Bigbury Golf Club
At its recent annual general meeting, club chairman Stephen Price welcomed Harry Kerswell as the club’s incoming president writes Marlene Johnson.
Stephen also thanked retiring president Peter Lawrence for his dedication to Bigbury Golf Club and especially his past three years.
In welcoming Harry Kerswell, the chairman wished him well for his future three years as the president.
Harry has been a member of Bigbury Golf Club for some 32 years and he was the club captain in 2014. Harry has won many of the club’s major trophies, but especially pleasing for him was winning the prestigious Gents Captain’s Trophy in 2017. He is quoted as saying: “Bigbury Golf Club is as good a second home as you can get”.
Harry is a third-generation farmer at the local family farm. The farm has been in the family for more than 100 years.
The ladies’ county stableford 4 and May Rose Bowl 2 competitions took place on Saturday, May 19.
The weather was very good, the course was playing well and 31 ladies competed. The overall winner was Sarah West (30) with a very good 37 points.
Sue Warren (27) came very close to winning back-to-back competitions and was a very close second with 36 points.
A two on the third hole was recorded for Lucinda Kirkham. Congratulations to them all.
The Bigbury Devon League Team travelled to Woodbury Golf and Country Club on Thursday, May 24. In slightly overcast but pleasant golfing conditions, Bigbury lost to the Woodbury ladies four and two. The two wins were by Jane Rickman (the team captain) and Sarah West.
Two other games were so very close, with Bigbury’s Dot Kenneth and Caroline Hallett both losing on the 18th hole.
The men’s May stableford was held Sunday, May 20, and was won by Nick Hanbury (16) with a good 38 points. There were no twos recorded and no handicap changes from this competition.
The Vet’s Trophy was played on Wednesday, May 23, and 59 gents competed for this important Trophy. The competition was played in good weather, reflected in the winning score.
The winner was Harold Cranch (20) with an excellent 41 points and in second place on countback was Richard Adcock (13). As a result of their 41 points, both Harold and Richard had their handicaps reduced by two shots. There were six twos during this competition, and the winner recorded a two on the third hole.
John Barnfield recorded two twos in his round, on the 10th and 17th holes. The remaining three twos were by Roger Monson on the 15th, and Dave Thorne and Gordon Harper on the 17th. Congratulations all round for these players, as well as all the 59 golfing vets who took part.
Bigbury’s assistant professional Adam Keates recently qualified for the PGA Assistants National Tournament which took place at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club.
Adam was thrilled and said: “While not playing to my best ability, I did enough and am now looking forward to the national final to be played at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey.”
The competition was a field of 55, all from the South West, and they were competing for 16 places. Everyone at Bigbury wishes him the best of luck at Farleigh on July 3-5. This event is very hard to win as players are only eligible to compete in the championship during their three years of training.