PRO / CAPTAIN SUFFER HEAVY DEFEAT IN CHALLENGE MATCH

The police duo of Rob Thomson (h'cap 9) and Rob Taylor (h'cap 7) responded to the Pro/Captain Challenge by beating up their opponents within 14 holes and inflicted a 5 and 4 victory over the Professional and Captain of LGC. Immediately following their comprehensive beating the Captain commented that "The guys were fantastic today. They both played very good golf and deserved their win. There was nothing that we could have done about it".

"When the scores were level after 3 holes we thought that it would be a close match" said Greg, but then Rob Taylor knocked it to 2 feet for a birdie on the 4th and repeated this feat on the 5th to move 2 ahead. The Captain then hit the 6th in 2 to make them favourites to win the hole but Rob Thomson holed a devilish putt from the back of the green to give the Police team their 3rd consecutive birdie. Still in shock the Captain then managed to 3 putt which brought a shrug of the shoulders from his playing partner. On the 7th no one was threatening the hole for a birdie and it appeared that a 3 would be an acceptable score. This was before Rob Taylor played a great "lag putt" into the bottom of the hole for yet another birdie. Score 4 up. The 8th was a difficult hole for the Pro team because a shot was being given to their opponents. On current form a birdie was expected and.......................... they got one but this was a 3 nett 2 on the tough 8th hole. 5 down!!!!! On the 9th the tables started to turn when both the Pro and the Captain knocked it on and their opponents appeared to be in trouble when they "short sided" themselves leaving an impossible shot. They both played "Mickelson like" flop shots to 6 feet and duly walked away with a half. At the turn the Thomson /Taylor partnership were 7 under nett and 5 up.

The back nine started in a positive fashion when Greg 2 putted for a birdie 4 to reduce the deficit slightly. The 11th looked like the margin may be reduced further but Rob Thomson chipped to 6 feet from out of the trees on the left (adjacent to the 12th tee) and then holed his putt across the slope for another well-earned half. The 12th "was in the bag" when Rob Taylor was on the path above the green and stymied behind a tree to prevent him going for the hole the Pro and the Captain were sitting pretty and feeling confident about getting one back. Rob then produced a "Seve moment" when he delicately dropped his ball onto the small patch of grass between the 2 bunkers before seeing it roll to 8 feet. The Captain stated that "the shot deserved the applause that it received and to be fair the putt deserved to be holed by Rob Taylor for one of the best up and downs that I have ever witnessed". 

When Rob Thomson hit the 13th green with his tee shot he only needed to 2 putt for another nett birdie to make it dormie 5 and an unassailable lead. "He wasn't going to miss" Greg said and on this occasion he was right. The match finished on the 14th and the long walk back to the Clubhouse began. A massive win of 5 & 4 for the challengers and no doubt a lot of banter in the Pro shop for the rest of the season.

The Captain would like to invite members to support this year's "Captain's Charity" by participating in one of these Challenge Matches. "These guys today have beaten us up by playing to the best of their ability. They were 3 under gross (8 under nett) after 14 holes and I am sure that they have enjoyed the occasion, but we all know that the Ronald McDonald Charity and the Wheelchairs for Horton Lodge will appreciate the fund raising efforts from the members of Leek Golf Club". If anyone wishes to challenge the Professional / Captain please ask Jake in the shop to arrange a date and time to suit you.

PLAYER PROFILE - IAN CURLEY

Name - Ian Curley
Handicap - +2
Joined Leek - April 2001
Best Score at Leek - 63 Gross
Favourite Hole - 17th
Favourite Hole ever played - 16th Hole at Stockport Golf Club
Favourite Player - Tiger Woods
Ultimate 4 ball - Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo & Seve Ballesteros

What's in the bag? 
Driver - Titleist 913 D3 8.5*, Diamana Blue Stiff
Fairway Wood - Ping Anser 3 Wood 15* Stiff Shaft
Hybrid - PING Anser 18* Stiff Shaft
Irons - PING i20, 4-9 iron. 
Wedges - PING Gorge 47*, 54* & 60*
Putter - Odyssey 2Ball
Ball - Titleist Pro V1 

SENIORS' SECTION

Leek G.C. Seniors' Match vs. Westwood G.C.

Last Thursday saw the Seniors' section play their annual away match at Westwood G.C. Beautiful sunny weather and a dry course produced some excellent golf, which resulted in a win for Westwood by the score of 5 games to 3.

The highly-regarded greens were not in top condition, as hollow-tining and other remedial work made putting a little bit of a lottery, in a similar way to our club's present situation. In a way the score outlined above is irrelevant. Seniors' golf is a special element of this great game. As first-timer Andy Baxter says "Now I am a fully-fledged "junior" senior I can join in all the fun to be had. Because Leek GC have changed the age limit from 60 to 55 (to fall in line with the vast majority of clubs they play on the seniors' circuit) Michael Wainwright has a large squad to choose from for selection every time he has a match to organise. This means that players are not "press-ganged" into playing every week. Far from it, each individual can pick and choose their own availability." These players have a wide range of handicaps, but all agree the idea is to spread the word that Leek Seniors of all abilities do really like to have a great day out in their dotage.

Back to Andy who added at the end-"I was playing with Alan Yeomans, someone I'd rarely played with before, against an old Westwood friend Russell Turner and his partner Ken Juggins. Amazingly I used to work with Ken at The Place in 1982 and hadn't seen him since then. We had a really good laugh, and remain friends despite beating them 7 and 6! Alan was the star of the show and the moans and groans from the opposition was a joy to behold, all calmed down and soon forgotten about by several pints afterwards."

COMPETITION RESULTS

April Extra Stableford - 10/04/2014

Division 1- Liam Hancock - 36 Points

Division 2 -Tony Collier - 39 Points

Division 3- John Lawton - 40 Points

Division 4- Mick Laverick - 39 Points

George Mountford Trophy - 13/04/2014

1st Place- Tom Nadin - Nett 67

2nd Place- Karl Blundred - Nett 69

3rd Place- Joy Briggs - Nett 70

MASTERS SWEEPSTAKE 2014

Bubba Watson - Doug Molloy - £45 
Jonas Blixt - Jim Allen - £30 
Jordan Speith - Arthur Doherty - £20

MIXED OPEN - MONDAY 26th MAY 2014

Leek GC still have some places left for this popular event. Numbers are slightly down from our usual target, so it would be great if members of Leek would rally round and support this event. There are some great place prizes on offer, plus others for "nearest the pin" and "two's". Pop in to the Professional's Shop or contact Karen in the office for details, you will not be disappointed.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 19th - George Mountford Trophy - Juniors - 9:15 - 10:15am
Sunday 20th - Leek v Newcastle - Mixed - 12:00 - 1:30pm
Monday 21st
Tuesday 22nd - Texas Scramble - Ladies
Wednesday 23rd - BET365 Golf Society - 10:00 - 11:00am
- Macclesfield Borough Council Golf Society - 1:00 - 2:00pm
Thursday 24th - Leek v Uttoxeter - Ladies Perry Cup - 10:30 - 11:00am
Friday 25th - Leek v Prestbury - Seniors - 11:00 - 12:30pm (1st) 11:00 - 11:20 (16th) 
Saturday 26th - Leek 2nd Team v Lakeside - 1:30 - 2:30pm
Sunday 27th - April/RNLI Medal