02 Jul 2023
What a fantastic week, another weekend which epitomizes what being a member at Farleigh is all about, members coming together to enjoy great golf and great social.
This year's series of Club Championship events saw more participants, across the board than ever before, thank you to all the members that supported these events, we hope you all enjoyed yourselves.
Conditions were tough across all three competitions, Mens, Ladies & Senior Club Championships, with thick rough and high winds being a feature of the events. Despite the challenging conditions, there was some great golf played and some worthy champions crowned.
Mens Club Championship
Over 130 players took part in this year's event, medal format across two days, this is a true test of golf with players needing to put together two great rounds to be in with a chance of the title.
The most prestigious of the trophies on offer is for the Club Champions, which is given to the best gross score over two days. Following round one there were eleven players separated by just four shots atop the leaderboard, so it was all to play for.
In an exciting day two where the winner was decided on the final hole, Rob Ditch made an incredible par on the last after finding the water with his tee shot to be crowned Mens Club Champion 2023. The results for the top three were:
1st Place - Rob Ditch, 77 + 72 = 149 gross
2nd Place - David Gregory, 73 + 78 = 151 gross
3rd Place - Adam Brown, 76 + 76 = 152 gross
Alongside the gross event members were competing for the Rose Bowl, which is the handicap/nett Club Champion. This was again hotly contested with some fantastic scores across both days, with just seven shots separating the top two after both rounds.
Dan Sumner was crowned champions after putting together two exceptional rounds, the top three results were:
1st Place - Dan Sumner, 68 + 71 = 139 nett
2nd Place - Jordan Carroll, 69 + 73 = 142 nett
3rd Place - Charlie Penny, 74 + 69 = 143 nett
Ladies Club Championship
More ladies took to the course this year than ever before with nine players competing for prestigious trophies on offer, again this was played across two rounds, medal format, meaning the winners would need to play consistently across both days.
There were some great scores in round one, Nikki Crocker led the way with a gross 90, and three ladies were just behind within 6 shots of the lead. Anne Bridge blew away the competition in round one, for the handicap event, with an amazing nett 65, there were however still 5 ladies within 10 shots ready to take advantage of any slip-up in round two.
With the gross competition in the balance as they went into round two, Nikki followed up her great first round with a fantastic second round, in tougher conditions, to take the title of Ladies Club Champion 2023 by an impressive seven shots. Anne followed her incredible score from round one with a steady round two to win the Ladies Handicap Champion 2023.
Club Champion
1st Place - Nikki Crocker, 90 +96 = 186 gross
2nd Place - Veronica Marnell, 100 + 93 = 193 gross
Handicap Champion
1st Place - Anne Bridge, 65 + 79 = 144 nett
2nd Place - Loraine Wheeler, 74 + 77 = 151 nett
Seniors Club Championship
This year saw over 40 seniors battle it out over two rounds which took place on Monday & Wednesday. Their event is also a medal however the Seniors Club Champion is crowned on the best nett score across the two rounds.
Impressive scores on day one saw two tied at the top, both on nett 66, John Shih & Bob Hucks, with three players tucked in just behind them on nett 67, again it was anyone's to play for on day two.
On day two one of the players tucked in behind the leaders managed to jump out from the pack, following up their nett 67 with an even more impressive nett 66. Putting together to excellent rounds, Scott Stevens, took the title of Seniors Club Champion 2023, the top three were as follows:
1st Place - Scott Stevens, 67 + 66 = 133 nett
2nd Place - John Shih, 66 + 71 = 137 nett
3rd Place - John Miller, 72 + 69 = 139 nett
This year the seniors did introduce a new prize for the best gross score across both days which was won by ex Club Captain Darren Byrne with a score of 164 gross.
In the Putting competition, Ken Croft was the clear winner with a 3-under Par score to take the trophy.
Well done to everyone that took part across all three events and a big congratulations to all of our winners.
