Golf: Leonardo finds there's an art to winning the open

Leonardo Ruggieri from Goodwood shot a very impressive 76 to win the championship for the third year in a row.

Runner-up with a gross 82 was William Groom of Worthing. The best nett score of the day went to Charlie Gilgenkrantz with an impressive 69.

Special mention goes to Salysa Mason, who won nearest the pin on the sixth hole which is a 122-yard par three.

A club spokesman said: “We would like to thank all the juniors that participated this year and we look forward in welcoming more juniors into our open in 2017.”

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park held their monthly medal on a bright and sunny day with little wind, and the 83 players took full advantage of the benign conditions to post some excellent scores.

Top of the pile was one of the younger seniors, Paul Owen, whose 65 was the best score of the day and continued his handicap reduction. Second place in division one, three shots behind, was Guy Goodens with 68, followed in third by Chris Strudwick on 69, including three birdies.

Justin Thorpe set the pace in division two with 68, fending off three challengers on 69 – Adam Exall, David Hayward and Mick Fillary. Division three’s winner was another senior, Gary Strowbridge, who swept past a re-vitalised Ronnie Barber to win on countback with 67 – ahead of last month’s winner Andrew Douglass on 68. Graham Angell showed a glimpse of his old form with a steady 71.

Leading scores: Div 1: 65 Paul Owen; 68 Guy Goodens; 69 Chris Strudwick; 70 Andy Salmon, Phil Harrison and Oliver Bradbury. Div 2: 68 Justin Thorpe; 69 Adam Exall, David Hayward, Mick Fillary; 70 Paul Hatcher, M. Karn, Henry Fisher. Div 3: 67 Gary Strowbridge, Ronnie Barber; 68 Andrew Douglass; 69 Alan Richardson; 70 Dave Fowler.

Cowdray Park seniors played their second match in two days when they entertained a very keen team from Hayling Island.

The hosts put out a strong team against guests whose course is among the toughest around.

Although the visitors put up a determined fight, with most matches closely contested, the home team ran out winners by 5½-2½.

The first match out featured both match managers and proved one of high quality, with birdie putts and pars the order of the day. Trevor Edwards and Tony Pike were two up at the turn but, by the 18th, they had been reeled in by their opponents for an honourable draw.

Dave Lucking and Dave Coombes overpowered their opponents 5&4 before John Doran and Mike Nobes won a tough match 2&1, with Doran scoring a personal gross two over par and Nobes winning a prize for his nearest-the-pin shot on the ninth, which finished barely three inches from the hole.

This showed how much the Cowdray players had to be on their game to get a result.

Apart from the final match, which Nick Austin and Gary Strowbridge won 5&3, most of the other matches went to the 18th.

Results (Cowdray names first): Trevor Edwards & Tony Pike halved with Alan Mills & Allen Spencer; Dave Lucking & Dave Coombes beat Barry Jones & Gerry Daly 5&4; John Doran & Mike Nobes beat Neil Blackey & Martin Toomer 2&1; Paul Owen & Peter Hallt beat Robin Theodore & Jamie Leggett 2&1; Ian Heustice & Mike Cardiff lost to Nick Iacobucci & Ken Stobbart 2 dn; Frank Cheevers & John Newman beat Richard Bartlett & Richard Gaskin 2&1; Terry Adsett & Sam Howes lost to Keith Arnold & Cyril Aydon 3&1; Nick Austin & Gary Strowbridge beat Terry Hailey & Colin McNiece 5&3.

Cowdray ladies competed for the Syrett Bowl. It was a Stableford played with only three clubs and a putter.

The winner was Catherine Staples with a creditable score of 33 points. Georgie Miller was runner-up with 31 and Marilyn Davis was third with 30.

BOGNOR

Bognor men held a Sunday medal, with the highlight of the day being Mark Carter shooting a score well below his age, in doing so winning division one.

Overall winner was Grant Twine with a gross 81, nett 67. Second on countback was Dave Carter (80, 67) and third Cliff Willis (80, 68).

Bognor seniors played two matches in a week, beating both Royal Winchester and Southwick Park.

In the home match against Royal Winchester, Bognor won 6-2, captain David Turner and his partner Gary Steventon excelling with a 6&5 win.

Results: David Turner & Gary Steventon won 6&5, Frank Hodder & Clive Millett won 5&4, Mike Oates & Bob Lee lost 3&2, Mike Watts & Trevor Till won 2 up, John Chapman & Richard Beresford won 2&1, John Woodhead & Roger SElway won 2&1, Mike Matthews & Terry Kuhler lost 2&1, Barry Ingate & Peter McCormack won 3&2.

Bognor travelled to Southwick Park and played the first 90 minutes in driving rain and gales.

Conditions improved considerably and Bognor had an excellent 7-1 win. It was Southwick’s first home defeat in two years.