Last updated 19:52, Thursday, 18 September 2008

DESPITE one of the wettest Augusts in memory, head green keeper Tony Fielding and his team, presented Workington golf course in remarkably good condition for the club’s Finals Day.

JUNIOR CAPTAIN: Brad Hannah

The weather on the day itself was almost bone dry but with a breeze that kept it interesting.

The men’s and ladies’ club championships were won by Willie Bowe - for the sixth time in nine years - and first-time winner Sandra Messenger.

Seb Nixon, who gave Bowe, a good game in the men’s match has the distinction of qualifying for both the senior and junior championship, taking on junior captain Brad Hannah in the latter.

There was always going to be a new name on the ladies’ trophy with Messenger triumphing over Janette Roe.

Although beaten this time Roe has two more opportunities to make the winners’ circle when she partners husband Peter against Ann Martin and club president Brian Ritson in the mixed doubles knockout and when she plays Kath Gibson on the Lady Captain’s Prize.

De Ruddick was one of two multiple winners on Finals Day when she beat Dot Crelling in the Ladies’ Bronze Prize and Janice Cooper in the Hilda Minshaw Trophy.

The other multiple winner was Jamie Caine - one of many up-and-coming juniors - who triumphed over Ryan Shillito in the Junior Captains Cup.

Caine also won the mens foursomes cup with partner Adam Hawley who beat Gordon Watson and Wayne McCarron in the only match to go beyond the 18th hole. Caine and Hawley won on the first extra hole.

Although not a multiple winner on the day club president Brian Ritson has the opportunity to win two season-long events.

Beating Martin McGrath in the Captain’s Prize he still has the mixed doubles final to come.

The seniors knockout trophy was won by Roy Lucas who came back from two down late on to snatch victory from Raymond Hargrave on the last.

This the first time Hargrave has been beaten in a final in his long golfing career at the club.

The men’s singles knockout was won by Mark Nicholson who beat Mike Buckley, both playing in their first finals day. Buckley and partner Keith Wild were awarded the Fourball Knockout Trophy following a walk-over.

The last junior match of the day saw Jack Wilson beat Ryan Shuttleworth in the singles knockout Sinclair Cup.

The medal final first division was won by Richard Kirk with a very creditable nett 66 and the second division by John Richardson with nett 71.

Having won the North- West Division of the Cumbria Junior Golf League, the Workington Junior team took their place in the finals at Whitehaven Golf Club.

In atrocious weather with strong winds and almost continuous rain they overcame Carlisle Juniors 4-2 in the morning to win the Northern Shield.

The afternoon brought no respite in the conditions and they were up against a Bentham team who had beaten Ulverston 3.5-2.5 to win the southern section.

Considering the prevailing conditions, the golf played was of a high standard. Unfortunately Bentham triumphed by 4-2 but three matches went at least as far as the 17th.

The team of Hannah, Shillito, Jack McRea, Caine, Sean Hoskin and Jack Wilson are to be congratulated on battling through two rounds on a day when many adult golfers would not have considered playing.

Hannah had a trio of Junior Open competition wins in the space of 10 days, winning the gross section at Windermere, Carlisle and Penrith. These results have qualified him for the final of the County Junior Masters competition which was postponed at Cockermouth Golf Club on September 6 and will be held shortly.

To qualify for this, the results of all Junior Open competitions in the county are counted and the top six in each age group go forward.

Hannah has also represented Cumbria Boys against Lancashire Boys at Ashton & Lea GC and Cumbria v South of Scotland at Moffat winning three of his four matches.

In the County Junior 36-hole stroke-play championship at Seascale Hannah returned the best gross in the morning round and his score of minus five has qualified him for the Final of the Daily Telegraph Junior Golfer of the Year to be played in Abu Dhabi in November.

Seb Nixon represented an English team in the Italian U16 Open Championship and came a very creditable 15th out of 96 entrants in the 54-hole competition.

The Junior Fairways Cup was won by Ross Watson with 44 points, reducing his handicap from 26 to 23.

Second was Andrew Shillito with 39 reducing his handicap by two to 31. They were the only players to play under their handicaps out of a field of 13 players.

In the club’s ladies’ section the Harrison & Kennett 4 was won by shared by Janette Roe and Thena Lyngaas who both scored minus one.

Messenger, Helena Earl, Ann Newberry and Ruddick won the team event at Appleby with 124pts. Second were Dot Hodgson, Gill Jones, Doris Caldicott and Ruth Swift with 116.

On Saturday Seascale held their 4BBB and Earl and Ruddick finished second with 44 while Irene Todhunter and Janice Cooper were third with 43.