Bentham 2019 Match Report
The 5th day out of the Parrots 2019 season took place at Bentham Golf Club last Wednesday. A perennial favourite on the society’s calendar, Bentham has traditionally been a course where some big scores have been recorded, not least last year when John Pat had his remarkable 42pts playing off just 9 handicap. In the lead up to the day, there had been a good spell of dry weather, but the last 24hrs before, had seen a lot of rain come down. On the day, the weather was glorious, however, with a damp course underfoot, the club had put preferred lies in play. Otherwise the course and greens were in excellent condition.
11 players made the visit this year, with the continued absence of injured Mike (who has at least completed a walk of a different kind, as he is now back from walking the Thames Path) and Geoff Moyle (who, when given the choice of playing golf or delivering fish, there’s only one winner!). It was a first outing of the season though for Trevor.
In the morning there were some good scores posted. I surpassed my total of 23pts for 11 holes last year, shooting 25pts! But this was only to take a share of the morning spoils as the same total was reached by Trevor. Distant challengers to these two were Jim, John and Phil, with 21pts apiece.
Lunch was taken inside the clubhouse today, as ..... it was too hot outside! We’ve not said that too many times this year so far.
First out in the afternoon were Pete, Kev and John. Pete’s 26pts allowed him to make an early exit from the course, in order to keep a dinner appointment with Mrs Pye, but John’s 33pts must have caused him to wonder if this might feature in the prizes. But this was Bentham!
Next out were Phil, Tony, Gareth and Tom. When they returned in, John realised how far off the Bentham pace he was! 38pts for Gareth but 43pts for Tom. Great scores from both, but particularly Tom, who must at this point have been preparing his winner’s speech. But this was Bentham!
The last group out were myself, Jim, Mel and Trevor. Both Trevor and I were continuing our form from the morning, and after 14 holes, I was just 2 over par gross with 32pts already amassed ...... and yet I was still 3pts behind Trevor! In the final four holes, I faltered a little to finish on a still respectable 38pts, but Trevor just kept on going. Eight 3 pointers and one 4 pointer had seen Trevor amass an incredible total of 45pts to take the win from a stunned Tom. A great round, so congratulations to both, but especially Trevor who was this years winner at Bentham.
It will be no consolation to Tom to know that his 43pts has set a new Parrots record for the highest score not to win a society day out, beating the previous 41pts at Nelson in 2012, when John Pat won a three way card playoff.
It’s also not the first time Trevor has crushed the hopes of others either. If we consult the record books further, his record score of 46pts at Grange in 2012 beat JP’s 37pts into the proverbial ‘cocked hat’. In 2013, his 44pts left my four over gross score of 40pts in the shade at Kirkby and in 2015 his 40pts pipped a shocked Frank’s 39pts at Appleby into second place also. C’est la vie!!
Handicap changes from Bentham are as follows :-
Trevor Middleton 23 to 21
Tom Rowles 21 to 19
Gareth Lunn 17 to 16
Glenn Wellard 9 to 8
Pete Whiteside 14 to 15
Tony Johnson 21 to 22
The updated leaderboard has already been posted to the website. The top is dominated by three of the four Bentham big scorers, with Tom now having a three point lead at the top.
The next outing for the Parrots is at Whitefield on 3rd July.
Glenn
