Tessa Byrne, steward at Evesham Golf Club, is London Pride EGU Steward of the Year 2009 for the Midland Region. The competition, run jointly by the English Golf Union (EGU) and Fuller’s London Pride aims to find the club steward at the 19th hole who provides the most welcoming and enjoyable experience for golfers, be they members or visitors. Tessa’s opposition was tough this year with a record number of votes being considered before the final decision was made.

She has been the steward at Evesham for the past seven years during which time she has set the highest standards for hospitality and food which are a joy for Evesham’s members and the envy of other clubs. After presenting Tessa with her prize accolade at the awards ceremony in London, David Spencer, Brands Marketing Manager of Fuller’s, commented, “The aim was to find the person who made a real difference at the 19th Hole. From the votes received this year, it’s plain to see there are some extraordinary ladies - but Tessa is special.”

Picture shows (left to right) David Spencer from Fuller’s; Tessa Byrne of Evesham Golf Club; Nigel Evans, Chairman English Golf Union.

CLEOBURY Mortimer  held their Mixed Open with over 40 pairs attending from various golf clubs across the country. The weather was good  and the course was looking in great condition. The Mixed greensomes format is one of the toughest formats to play but with the weather as fine as it was, there were some impressive  scores  returned.

The tee times started at 10am with CMGC members Rod and Annette Juckes striking the first blow! Their playing partners Ian and Heather Pringle where the eventual winners with a fantastic score of 38 points! This capped off a great weekend for the Pringle family as Jack was in the winning team the day before in the Captains Drive in!

Two Hawkstone members Pam & David Hiles - organised a Charity Golf Day which raised over £2,500 for The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital at Gobowen. The event was played at Brookfield Golf Club with the kind permission of Mr & Mrs Alan Reade and the organisers’ fellow Hawkstone members helped to fill the leader board! Overall winners with a best two of four-team stableford score were Percy Mellor, David Griffiths, Mike Andrews and Peter Murdon from Bradford with 101 points. The Hawkstone team of Alan Molyneux, Gerald Smith, Helen Smith & Lynn Howells were runners up in the Mixed Team event with 95 points, Alan also won the men’s nearest the pin prize, Lynn the ladies and Gerald the nearest the pin in three on the 18th.

Spalding Golf Club men's last monthly medal competition of the season was played in October, reports Terry Carter. It was Robin Exley who came up trumps in the 0-14 handicap category, winning with a nett 66 (80-14=66). The next four places could only be separated on countback with Geoff Hunt (79-10=69) taking second spot followed by Keith Hearne (71-2=69), Shaun Gough (76-7=69) and Gary Welsh (82-13=69) all shooting nett 69. Completing the leaderboard in this section were Malc Mumby and Noel O'Keeffe both carding a nett 70. In the 15-28 category, Mark Dodds reduced  his handicap  by two to 17 after winning this section, scoring a nett 66 (85-19=66) with David Bark (85-17=69) edging into second place on countback from John Carrott, both with a nett 69. Completing the leaderboard in this category, both carding a nett 70 was Kevin Walbrin and Chris Flynn. Keith Hearne won the lowest gross score prize with a superb one under par gross 71. Richard Woods had an up and down round in his nett 79, it included a hole-in-one, the second of his career, at the 202yd par three 6th, holing out with a four iron.
The Mixed team lost their last social match  5-1 with one game halved at Belton Park G.C. Grantham. The only winners for Spalding being John Matthews & Noreen Tointon, 3&2 with Bob Atkins & Olive Gooderson halving their game.

Former world boxing champion ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard paid a surprise visit to Oswestry Golf Club during his recent UK tour.

The multi world-title winner during the 1980’s and 1990’s enjoyed a leisurely nine holes, signing cards and other memorabilia for delighted members and guests.

Secretary Manager Roger Stamp commented “it was a privilege to welcome such a sporting legend to Oswestry Golf Club. He joked that he participates in golf rather than plays, but did enjoy his round”.

Accompanied by his son Ray Junior, ‘Sugar’ Ray has been appearing at venues around the UK promoting a number of charities. Our photograph shows Oswestry Golf Club PGA Professional Jason Davies and his wife Katina with ‘Sugar’ Ray.

CLUB results from Mile End in Shropshire where the Ladies Sunday October Medal saw Janice Turner out of front with 81-13-68 from Moya Holmes on 97-22-75. In the Ladies Monday October Medal. Bridgette Smith was on top form with 103-34-69 to win the Ladies Monday October Medal from Janet Edwards. In the MENS OCTOBER MEDAL Division 1 - (1) Kieran Davies   78-9-69 (2) Paul O'Connor 80-11-69 -Division 2: (1) Keith Davies   85-18-67 (2) Levin Bennett  84-16-68 Division 3: (1) Eric Ryan 86-20-66 (2) Meirion Jones 90-20-70.
     
The SENIORS SCHNEIDER TROPHY at Mile End was won Colin Roberts 4 up 2, Roger Butler 2 up and third Paul Walker 1 up.

Kent are the kings of English seniors golf again. They regained the title from old rivals Cheshire when they beat them 5½-3½ on the concluding day of the County Finals at Tandridge, while Dorset and Staffordshire tied their match to share third place. After the morning foursomes had been halved, Kent took command in the singles, winning four of the six games, their internationals proving better than Cheshire’s. It was a delighted Kent captain Nick Allen who said: “We have always previously come second to Cheshire and it’s about time we came out on top. I am very grateful that they didn’t play as well as us today.
Roger Fielding, the Cheshire skipper for all of their previous title-winning finals, was tasting defeat for the first time but praised Kent’s performance. Meanwhile the battle for third place couldn’t have been closer. Staffordshire edged the foursomes 2-1 but Dorset hit back in the singles and at one stage looked as if they might take the match comfortably but Staffordshire experienced players fought back to make it a tie.

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