Ben Phillips retained the Club Championship at Honiton GC in great style on Saturday, June 26, holding off Matt Bond by two shots in a thrilling contest.
Ann Trayling is the Ladies Club Champion after a superb display and a weekend that showcased the course at Honiton in beautiful fashion.
Established in 1896, Honiton GC is hugely respected as a mature course that has the ability to catch out even the most seasoned golfers.
The opening holes in the Club Championship are generally a test of solid iron play, with a trio of par three’s in the opening seven holes before a challenging par five on the ninth.
The Championships are concluded on the magnificent final hole, lined by trees and potential disaster, but Ben and Ann held their nerve superbly.
With the course in perfect condition, it was always going to be a tightly fought contest and after 18 holes Matt led the field by three shots with Ben, James Spiller, Peter Clarke and Paul Stewart all within touch of the leader.
It was up to the chasing pack to do something special and with four birdies on the second 18, Ben came home two shots clear with a 36-hole total of 146, Matt Bond with 148 and James Spiller with 154.
Well done to all who took part in the tough format of 36 holes in one day.
The Ladies Club Championship was won by Ann. Again playing 36 holes in one day, Ann finished with a 36-hole total of 175, beating Sarah Loader with 181.
Ann had a four-shot lead after round one, Sarah had two birdies on the front nine of the second round, which was matched by Ann but however hard Sarah tried to close the gap, Ann was matching Sarah’s score and ran out the winner.
Well played the pair of you.
Running alongside the Club Championship was the Alec Gosling Handicap Trophy and with a full field of players, it was a fantastic Nett 64 from Mark Reed, beating Ron Graham in second with 66 and in 3rd was Roy Bumpstead with 67.

Midweek Herald: Ladies Captain Vera Richardson with Ann TraylingLadies Captain Vera Richardson with Ann Trayling (Image: Honiton GC)

Midweek Herald: Mark Reed with Men’s Captain Neil PullmanMark Reed with Men’s Captain Neil Pullman (Image: Honiton GC)