Honiton Golf Club held its first 3-Ball open of the year earlier this month and, thankfully, the sun was there for all, which clearly helped the lead players with some outstanding performances.  

An excellent field of over 150 competitors set out to play well and with the course in fine condition, scoring would have to be good.  With one score out of the three to count in the Stableford format, that’s what the winners achieved with an excellent 47 points.

Carrying all before them was the team of Rob Willey, Mark Gillard, and Rob Tobin. An excellent golfing day was had by all and the Captain’s Charity (Bowel Cancer) raised over £500.

Rob Luscombe and Mark Reed won the Winter Ha Ha trophy, beating Sam Phillips and Dan Skilling 2/1. Rob and Mark started poorly and after 7 holes were 4 down. So how we might wonder, did they turn it around, it is said that Rob gave Mark a pep talk, although Mark had a different story, but something worked for the pair and a demonstration that a match-play game is never over until it’s over. Well done to all players during a tough campaign through the winter months.

The format for Honiton GC Ladies Day this week was a foursomes and the 28 ladies taking part had to contend with some heavy showers. The winning pair were Lesley Farley and Sue Kelson with 35 points.

Also on 35 points, but losing out on countback, were Georgie Hope-Edwards and Ann Trayling.  Third place went to Kathy de Lacy and Olwen Eaton with 31 points, with Joan Crook and Liz Rogers in fourth place, also with 31 points decided on countback.

After another week of cancellations due to the weather, the Honiton Seniors Open finally took to the course on a pleasant Friday and the competition winners were two likely lads from Taunton and Pickeridge, Paul Hewton and Roger Hutchinson, scoring a powerful 44 points. Tom Stanton and David Maggs were the lead performers for the home side, also amassing 44 points, but were beaten on countback.

A further £830 was raised for the Captain’s Charity, making it a brilliant start to the season for Honiton’s support of such an important cause.

Midweek Herald: Rob Luscombe and Mark Reed Ha Ha winners