LEEK GOLF CLUB PRO-AM 2015 - THURSDAY 27th AUGUST
The annual Leek Golf Club Pro-Am was held on Thursday 27th August 2015 and once again a full field of over 40 teams participated in the event. The day attracts some of the top Professionals from the region with a very healthy individual prize fund available.
Even with heavy rain the day before hampering course preparations the course was in excellent condition, a credit to John Turner and his ground staff who worked tirelessly to prepare the course.
Once again the course proved a good test for amateurs and professionals alike, even with the good scoring conditions of soft greens and very little wind. This was echoed in the fact that only 5 of the Professionals managed to shoot under-par rounds.
The eventual winner was Craig Shave (Whetstone Golf Club) with a very impressive 65 (-5), his round of 6 birdies and just 1 bogey was enough to see him win by 2 shots. This was only 1 shot behind the Professional`s course record of 64 (-6) still held by Paul Bagshaw and achieved in 2003 in the 2nd Leek Pro-Am, a testament to how tough a test Leek Golf Club is. Daniel Greenwood (Forest Pines Golf Club) finished 2nd with 67 (-3), closely followed by last year's winner Ian Walley (Kedleston Park Golf Club) 68 (-2). Richard O'Hanlon (St Kew Golf Club) and Paul Streeter (Lincoln Golf Centre) made up the rest of the top 5 with scores of 69 (-1).
(Craig Shave collects his 1st prize of £750)
Team scores, as ever, were particularly high with the best 2 scores from the 4 counting. In 3rd Place was Strata Group's team consisting of Tony Thornhill, John Moss, & Simon Lilly (Pro) with a team score of 131 (-9). In 2nd Place was Building Contract Services Team of Bob Aston, & Daniel Greenwood (Pro) with a score of 124 (-16), which 9 times out of 10 would be enough to win any pro-am event but this year it was struggling to hold onto the coat tails of the winning team. The team consisting of Leek members Rob Parkes, Dunc Stott & Warren Alcock, accompanied by Professional Craig Shave came in with a remarkable score of 121 (-19).
(Dunc Stott, Warren Alcock, Rob Parkes & Craig Shave)
A special mention must be made for Rob Parkes and Dunc Stott who both carded scores of 69 (-1) which would have given them tied fourth in the professional standings, 2 outstanding rounds from Leek Golf Clubs old guard.
A massive thank you must be made to the day's 12 hole sponsors Breeze House, Discount Discs, All Seasons, Strata, Build Contract Services, A L Boulton & Son, Newbold Opticians, Heraldic Pottery, A.C.L, Service Metals (Midlands), Browns Waste Management and KMF. Also a thank you to our 2 main sponsors F. Ball & Co. and Molson Coors. Without all your help and generosity the Pro-Am would not be able to run in the way it does. We hope you can be a part of the Leek Pro-Am for years to come.
RESULTS
1st Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - Breeze House - Phill Davies
3rd Hole - Longest Drive - Discount Discs - Ade Leigh
4th Hole - Nearest the Pin - All Seasons Ltd - Jayne Baxter
7th Hole - Nearest the Pin - Strata Group Ltd - Mike McKie
8th Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - Building Contract Services Ltd - Dave Alcock
9th Hole - Nearest the Pin - A L Boulton & Son - Geoff Lawrence
11th Hole - Nearest the Pin - Molson Coors - Tom Bird
12th Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - Newbold Optician
- Amateur - Dave Westwood - Professional - Daniel Whitby-Smith
13th Hole - Nearest the Pin - Heraldic Pottery - Warren Alcock
14th Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - A.C.L - Dave Fowler
15th Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - Service Metal Midlands - Dunc Stott
16th Hole (Professional Longest Drive) - Browns Waste Management - Craig Shave
17th Hole - Longest Drive - KMF - Graham Porter
18th Hole - Nearest the Pin in 2 - F. Ball & Co. Ltd - Rob Parkes
10th Nett - Andy Baxter, Jayne Baxter, Jenny Cordon & Rich Smith (Pro)
9th Nett - Dave Fowler, Nick Moss, Mick McKie & James Austerberry (Pro)
8th Nett - Brian Tooth, Dave Alcock, Mark Rushton & Alec Smith (Pro)
7th Nett - Mike Andrews, Alan Peake, Bob Russell & Rob Bardsley
6th Nett - Dave Westwood, Steve Burgwin, Dave Cooke & Nick Taylor (Pro)
5th Nett - Phill Davies, Dan Smart, & Mark Butler (Pro)
4th Nett - Rob Symon, Chris Howell, Jim Blairs & Oliver Booth (Pro)
3rd Nett - Tony Thornhill, John Moss, Tim Walker & Simon Lilly (Pro)
2nd Nett - 124 - Bob Aston, Gavin Dixon, Paul Rushton & Daniel Greenwood (Pro)
1st Nett - 121 - Rob Parkes, Dunc Stott, Warren Alcock & Craig Shave (Pro)
FEEDBACK
"Hi Greg,
Just a quick note to say how much Rob, Disco and myself enjoyed the pro-am yesterday.
The course was presented in fantastic condition in spite of the recent inclement weather. The organisation was flawless and as ever our catering/bar staff made sure everyone was fed and watered and was given a warm welcome. The halfway house went down well with our Pro who seldom got to enjoy the delights of a bacon 'n cheese oatcakes washed down with a pint of Carling!
All in all, I think the Pro-Am showcased just how fantastic our course and clubhouse is.
The only thing that put a downer of the day was your score!
Please count us in again for next year.
Tony, Rob & Disco"
Service Metal (Midlands) - Hole Sponsor
"Hi Greg
Thanks for a Great day and a very well run pro-am. The course was in excellent condition, thanks again.
John"
FootJoy Sales Rep
PRESIDENT'S DAY FOR LADIES - Sunday 30th August
Nearest the Pin 4th - Leann Nixon - 8' 4½"
Nearest the Pin 7th - Georgie Taylor - 10' 7"
Nearest the Pin 11th - Jen Flavell - 15' 8"
Bronze
3rd - Ann Cockersole - 33 Points
2nd - Janet Gilbert - 34 Points
1st - Lisa Davies - 35 Points
Silver
3rd - Sue Spooner - 34 Points
2nd - Jen Flavell - 35 Points
1st - Leann Nixon - 36 Points
President's Prize - Wendy Marriott - 40 Points
MIXED OPEN 31st AUGUST
On Bank Holiday Monday, we held our second Mixed Open of 2015. There were to be 60 players but when 2 did not turn-up, we were reduced to 28 mixed pairs, or 14 four-balls. The numbers were down from last year`s event and even down on our first Mixed Open in May.
A lot of work had gone into advertising the event and encouraging players to come from afar.
The format was 4BBB playing off ¾ handicap. Karen had, as always given assistance in listing start times and dealing with pre-competition queries, working most of the Bank Holiday for the Club.
There had been a lot of rain the night before and although the weight of rain reduced by 11:00am, the day remained wet with occasional showers. Mr Sunshine made no appearance whatever. Perhaps because of the weather, the Clubhouse was more subdued than usual at these events. Some competitors purchased food at the club before they went out. Most ate a meal at the Club after.
All the competitors said that the course was in good condition and enjoyed it including competitors who had poor scores.
Andy & Jayne Baxter played with old friends and members of Leek Golf Club, Mark Jones and Liz McLarty-Jones. They had travelled all the way down from Northumberland, and were great company.
Despite the reduced handicapping and the weather, the scores for the day were excellent.
The winners were John Reeves and Carol Ryder from Tytherington. When a couple had to cancel due to illness, Junior Captain Callum Nixon and his sister Leann filled the gap at very short notice - and then came second!
Thanks are due to our Captain Trevor for meeting and starting every competitor with a smile and a laugh, despite the rain. Jake kindly wrote out and put together all the cards for the Competitors.
At the Half-way House, competitors were met with hot drinks, cakes and scones - all of which were well received and devoured rapidly. Thanks are due to all those who helped to serve the refreshments there namely Carol Nixon, Clare and "Izzy" Robinson and Marilyn Smith.
Substantial thanks are due to Peter, Gavin and all the girls in the Clubhouse for keeping the guests supplied before and after the game as well as putting the cakes, scones and drinks together for the Half-way house.
On the course, Peter Nixon and Bo Robinson kept a check on water gathering on the greens, even removing it in some cases.
Thanks are also due to the Competition Secretary, Mike Barker for checking all the scores and producing the list of winners so quickly.
The only complaint came from one group who just could not find the toilet on the 10th!
David Smith
Results:-
1st John Reeves & Carol Ryder 43 Points
2nd Callum Nixon & Leann Nixon 40 Points
3rd N. Hodgson & K. Mann 38 Points
4th Andy Baxter & Jayne Baxter 38 Points
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