Ernest makes Marie Curie national final
Last updated 19:47, Thursday, 28 August 2008
IT HAS has been a stellar year for Keswick golfers where national events are concerned.
Club president Ernest Clark won the Marie Curie Qualifier at Threlkeld Hall earlier this year.
And last week he took top honours at the regional final at historic Crail, which is the seventh oldest club in the world.
He now moves on to the national final to be played at the end of October on the Fairmont St Andrews course.
The Queen Mother’s Cup is an annual competition, now in its 13th year, dedicated to raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care to help fund its invaluable services.
There are two competitions running in parallel, playing for the Ladies’ Cup and the Men’s Cup.
Last year it attracted 500 club competitions played across the UK for the 400 places in the regional finals.
From these finals 10 men and 10 ladies go forward to the grand final where one winner from each group will walk away with the coveted Queen Mother’s Cup.
This success by Clark completes a unique treble for Keswick members following on from Tony and Dawn Stamper winning through to the final of the Bader Cup in Portugal and club professional Gary Watson partnering Bob Thornton to the National Pro-Am final in Turkey.
On Sunday Thornton chalked up another victory when playing off nine, he carded an impressive 74 to win the annual Rover Cup at Threlkeld Hall.
This was both the lowest gross and nett on the day and resulted in his handicap being reduced to eight.
Second was Ben Messenger (off 10) with a nett 66, with Shaune Coulthard (off 10) third with a nett 68.
The pot for Twos was shared by Ian Rogerson and Ben Messenger who both birdied the par three third.
The Fellmen’s season of competitive matches against seniors from other clubs is drawing to a close.
Ian Raw was captain of the day for the visit to Appleby where the Ramblers took revenge for their defeat at Threlkeld Hall, running out winners by 5½-2½.
David Bell skippered the team for the return fixture at Stony Holme when a closely fought match ended all square with each side winning three matches and one being halved.
The remaining fixtures against Bentham and Windermere were both victims of the wet weather and it is hoped that they can be rescheduled before the season ends.
