WERNETH WEDGE No. 74 Captain: Paul Higgins July 2007

MONSOON DILUTES TOP COMPETITIONS.

The unprecedented rainfall which deluged Britain throughout July created huge problems for our greens staff, with several major events having to be curtailed or postponed.

Among the victims was Captain Paul Higgins, whose 36-hole tournament, arguably the most important of the year, had to be reduced to an 18-hole event when the greens became unplayable with half the big field unable to complete their afternoon round. Chris Cordwell, who drove off at 8-50am when the weather was rather kinder, emerged as the winner with a splendid two-under-par round of 66 (net 58), with Ian Ashworth (76-12-64) in second place.

The best gross (no-one is allowed to win two prizes), was posted by Mark Abbott with a splendid 69. Joe Cassidy, who was among the first trio on the tee at 7-20am, was the first division winner with a score of 75-9-66, with veteran Albert Park maintaining his good form to take the second division honours , carding 87-20-67.

Lady Captain Judith Wilkinson was much luckier, with the rain holding off for her 36-hole event, played over two days. The winner was her Vice-Captain, Brenda Jarvis, with a net score of 155 - three better than Barbara Whiting.

The 1st Div. Winner on the first day, played on a Thursday, was Sheila Whittingham, with the 2nd Div. Prize going to Nadine McNamara. Sylvia Haq was the Div.1 winner the following Saturday, with Dee Whittingham the heading Div.2 competitors Incidentally, apologies to Sheila Whittingham who was the winner on Lady Vice-Captain's Day - not Sheila Waterhouse as reported in last month's edition.

IT'S A DOUBLE FOR FOR HILDA GARNER.

Hilda Garner is set to be the Lady Captain for the second time in her Werneth career after a gap of twenty years. She has been chosen by the current Lady Vice-Captain, Brenda Jarvis, to be her deputy when she takes over the Captaincy in November and will succeed her a year later.

Hilda, whose late husband Alan was club Captain ten years ago, had a double reason to celebrate, having won the Handley Memorial Trophy last month with a round of 85-20-65.

Sylvia Haq (85-16-69), was the runner-up. Fiona Dooley soon marked her return to the club to win the Daily Mail Foursomes in partnership with Jane Clark with a score of 79-10-69. Jane also won a Stableford comp. with 33pts.

MELIA AND YOUNG HEY WIN MEDALS.

Terry Melia and young Gareth Hey were the two winners in the July monthly medal. Terry, with a score of 74-13-61, had to be at his very best to deny the 1st Div. prize to ex-Captain Kevin Roberts, who shot a two-under-par 66 (net 61), but had to be content with second place on a countback.

Gareth, Andy Hey's up-and-coming son, headed the second division section with 76-15-61 with another ex-Captain, Alf Selby the runner up (82-17-65), thwarting Derek Ashford with a better back nine.

For the record, the delayed June medal was won by Adam Rowbotham (70-7-63), from big brother Lee, whose three under par 65 off a handicap of just one left him a shot adrift.

Mark Abbott, Duncan Hough, and Jack Suttie missed out on second place on a countback. The second division winner was Jim Elliott (81-21-63), from Barry Hamner (77-16-61), with Peter Hickey (82-21-61), also unlucky on a card playoff.

BETTER FORM IN BATLEY LEAGUE.

Losing their first four matches in the Lawrence Batley Seniors' League - 1-7 at West Bradford, 2-6 at Todmorden, 0-8 at South Leeds, and 1-7 at home to Crosland Heath - the future looked pretty bleak for our men But they fought back heroically with four wins and a draw in their next five matches to even things up - with home wins against Hebden Bridge (5-3), West Bradford (5-3), and Todmorden (7-1), and a notable away victory at Hanging Heaton (6-2), followed by a 4-4 draw at Dewsbury.

Sadly, Hebden Bridge gained revenge for their earlier defeat with an 8-0 thrashing of our team on their home soil. But the season has been reasonably successful with four wins, five losses and a draw so far.

COMPANY DAY RAISES £2,700.

Staged, somewhat optimistically in this monsoon summer, on Friday the thirteenth, the Corporate Day raised a splendid £2,700 for the Centenary Fund. A four-man team of visitors calling themselves the Hyde Group finished in top place but three Werneth members were among the foursome which took second place - last year's Captain Shaun Rattigan, Lee Rowbotham, and Graeme Holt.

Three members of another team - Pete Griffin, Pete Davies, and Dave Griffiths - all won nearest the pin prizes, at the 6th, 8th, and 10th respectively. Dave Murphy and Steve Britt were similarly successful at the 15th and 16th.

RAIN RUINS CHANCES OF CAPTAIN AND PRO.

The dreaded July rain scuppered our men's chances in the North qualifier of the National Captain and Pro. Challenge, played at Birchwood, Warrington. Captain Paul Higgins and professional James Matterson had finished their round and were well placed for a prize with a combined score of three under when conditions became too wet for play to continue, and the event was scrapped. It will be replayed at Thixby on September 24.

In their latest challenge matches against members, Paul and James beat Adrian Buckley and James Buckley one up but lost to Vice-Captain David Whittingham and Paul Egan by 4 and 3.

CORDWELL SENIOR CELEBRATES DEBUT.

Louis Cordwell, one of the newest members of the seniors' fraternity, celebrated his latest birthday by winning first prize on President Tom Blackshaw's day. Louis, whose son Chris was later to win on Captain's Day, scored 38 Stableford points to edge out Eric Webb by one point. The 81-year-old evergreen Eric Smith took the over 70s prize.

SOME WHICH DEFIED THE RAIN.

Despite the seemingly incessant downpour, some competitions managed to go ahead. A three-man Texas Scramble was won by Michael Farrimond, Simon Tessier, and Adam Rowbatham (57-2.1-54.9), from Mel Robinson, Ian Turner, and Ron Fenton (60-4.5-55.5).

An identical event, organised by the Pro, was won earlier by Ian Sutton, Arnold Parker, and Duncan Hough with a score of 62-3-59. Exactly the same score was submitted by Mark Abbott, Andy and Gareth Hey, but they lost out on a countback.

Mark got some consolation when, partnered by Howard Travis, he won a fourball Stableford with 46pts. Second were Geoff Dawson and David Whaley, two points adrift. But the International Pairs qualifier was not played due to poor weather reducing the field. There was also a limited entry for a Pro's comp. with Peter Hickey taking the only prize on offer with 37pts.

Another single Stableford was won by Lee Rowbotham with 40pts, with Mark Abbott losing out once again on a CPO. He, in turn, denied Joe Taylor with a better back nine. Hopefully, August will be a better month - it could hardly be worse.