Ollie Mitchell and Mark Dodds held their nerve to win a thrilling Winter League final at Spalding Golf Club last week.
The men’s winter league competition began way back in November last year, with almost 50 pairs playing in all weather conditions – leaving two pairs to contest the final for the Course Stewards Cup.
In a high quality final with numerous birdies, Mitchell (2 handicap) and Mark Dodds (8) were 1up at the turn against Darrel Cross (14) and Stuart Armstrong (15).
They extended their advantage to 2up after winning the 11th and looked odds-on to take the spoils.
The duo held this lead until Cross won both the 16th and 17th to square up the match, and with pars at the last from both Mitchell and Dodds it was Armstrong who had to hole a five foot putt on the last to force a sudden death play-off.
After halving the first extra hole, Dodds hit a superb approach shot to within six foot of the flag at the next hole – which he converted for a birdie to seal the much coveted trophy for himself and Mitchell. The losing semi-finalists were Rob and Hugo Kedzlie and Mal Wray and Malcolm George.
- The Spalding first team squad surrendered their Elsham county foursomes title after losing their second round away tie at Sleaford – the team they beat in last year’s final – one down.
The format consists of three pairs, playing the full 18 holes, off scratch with the combined matchplay score to count. The pairings of Keith Hearne and Ollie Mitchell and Dan Hines and Lloyd Chatham were always behind, due mainly to superb putting from their opposition.
They were four down and five down respectively at one time – but recovered to lose two down and three down.
The final pair out Simon Richardson and Andy Grimwood were always in control of their game and were 5up after 17 holes, making the combined score all square.
But a bogey at the last hole for the Spalding pair against a par for the opposition was enough to see Sleaford through.
- Spalding’s top team were also in action in a South Lincs Scratch League, but slipped to a 4-2 defeat at leaders Blankney.
Winning pairs for Spalding were Andy Grimwood and Lloyd Chatham (3&2) and Mark Cooley and Wayne Wallace (2up).
- Some 30 teams of four entered the spring bank holiday Texas scramble competition – and with good weather and course conditions, some very low scores were posted.
The winning quartet was Jackie Bailey-Scott, Tracey Siddle, Trevor Laud and Adam Keogh on 52.08.
Craig and Calum Lewis, Anthony Murphy and Lewis Wright taking second spot with 53.75.
The teams of Ian Starr, Sam Rate, Martin North and John Chatham and the Kedzlie family, Rob, Hugo, Jocelyn and Matilde were placed third and fourth respectively.
- The Spalding mixed team battled out a 3-3 draw at their near neighbours Sutton Bridge in their latest social match.
Winning pairs for Spalding were Peter Bridge and Jennifer Wilson (2&1), Howard Greaves and Mary Ellis (5&4) and John Patton and Yvonne Greaves (1up).
