Swainbank hangs on to Keswick’s club championship
Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 25 September 2008
ADAM Swainbank, who holds the course record at Keswick Golf Club’s Threlkeld Hall, faced an uphill task in the second round of the club championship on Saturday.
John Hartshorn (off nine) and Swainbank (off five) were head to head in the final which is played off scratch over 36 holes.
Hartshorn played some magnificent golf in the morning session and had gone in to lunch three up.
After the break Swainbank soon began the fight back and despite sturdy resistance from Hartshorn, he played his way back into the match.
Standing on the 18th tee Swainbank was one up and closed out the match to take the title for the second year running by winning the last hole.
Ian Pettigrew (off 10) won the senior masters’ final against Roy Fisher (off 14) when the match ended on the 15th with Pettigrew four up with three to play.
Unfortunately, former junior captain Jamie O’Brien, who had broken his ribs in a rugby match last week, was not able to play his handicap championship final against Bernard Kitching.
It is hoped O’Brien will be fit enough for this match to be played soon.
Earlier in the week Colin Mason and Steve Grogan had beaten Steve Barnes and Ian Curry two and one to take the men’s doubles title.
Tony and Dawn Stamper have been in excellent form this year, both individually and as a playing partnership. So it was not a great surprise that they should win the mixed final against Swainbank and Nancy Smith, just managing to take the title two and one.
With Swainbank being involved in the club championship this match was also played prior to Finals Day.
The ladies’ club championship was a repeat of last year’s final and saw Pam Dobinson once again take on Liz Scott.
Twelve months ago it was Scott who prevailed and this year the match was again keenly contested.
Dobinson, however, managed to edge ahead at a critical stage and won the 16th to finish the match three up.
Barbara Hancock (off 22) took on Joan Curry (off 20) in the ladies’ bronze scratch championship.
Hancock took an early lead and was never behind, with her putting being the deciding factor on many holes.
Curry, however, kept coming back and pressed hard just after the turn to reduce the deficit to one hole. Hancock then edged ahead on the 14th and closed the match out on the 16th, three and two.
The ladies’ handicap championship final was between Judy Figg (off 14) and Margaret Hayes (off 21).
This was a well-matched contest with little to choose between the two for most of the 18 holes. Figg just edged ahead to take the title on the 17th winning two and one.
Eric Messenger won the Threlkeld Hall Trophy on Sunday and with it the coveted Green Jacket.
This annual Stableford competition is open to all members but the Green Jacket is awarded to the golfer aged 50 or over who returns the best score on the day.
Messenger (off 14) had a great round and won by a convincing margin, scoring 42 points which also resulted in his handicap being reduced to 12.
Second went to Alan Levy (off 12) on 39 points with Barry Gaskell (off 13) taking third place with 36 points.
The newly crowned club champion Liz Scott (off five) headed the ladies’ section with 37 points.
Her great rival Dobinson (off seven) took second on 35 and Joan Thornburn (off 36) came third on 33.
Scott and Dobinson also shared the ladies’ spot prizes for nearest the pin in two on the 18th with Scott being the closer of the two.
Steve Grogan was nearest in two on the 18th in the men’s section and Messenger made his day even more special with his tee shot on the 16th not only giving him nearest the pin on that hole but also enabling him to record the only Two on the day.
