SHAKESPEARE SMASHES BOWL RECORD

Chigwell Bowl Winner Andrew Shakespeare

Colt Championship winner James Webber

CHIGWELL – The record books were smashed on Friday as 22-year-old Andrew Shakespeare (+2) won the Chigwell Bowl with an 8 under par 134.

The Five Lakes member, who is studying at Bournemouth University, hit the event’s best score since its launch 50 years ago.

His morning round of 68 (3 under par) made him the lunchtime leader, with nearest rivals Jack Winer (Woolston Manor) and James Webber (Three Rivers) each returning 1 over par scores of 72.

Shakespeare then turned in an afternoon score of 66 to give himself a winning margin of 6 shots over Andrew May (Boyce Hill) who himself had a fabulous 66 in his second round. Romford’s Harrison Ellis came third on 147.

The Chigwell Golf Club inaugurated the Bowl competition in 1959 the for young golfers aged 25 and under. Two rounds of stroke play golf on the tight and testing Chigwell course is the venue.

The trophy has been won with scores just below the level par of 142 for the two rounds ever since.

A second competition, the Colt Championship, was introduced for the Under 21 year olds recently.

This year’s champion was James Webber (Three Rivers) with a score of 143 and the runner-up was Danny Carroll (Five Lakes) with 144.

In County competitions no player can win more than one prize, and on the scores returned Andrew Shakespeare topped the handicap section in spite of playing off a +2.

Counting down however, the handicap prizes went to Jack Dobson (Romford) with a nett score of 141 playing off a 2 handicap, and Alex Piccolo (The Warren) with the same nett score playing off an 8 handicap.

Results:

CHIGWELL BOWL
Winner - Andrew Shakespeare (Five Lakes) - 134 (new record)
Runner Up - Andrew May (Boyce Hill) - 140
Third - Harrison Ellis (Romford) - 147

COLTS CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner - James Webber (Three Rivers) - 143
Runner Up - Danny Carroll (Five Lakes) - 144

HANDICAP
Winner - Jack Dobson (Romford) - 141 nett playing off a 2 handicap
Runner Up - Alex Piccolo (The Warren) - 141 nett playing off an 8 handicap

ESSEX RECOVER FROM EARLY SHOCK

ORSETT GOLF CLUB – Essex came back from an early scare to win this county match against Bedfordshire on Sunday May 24.

The sun was out, there was no wind, and players reported the course was in great condition. The golf was outstanding too.

Winer and May for Essex were 7 under par when they won 7&5. Dee and Rooney lost on the last green – but were 5 under par when they lost.

The home team were behind at lunchtime by 2½ to 1½ in the morning foursomes – and it could have been worse.

Mark Whiten sunk a thirty foot putt on the last green to snatch a half point.

After a firm confident team talk from the Captain, Essex came back stronger in the afternoon singles, winning seven and halving the others.

The 9 – 3 victory kept Essex’s unbeaten run going.

David Miller, team captain, confirmed the opening South Eastern Group Northern Division County match had presented selectors with a dilemma.

Several members of the first team squad were playing in the Welsh Amateur, so were not able to play.

“We selected some home grown players to represent the County following the ‘horses for courses’ idea,” he said.

“The first match of the year sets the scene for the rest of the year. We had to win this match, especially as we are the defending champions.”

The team will play Berks Bucks and Oxon at Gerrards Cross in a couple of week’s time.

* MATTHEW Southgate, of Thorpe Hall, came third in the Welsh Amateur Championship, beating four Walker Cup players and several internationals.

HOMERS MAKE LESLIE WOOD THIRD ROUND

ESSEX – West Essex made it through to the last 16 – as all the home sides triumphed on Sunday in the Leslie Wood Shield. The holders saw off Ballards Gore 9-6.

There were convincing home wins for Three Rivers, The Warren, Royal Epping Forest, Colne Valley, Canons Brook, Boyce Hill, Harwich & Dovercourt and Chigwell who all scored into double figures.

Three River's Leslie Wood Captain, John Ounan, (pictured below) praised his team who battled through to beat Stoke by Nayland 11.5 to 3.5 on a day that switched between wind, rain, sunshine.

Three Rivers beat Stoke by Nayland

The day begun well for Langdon Hills who saw early progress in their game against Bentley. Brothers Tony and Steve Cohen (below) performed well on the day, as did star cadet and county player Spencer Adams Dunston and foursomes partner Martin Holdaway.

The talented Orsett team was another to suffer a loss away.


Orsett's Club captain David Pulham and his vice Steve Biggin (below) praised the squad's efforts after narrowly missing out 8.5 to 6.5. Thorndon Park now meet Colne Valley who beat Rochford 12 - 3.

Thitreen year old Jason Horne (above) of Orsett

Geoff Moody was another club captain who went home happy after his men beat team captain Glen Wiggins' (below) and his players in a play-off. Clacton were the only away side not to lose after the singles and foursomes.

Crondon Park saw some of the worst weather in the county, with torrential rain sweeping across the course during the late morning.

The sun shone for Romford as Eddie Walsh and Ben Scanes (below) took the first point lead against Chelmsford on the 17th just after midday.


In one of the highest quality matches of the day, Romford finally lost out to the excellent Chelmsford team, managed by the able and experienced Mike Beard (below).

Beard - a double Leslie Wood winner himself - paid tribute to his squad, but confessed management was easier and less stressful than playing.






Romford team captain, Steve Baker, and his vice, Roger Loveday (below), praised their excellent side who narrowly lost 8-7, in a match that could have gone either way.



Boyce Hill staked a claim as one of the favourites with a strong performance against Burnham. Star performers once again were Dave Smith, Phil Alderton, Mark Preston and Roy Soilleux, who each collected maximim points.

They will meet Harwich & Dovercourt, the team they knocked out away from home in the first round round last year.

The third round draw has thrown up some keen contests with West Essex being drawn away at Epping, but pick of the draw must be Chelmsford away at Toot Hill.

The Leslie Wood was first played for in 1925. It is for club members who have a handicap of 7.5 or higher.

The rest of the scores on the day were:

Rivers 11½ v Stoke by Nayland 3½

Crondon Park * 7½ v Clacton 7½

The Warren 12½ v Thorpe Hall 2½

Epping 8½ v North Weald 6½

Maylands 8 v Benton Hall 7

Royal Epping Forest 13 v Lords (Rayleigh) 2

Colne Valley 12 v Rochford Hundred 3

Canons Brook 12 v Risebridge 3

Boyce Hill 10 v Burnham-on-Crouch 5

West Essex 9 v Ballards Gore 6

Harwich & Dovercourt 11 v Wanstead 4

Thorndon Park 8½ v Orsett 6½

Chigwell 10½ v Woolston Manor 4½

Chelmsford 8 v Romford 7

Langdon Hills 8 v Bentley 7

Toot Hill 9 v Ilford 6

* Crondon Park won after a play off

3rd Round Draw to be played on Sunday 14 June 2009:

Thorndon Park v Colne Valley
Boyce Hill v Harwich & Dovercourt
Chigwell v Maylands
Toot Hill v Chelmsford
Royal Epping Forest v Canons Brook
Langdon Hills v The Warren
Epping v West Essex
Three Rivers v Crondon Park

BRAVE ESSEX LOSE BY ONE POINT

SEACROFT, SKEGNESS -- Essex missed out on retaining the Eastern Counties Foursomes Championship by just one point at the weekend.

Desperate to retain this cross-regional trophy after winning it by the narrowest of margins last year, the team lost out to the home county, Lincolnshire, who scored 27½ to Essex’s 26½.

Each of nine counties play each other at match play foursomes – one point for a victory.

With five pairs per team, a maximum of 40 points was up for grabs on Saturday and Sunday (May 16-17).

After day one, Essex were laying joint second, with Hertfordshire just two points behind Lincolnshire.

Some stunning golf in windy conditions saw several of the Essex team beat England squad players on the Sunday. The final session in the afternoon saw Essex play Lincolnshire (who were 4 points ahead) and Hertfordshire (half a point ahead).

“With 10 points available in this session we needed to play our best golf,” said Captain David Miller. “After nine holes of play, we were up in nine of the matches.

"We were getting excited!”

Essex won 7 points and finished in second position.

The Eastern Counties Foursomes has been played at Seacroft for the last 17 years. Previously it was played at Hunstanton Golf Club.

This event is the highlight in most counties’ fixture list and is the one to win. Essex were the current holders and keen to defend their title.

Representing Essex were:
Andy May (Boyce Hill) & Adam Burwood (Harwich & Dovercourt) - 7 points
Harry Eden & Reece Phillips (West Essex) - 6½ points
Will Boniface & Andrew Shakespeare (Five Lakes) – 5 points
Ross Dee & Steve Rooney (Orsett) - 5 points
Matthew Southgate (Thorpe Hall) & Jack Winer (Woolston Manor) - 3 points


The scores for the counties were:
Lincolnshire - 27½ points
Essex - 26½
Hertfordshire - 24
Leicestershire & Rutland - 22½
Cambridgeshire - 19½
Northamptonshire - 17
Norfolk - 16½
Bedfordshire - 16
Suffolk - 10½

EPPING OVERWHELMED BY FIVE LAKES

ESSEX -- The first round of the Thornton Cup always throws up surprises – and Sunday May 3 was no exception.

The County’s most prestigious inter-club team competition got underway with 63 teams aiming to make and win the final on Sunday, 13th September.

Holders Thorndon Park cruised past Garon Park 13-2, while Five Lakes smashed Epping 15-0 in a record drubbing at home. They will now entertain Crondon Park in the next round.

Five ‘out of county’ sides compete each year on the historical grounds of being served by the old railway line owned by Mr Thornton in 1923.

All five enjoyed home wins in this round.

Stoke-by-Nayland in their first year as an Essex affiliated club enjoyed a good win 13-2 against Bentley and will now entertain Braintree in the next
round.

Recent cup winners in this competition, Chelmsford, West Essex, Rochford Hundred and Orsett are all successfully through to round two, but 2 casualties were Canons Brook (2003 winners) and Boyce Hill, who last won it in 1997.

For Boyce and their fellow underchievers there is a consolation. This year’s first round losing teams will play in a competition for the Thornton Cup Plate, which will be a home and away venue in the same format as the Norman Plum competition.

Other results were:

Home Team			Away Team
Theydon Bois		v		BYE
Crondon Park	10½	v	Royal Epping Forest	4½
Enfield	11	v	Hainault Forest Golf Club	4
Five Lakes	15	v	Epping	0
Stoke by Nayland	13	v	Bentley	2
Bush Hill Park	12	v	Hartswood	3
Clacton on Sea	9	v	Boyce Hill	6
Stapleford Abbotts	3	v	Channels	12
Orsett	9½	v	Canons Brook	5½
Thorpe Hall	11½	v	Warley Park	3½
Langdon Hills	8	v	Burnham on Crouch	7
Romford	14	v	Chingford	1
Maldon	7½	v	Belhus Park*	7½
Muswell Hill	10½	v	Maylands	4½
Braintree	15	v	Risebridge	0
Frinton	3½	v	Chelmsford	11½
Ballards Gore	12½	v	Castle Point	2½
St Cleres Hall	9½	v	Upminster	5½
The Essex (Earls Colne)	1	v	Rochford Hundred	14
Toot Hill	9½	v	Abridge	5½
The Warren	9	v	Colchester	6
Three Rivers	9	v	Stock Brook	6
Lords (Rayleigh)	11	v	Woodford	4
Thorndon Park	13	v	Garon Park	2
Chigwell	6½	v	West Essex	8½
East Herts	13½	v	Colne Valley	1½
Woolston Manor	13½	v	North Weald	1½
Benton Hall	8½	v	Nazeing	6½
Wanstead	9½	v	Harwich and Dovercourt	5½
Bishops Stortford	12½	v	The Burstead	2½
Forrester Park	5½	v	Gosfield Lake	9½
Ilford	9	v	Basildon	6
* Belhus Park won after a play off

2nd Round Draw
To be played on Sunday 31 May 2009
Home Team			Away Team
St Cleres Hall		v	Benton Hall
Chelmsford		v	Bishops Stortford
Orsett		v	Theydon Bois
Channels		v	Belhus Park
Five Lakes		v	Crondon Park
Romford		v	Rochford Hundred
Stoke by Nayland		v	Braintree
Lords(Rayleigh)		v	West Essex
Thorpe Hall		v	Ilford
Three Rivers		v	Langdon Hills
Ballards Gore		v	Wanstead
Bush Hill Park		v	Thorndon Park
Toot Hill		v	Clacton-on-Sea
Muswell Hill		v	Woolston Manor
East Herts		v	Gosfield Lake
The Warren		v	Enfield