Hello and welcome to this weeks newsletter. The sun is definitely shining out on the golf course and it seems to get browner and firmer by the day. 



I got down here at 7.15am this morning only to find people commencing their third round of the morning! 

Today is the day of the golf marathon and as I sit here at 10.30am they are well into the 4th round. Hopefully the weather won't get too warm for them, I look forward to putting some pictures in my newsletter next week of the all conquering foursome.

As you will see from the match reports below, it's been another good week for the clubs teams. The scratch team put in a flawless performance this week against a good Ramsey team and the results went for them in the Brampton v St.Ives match meaning with a game to spare they have won the league title. This is back to back titles for the scratch team and a massive congratulations goes to captain Graham Goodman. I know how much this means to Graham and is just reward for all the time, effort and enthusiasm he puts into the captaincy. I know he won't be resting on his loral's as he has the Goddard Cup coming up this weekend against Elton Furze.



Ladies' Jean Wilkinson Team Qualify for Finals Day

CONGRATULATIONS to the Ladies' Team who have finished top of their league in the Jean Wilkinson Trophy for the third year in a row. After their win on Wednesday, 1 July against Newmarket, the Team had a thirteen point lead over Royston going into the final league match on Saturday, 4 July. 

The Team of Jackie Smith, Kiyoko McLellan, Vilma Krinks, Jean Black, Barbara Nicoll, Vivienne Dondi and Sue Ward, won three of the seven matches gaining a further six points.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part, players, reserves, caddies and supporters. There has been a great team spirit and all the coaching and practice sessions over the Winter months have paid off. A big thank you to our Professional Rob McNicholas and Justine Voss for their help and advice, it has been invaluable.

   

League results: 

Saffron Walden 59 points 
Royston 48 points 
Links, Newmarket 47 points 
March 14 points 

Ladies' Captain, Helen Porter said she was very proud of all the Team had achieved and was looking forward to the semi-finals and final, to be played on the same day in September at a venue and date yet to be advised by the Ladies' County Golf Association. 




Scratch Team take on Ramsey

Saffron Walden men's scratch team retained their CAGU Div 1 scratch league Div 1 title, beating Ramsey 6-0 at the Windmill Hill club last Wednesday. Brampton PK lost 4-2 away at bottom club St Ives which meant that Walden won with one game to spare.

Graham Goodman, for only the second time this season had his A team out to play. 

Mark Reeve and Olly Tuck carried on their epic performances this season racing to a 5 up advantage against Thorburn and Holland. Eventually finishing 6 under par they ran out winners 8up. 

Ryan Adair and Tom Duggan teamed up against Cripps and Hull and again soon raced to a 3 up lead. Four birdies followed and they won 5 up.

The last game proved a slightly different encounter. Richard Southall and Cam Brown took on Hodgkin and Gear. After last weeks defeat, Southall and Brown went into a 1up lead through 7 holes. Brampton fought back and stood on the 14th tee 2 up. Walden's scratch team power base of team captain Graham Goodman , club captain Kieran O'Reilly and vice captain Chris Porter descended on them in their buggies and this gave them the encouragement to turn their game around. Southall, stood over a downhill 20ft birdie putt on the 14th that could either make or break the game, if not the season. He holed it to reduce the deficit to 1 hole.

The 15th was halved. The 16th was won by Walden after Hodgkin missed a par putt. Pressure was on as they came to the 17th. Brown hit a perfect 3 wood just left of the fairway but Hodgkin carved his drive right of the fairway. Gear raced his putt passed the hole and Walden went 1 up going into 18. Two pars meant Walden won 1 up. After a social media frenzy to find out the result of the other game,Walden found out for certain that Brampton Park lost on the Thursday 

Graham Goodman captain said 

"What an emphatic result last night. The boys really delivered. Out of all of our successes these past 3 years this one has to be the best. Retaining the Div 1 league is a brilliant achievement, having been faced with a number of challenges from injuries, loss of form, unavailability to selection dilemmas. But there were 2 major strengths that pulled us through to win; and that is our never ending passion to win and exceptional teamwork" 

Results 

SWGC 6, Ramsey 0 
St Ives, 4 Brampton PK 2 

   

Table 

SWGC 30 
Brampton PK 28 
Ramsey 23 
Links 15 
St Ives 12

Many thanks to Simon Hawkins for the fantastic pictures