Scratch League Final
Ganton Golf Club
Sunday 20th September, 2026
The Scratch League Final was contested between Bridlington GC and Scarborough North Cliff GC and, whilst Bridlington were missing a couple of their lower handicap players due to holiday commitments, the matches were competitive, despite the difference in handicap index in each match.
Not surprisingly, this was a factor in Scarborough prevailing 3-0.
The top match between Gary Hyde (3.7) and Tom Benson (+2.4) saw Tom take a dominant lead through the first seven holes and he would go on to close out the match by 7&6.
In the third match, Harry Richardson (7.2) was keeping Chris Pennock (2.0) within sight and was only
3 down after 11 holes, but losses at 12 and 13 saw Chris home by 5&4.
The middle match between Dan Hudson (5.7) and Tom Duck (1.0) proved to be a roller-coaster ride with the lead changing hands several times. Dan all but aced the short 10th to stand 1 up and he doubled his lead at the next with a par. This was reduced to one when Dan found the cavernous bunker short of the 14th and could only play out backwards and when his tee shot finished behind a tree on the 16th the match was back to all square.
Following a half at 17, both players found the right hand rough on the last from where Dan was unable to reach the green in two. Tom’s second shot had finished through the green, but he laid his putt dead leaving Dan to hole a downhill five-footer. When his putt trickled wide, Tom was the winner by 1 hole.
Scarborough North Cliff were worthy winners, having fielded a consistently strong team all season and remained the only undefeated team in the group stages. SNC stalwart and Team Captain / Selector Simon Boddy (below second left) supported the team all day and joined in the celebrations which ran long into the night back in Scarborough.
Howard Palmer
ERUGC Finals Day Organiser
