Thetford Golf Club
Mike picks up two trophies at Finals Weekend
Mike Horley had a weekend to remember at the Finals Weekend.
The six-handicapper won two of the Club's major trophies - the Cock Pheasant Trophy for the handicap matchplay knock-out competition, and the Cowan & Oliver Trophy which has a 36-hole scratch matchplay final.
On Saturday in the Cock Pheasant Mike built up a three-hole lead over Rafe Ashby by the turn and went on to secure a 4 & 2 win. On Sunday he was one down against Peter Allott at lunchtime but was back on terms after the first hole of the afternoon. It was still all square after 23 but Mike then won five of the next seven holes. He held on to that lead to win the match 5 & 4.
Rafe Ashby had some consolation for his Cock Pheasant loss when he won the Krumrine Trophy on Sunday with a one-hole win over Glenn Beardsall. Rafe was four up at one time but Glenn hit back to get three of those holes back. Rafe remained one up as they halved the last three holes with a 3-6-5 finish. A feature of the match was that Rafe parred all four par-3s while Glenn had three pars and a bogey - and they both had birdie threes at the 11th which Glenn won with his shot.
The newly-introduced Scratch Knock-Out event was won by Ross Sanford, one up after a closely-fought final against Matt Wabe. Ross was two up at the halfway mark but Matt hit back to take the lead at the 15th. Ross then finished birdie, par, bogey as Matt had three bogeys, and Ross ran out the winner by the narrowest of margins.
The Roy Lawrence Trophy is the four-ball better-ball competition and Rob Johnson & James Taylor beat Peter Croker & John Ward on the 18th green after another nail-biting contest.
It was a similar story in the mixed foursomes event for the Keiths Coasters, which saw David Newstead hole a 15-footer on the last green to secure victory for him and Gill Welham after a competitive final against Ken Kirwan & Janes Herrington.
The Cock Pheasant Plate was another final to reach the 18th green - and Dave Bennett ended as a two-hole winner over Nolan Guthrie.
Club President Anne McHarg presided over the weekend and was impressed by the standard of play and the atmosphere of friendly competition during the seven finals. She also thanked the volunteer referees - Brian Chadwick, David Horsburgh, Bob Pearson, Barry Brackenborough and manager Malcolm Grubb.
All the winners will receive their trophies at the Club's presentation night on Sunday November 12.
Double finalists: Mike Horley (left) beat Rafe Ashby in the Cock Pheasant final on Saturday and also won the Cowan & Oliver Trophy. Rafe won the Krumrine Trophy on Sunday.
Anne McHarg and Ross Sanford, who became the first winner of the Scratch Knock-Out competition.
Ken Kirwan and Jane Herrington (left) lost to David Newstead and Gill Welham on the 18th green of the Keiths Coasters final.
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