2022 Results

East Riding Union of Golf Clubs
Team Championship

Filey Golf Club
8th May 2022

Early morning mist on the journey to Filey, had the President musing on a possible delayed start to the Championship, but the Yorkshire Riviera was bathed in glorious sunshine as he pulled into the car park at 6.45. The flags were barely moving in a slight zephyr as the first group got underway at 7.30am.

First out were Liam McClachlan (Filey), Jack Northgraves (Scarborough NC) and Tommy Risker (Ganton). A disappointing entry of 18 teams (compared to 24 from 2021) headed off in what looked like the most open Championship in many years. Perennial favourites, Hornsea and Hessle were clearly going to have some serious rivals with which to do battle. Ganton, Driffield, Ganstead Park and home club Filey, all looked like serious contenders.

To their great credit, Cottingham Parks fielded a team of Cooper Beck, George Coope and Ewan McKenzie, all ERUGC Junior team members. Whilst they found it tough, the experience will be of great benefit to these likeable young men. Their combined ages would not get them into the Seniors Championship where being 50 is the lower age threshold ~ they could be around for some time!

The recent dry spell and firm ground made scoring tough as the morning low round of 72 proved. East Riding Team veteran, Mark Lamb of Ganstead Park posting the score that gave him a one shot lead from, making a welcoming return, Paul Lockwood of Driffield, 73 which was matched by George Davies (Filey) and Risker.

In the team, Ganton led by 4 on 222 (Tommy Risker 73, Jamie Gregory 75 and Steve Pybus 74).

This was from Driffield on 226 (Lockwood 73, Ryan Gray 77 and Sam Dillon 76). In close touch were Ganstead Park 1 on 227 (Lamb 72, Steve Dale 77 and Ray Marr 78), Filey 1 on 229 (McClachlan 78, Davies 73 and Jonny Pickard 78) and Scarborough NC 1 also on 229 (Northgraves 75, Simon Boddy 74 and Tom Benson 80). Hessle 233 and Hornsea 235 appeared to be out of the running.

The first groups out in the afternoon headed out with all to play for and managed to be back in the clubhouse in just over the 3 hours later. Indeed the first group were on the last green as the final group were heading out from the first.

These are long, spread out days and as the scores started to come in, it was clear that amongst the early starters, it was going to be close between Scarborough NC 1 and Ganton. Boddy (72) playing with Pybus (80) overturned the morning lead. In the second group, Northgraves (73) playing with Risker (76) extended it to a lead of 4. There were heightened tensions in the clubhouse as a great comeback win loomed. However, Benson who was 9 over in the morning was playing with Yorkshire’s Gregory. Could he hold him off?

When Tom returned to the competition desk, a chorus of “How did you do?” greeted him in an instant. A slightly bemused Benson said “73, is it important?” feeling that they were out of it. Arithmetic calculations confirmed that Gregory would have to shoot a, low of the day, 3 under 68 to snatch the lead from North Cliff. He only managed an outstanding 69, the scores were tied at 447 shots.

Time to consult the rule book. Unlike most Union Championships where a playoff takes place, the Team championship is decided on countback. Scarborough had their noses in front.

What could Driffield, Ganstead Park and Filey produce?

Filey matched their morning total of 229, not good enough.

Ganstead Park improved by 2 to 225 but also not good enough.

Boddy, who had returned home, spent most of his time looking at his phone for updates from the course. What had Driffield done?

The reality was that they had slipped away and North Cliff (pictured above, from left to right, Tom Benson, Simon Boddy and Jack Northgraves) were Champions again after a wait of 40 years. It was a genuinely exciting afternoon.

Lowest 36 hole gross score prize went to Jamie Gregory 75 + 69 = 144. East Riding Junior Luke Thornton had a very commendable 70 to tie with Lockwood on 146.
 

East Riding President John Illingworth presented the AB Care Trophy to a delighted Boddy, who made an eloquent, short speech of thanks.

My thanks to everyone at Filey Golf Club, including the incomparable Mick Atkinson for all they have done for the Union. Best wishes from all of us with your 125 year celebrations.

Thanks too to Howard Palmer and Stephen Larard, those two grandees of the Union, for their support during the day.

Andy Pittaway, our starter, many thanks for keeping the players in line.

Dave Greenwood, thanks for the huge amount of work in putting “the show on” – everyone appreciates it.

To the players, thank you for supporting our event and finally the supporters and family who carry our younger brethren around the county.

Our next event is the Senior Championship at Cave Castle on Friday 20th May. Players over 50 years of age are eligible to play. There are both gross and net prizes awarded. Closing date is 13th May

John Illingworth
President ERUGC 2022