Barrow legend Mick Hardy won the club’s autumn golf competition at Thornbury Golf Club with an impressive 73 stableford points over the two rounds to seize the trophy by a point from Paul Gard. Steve Owen was a further point back and Colin Fletcher completed the leading scorers of over 70 points.
A chilly but bright morning greeted the record field of 16 golfers of very varying standards on Friday, but during the morning round of the par 3 course the temperature rose to make it a very pleasant day indeed.
Colin Fletcher came into lunch ahead with 37 points, but Mick Hardy was only a point behind accompanied by Phil Febrey.
After lunch the leader teed off first and with his ball headed directly into the trees it was game on. In fact the afternoon belonged to Steve Owen who used his generous handicap to good effect making a genuine birdie net albatross on a par 4 for 5 points on his way to the best score of 40. Son Kieran managed 38 points after a run of three gross pars bagged him 13 points.
Paul Gard, despite expressing severe displeasure at his closing holes accrued 37 points, as did Sam Turner who caused some alarm at driving through the first group some of whom had already played four shots! Mick Hardy also played steady golf and his 37 points were enough to shade the title.
First team skipper, Frank Forge, won the nearest the pin competition on the par 3 6th to much excited shrieking although he missed the 3 foot putt for birdie.
Organiser Ali Hood won the official long drive contest on the 13th.
Despite the golf, the shot of the day was in fact a square cut played by Jonny Sykes with a golf club during an impromptu game of cricket on the 16th tee.
Your correspondent’s day was almost marred by being hit by an errant shot on the 17th fairway on virtually the precise spot where he was hit last year!
Simon Hudson, returning from serious injury, picked up the consolation of the wooden spoon but still reported that he had enjoyed the day immensely.
Hopefully the pandemic situation will allow us to have the spring event next year after the cancellation of this year’s due to lockdown.