JUNE 2019 Reddy to play? Summer is approaching, let’s hit some golf balls! 1 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.comWellingborough Golf Club Magazine Cruising my way through the Captaincy Year I AM currently writing this column on my phone whilst on an Alaskan Cruise, which explains why I’ve not been down the Club as often as normal. I don’t expect any sympathy, but at least you can understand why this is a shorter piece than normal! The coming month is going to be a busy time at Harrowden Hall with my Captain’s Day taking place on June 22nd and the Summer Ball on June 25th. And then the following month it’s the Captain’s Away Weekend on July 12th-14th at Hilton Puckrup Hall, Tewksbury. Please support these events because they promise to be wonderful occasions, as always. Roy Pouncey tells me that the Family Fun Day on May 19th was very well supported again this year so we would like to express our thanks to all involved in organising the day. The weather was kind for the first hour or so and then the heavens opened so ‘Plan B’, ie get inside quick, was needed. A special thank you to Martin Wall and Chris Reading who donned their aprons and ensured a good time was had by all despite the rain. On the same weekend, the Fish Plate Cup Final took place with Lee Gardner and Peter Linnitt winning 2&1 against Stephen Etheridge and Andrew Grimmitt. Congratulations to both pairs for your success in this knockout competition. Elsewhere on the golf course, well done to Mark Anderson for winning the VE Cup thanks to a brilliant front nine, and then just held off the chasing pack - all five of them! Commiserations to Adam Sherlock’s Hollingsworth team, whose gallant effort to retain the title came up just short. More details of how our teams are getting on this season are covered in this publication. Please also turn to the centre pages for an important announcement regarding Club professional James Whittemore and junior golf, pictured below, at Wellingborough Golf Club. Enjoy your golf and be lucky - stay away from the Captain’s Bunker and Out of Bounds on the 18th Hole. 2019 Club Captain, George Khaw 2 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 3 Ashleigh wins Northamptonshire Ladies title WELLINGBOROUGH Ladies Scratch Team player Ashleigh Critchley was crowned 2019 County Ladies Champion after the teenager beat Leah Ribano (Northampton) on the 18th hole in the 2019 final at Overstone Park GC. After coming through strokeplay qualifying with the joint-leading score, alongside Ribano, of nine- over-par 155, the 2018 County Girls Champion progressed into the final with contrasting wins in her opening two knockout rounds. Although fellow Wellingborough golfers, and former champions, Mary MacLaren and Carol Gibbs bowed out at the quarter-final stage, Critchley made smooth progress into the last four by beating Alison Irvine (Northampton) 6&5. It was a slightly different story for the 14-year-old in her semi-final as she was taken to the first extra hole by past winner Claire Lindsay (Northampton) before progressing into the showpiece final. Wellingborough’s Ida Jane Huggins qualified for the Silver Salver Plate knockout stages but lost to Lorraine Gilder in the quarter-finals. Tap-Ins WELLINGBOROUGH Tour Pro Ryan Evans tweeted; ‘May is skin cancer awareness ANDREW Loasby and Ged Eady are in the final of month. Look after your largest organ! And the Fish Cups after beating Andrew Yearsley and keep topping up the sunscreen’. Well said Chris Hartley 4&3 in the last four. Ryan, and the same goes for every month. NEIL Smith is the leader of the Men’s Order WANT to get your game in shape? Club pro of Merit after six events as he has a 50-point James Whittemore is your man to help! Please advantage from Tony Wheatley (280). contact James on 07791 798202 or email WILLIAM Wilkins carded a magnificent total of 24 [email protected]. points over nine holes to win the Friday Evening JUNIOR member Olivia Barby was part of the Golf event in mid-May. Robert Hurson bagged 21 Northamptonshire Girls Experience Team that points in two of the other competitions during the completed a 4-0 victory in the friendly match month. against Bedfordshire at Brampton Heath GC. THIS year’s Mixed Exchange Day is at St Ives COUNTY pros Paul Hodgkiss and Nick Soto GC (Hunts) on Wednesday, September 11th. compiled the joint-best score of two-under- If you would like to go, the list is now up on par 70 in the NPGA Winter Series Pro-Am at the board in the Competition’s Room for you Wellingborough GC. Former Club pro Simon Lilly to sign up. finished third and also won the team prize on 129. WITH the new Intermediate League season WITH pages to fill in the Wellingborough Club approaching fast, we are looking for players who Magazine, there are plenty of opportunities to might be interested in joining our squad. Please advertise during the year. Please contact the contact Paul Hughes on 07770 387183 or email Club Office to get your message across to the [email protected]. members and visitors in 2019. 4 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 5 6 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com Locked out, but still a great day at The Gog LADIES Captain Sally McKeown (pictured right) said: “Congratulations to Miriam Johnson’s Cecil Leitch team who had a fantastic win for their first match at Kingsthorpe - 6-1! “Unfortunately Miriam was later informed that Kingsthorpe had decided to withdraw their club from the competition. “So, just so it goes on record, well done to Jacqueline Mudd, Gill Rivers, Susan Kellett, Susan Sharp, Liz Rees and Lema Townsend for collecting the points. “The Ladies had a very good day away to Gog Magog early in May, although it didn’t seem that would be the case when we arrived to find the Pro Shop locked and nobody could access it! “There had been a power failure the previous evening and it had messed the security system up. “Luckily, I had arranged for scorecards to be sent to me before we arrived, but the buggies that had been arranged for some of the ladies were not readily available, as the keys were locked in the Pro Shop. “The staff were all very welcoming and soon had the situation under control, although some of the Ladies in buggies only had time to play nine holes. “Most of us managed to get around the course without getting wet, so, all things considered, it was a good day. “Thanks to my playing partners (pictured left-to-right) Libby David, Diane Dickinson and Sarah Chudley. “The following day, we welcomed eight Woburn Ladies to Wellingborough for a friendly match. Hopefully, this fixture will be a regular exchange. Sadly the Wellingborough Ladies lost, but we look forward to visiting Woburn next year. “There was another friendly match against Northampton when teams of 12 play against each other. The match was drawn, but Northampton were the winners last year, so they retain the Plate. “In recent county competitions, Wellingborough members Diane Dickinson, Pauline Kendall and Gayner Arnett all picked up prizes in the Vets Spring Meeting. Well played, ladies. “Judith and Doug Chapman have kindly offered to host a Vintage Afternoon Tea on Thursday, July 18th at their beautiful garden in Great Harrowden. Tickets cost £12, and are available from Ladies Committee members. Proceeds to go the the Captains’ Charities - Headway and Wellibus. If you are unable to attend, then offers of cakes would be most welcome. Thank you.” Wellingborough Golf Club Magazine 7 8 www.wellingboroughgolfclub.com Crawley leaves best until last in Higgs Bowl STEVE Crawley compiled the joint-third best score of net 68 in the NGL Higgs Bowl as the Wellingborough member came within two shots of lifting the first County men’s piece of silverware this year at Delapre Park GC. In a field of well over competitors, the 10-handicapper (pictured left) birdied the 10th hole and kept the big numbers off his scorecard throughout his round before finishing in style with an eagle two on the 18th hole. Despite his incredible finish, Crawley had to settle for fifth on countback as home club member Dave Savage took the plaudits from Lee Hitchcock (Northampton), who carded the best gross round of three-under-par 66. In the Ladies Vets Spring Meeting at Overstone Park GC, Diane Dickinson was in top form on the short holes as the Wellingborough golfer won the Bronze Division 1 prize on countback from Overstone’s Gina Evans (33 points), with Pauline Kendall (32) third. Club-mate Gaynor Arnott (33) produced a sensational last dozen holes as she came through to bag third in Bronze Division 2, Carol Gibbs finished fifth in the Silver category, while Liz Beaumont was the only Wellingborough member in the top 10 of the Senior Cup. European team selection is still within sight for Meghan MEGHAN MacLaren remains in the mix for a With the Ladies Scottish Open being the last 2019 Solheim Cup place after grabbing third qualifier on August 8th-11th, MacLaren will be place in the Jabra Ladies Open to move up to chasing automatic selection or hope to catch the seventh in the qualification standings. eye of European Team Captain Catriona With the top three in the LET charts earning Matthew, who is adding four more ‘wild an automatic spot in the European team, card’ picks to her line-up.