st Kieran Higgs 66 nett; 2nd Jim Starbuck 68; 3rd Nigel Grummit 71.

• Seniors’ section: April Medal: Category 1 – 1st Tom Penning 68 nett; 2nd Mike Page 70 (ocb); 3rd Bob Townsend 70.

Category 2 – 1st Len Kempster 65 nett; 2nd Bill Sharpe 67.

Category 3 – 1st Derrick Smith 71 nett, 2nd Raffaele Ragosa 74.

• Ladies’ section: April Medal – 1st Jenny Venters 85 nett; 2nd Ann Chick 100.