Gripping golf contest sees Elsham Ladies crowned best in county

Elsham ladies have won the Lincolnshire League Final after playing Spalding, the winners of the Southern Lincolnshire League, at Boston West Golf Club.

In a gripping competition which went to the last putt on the last hole, the ladies beat Spalding by 2½ to 1½.

The Elsham team consisted of: Ann Marie Coleman, Emma Rooke, Judith Ainsworth, Jenny Burt, Janet Godfrey, Jane Evans, Janet Westray and Maureen Kearney.

Forty-eight ladies played an individual Stableford competition for lady president Linda Davey's day.

Junior Annie Slade finished with the best score of the day (43 points), reducing her handicap to 25.

Ann Marie Coleman won the silver division with 38 points, reducing her handicap to five. Emma Rooke was second with 37 points and brought her handicap down to six. Marie Tansey was third with 33 points.

Other players found the course tougher, with some very challenging pin positions on fast greens.

Shirley Whitehand won the bronze division with 31 points; Linda Hobson (29) was second and Patsy Davies (28) third.

Slade won the 30-36 group ahead of Sally Brown and Jean Westbrook.

Carol Slater had the best back nine holes and Hilary Hudson had the best front nine.

Coleman had the longest drive on the first hole and Jane Evans was nearest the pin on the sixth.

In a Stableford competition for past lady captains and committee members played off 7/8 handicap,Westray won with 34 points after a count-back from Godfrey.

Polly Brettle won the committee trophy and Sylvia Lowery the nine-hole competition.

The September medal went to Rooke with a nett 70, reducing her handicap to five, and Lesley Emmerson won the bronze division with a nett 78.

Elsham seniors had mixed fortunes in their matches, losing 9½ to ½ at Holme Hall and winning 7½ to 2½ against Blankney at Elsham.

Mark Hobbins won Division One of the midweek medal with a nett 68, reducing his handicap to seven.

Second went to Ben Lowery (nett 70) and Ken Cribb was third (also nett 70).

Division Two was won by J E Cousins with a nett 71, reducing his handicap to 16.

M Hopper finished second with a nett 73 and Trevor Vessey was third.

Division Three was won by R Tye with a nett 71.

Elsham, Ashby Decoy and Holme Hall played for the annual Millennium Trophy in a mixed team match at Elsham and the away clubs managed the quick greens better than the home team.

Decoy ended up as the winners with 437 points, Holme Hall were second with 428 and Elsham came in last with 416.

The best overall team score was by an Ashby team of Terry and Anita Horton and Peter and Yvonne Cook with 81 points.

Elsham's Emma Rooke was the lady nearest the pin on the 18th hole in two shots and Tony Ibbotson, from Ashby Decoy, was nearest man.

Decoy's Viv Lister was nearest the pin on the ninth and Roger Gamwell, from Holme Hall, was the nearest man.

In the Father and Son competition, Ian and Sean Sprakes were the victors with 39 points and Malcolm and Brett Lea finished second with 35.

Only pairs with active handicaps could win a prize.