Payne makes his Mark with Spalding Stableford success

Mark Payne topped the field at Spalding Golf Club’s Massey Cup qualifier with an impressive 38 Stableford points.

The 11 handicapper mastered the indifferent weather at the Surfleet course to fend off Stuart Armstrong (16) Mike Murphy (20) and Simon Rothwell (12) who all finished a shot behind on 37.

The four other final spots were taken by Andrew Rafferty (12) and Monty Brittain (18) on 36 points and Paul Emmington (10) and Spencer Gooderson (8) on 35 points.

• Club captain Ray Harrison and the Spalding mixed team got their season off to a flying start with a 4.5-1.5 victory on a warm afternoon at Sutton Bridge.

Winning pairs for Spalding were Harrison and Chris Vickers, Neil Knighton and Elaine Harrison, Peter Bridge and Jenny Wilson and Steve Leggatt and Eileen Bridge.
Andy Thomas and Chris Leggatt halved their match.

• The traditional season opener for Spalding men’s 3rd team against the ladies team resulted in a resounding 8-5 victory for the women against Stuart Parker’s side.

Winning pairs for the ladies were Dianne Platt and Jenny Wilson, Tracy Siddle and Sybil Thorpe, Claire Rylott and Elaine Harrison, Maria Williamson and Chris Leggett, Teresa Starbuck and Carol Thomas, Jackie Bailey-Scott and Olive Gooderson and Mags McArdle and Beryl Skinner.

Keeping the scoreline respectable for the thirds were Trev Laud and Calum Walker, Ray Harrison and John Newcombe, Keith Moore and Keith Williams and Peter Bridge and Alan Pritchard, with the other two games halved.

• Ladies’ section: The latest round of the Daily Mail Foursomes saw Spalding’s Paula Brown and Di Platt beaten 1 down by a team from Tydd St Giles.
• Spalding’s ladies defeated Belton Park 3-2 in the Mail on Sunday competition at Surfleet.

Wins came from Elaine Hancock (4&2), Lesley Williams (3&2) and Pat West won (2&1), while Paula Brown (1 down) and Di Platt (3&1) were narrowly beaten.

• The Coronation Foursomes Stableford competition was won by Barbara Newcombe and Pat West on 32 points.

Ruth Atkins and Mo Wallace (31 points) and Jean White and Avril Norton (29 points) were second and third respectively.

• Maureen Orwell took top spot in the Gold Medal competition with a nett 77.

Lesley Williams and third Jean White both shot 79 to complete the top three.

The competition was contested by the 11 medal winners from 2014.

Meanwhile, the other lady members played a fun Stableford competition which was won by Lynda Double with 41 points. Rowena Hughes was second with 36.