It was Finals Day on Sunday and Belfairs celebrated a new Club Champion as Russell Johnson took the title from Kevin Gough. In a close fought, but sporting contest, Gough took a 1 hole lead after the morning round, only for Johnson to dominate the afternoon and go dormie 3. Defending champion Gough, however, was not going to relinquish his crown easily and fought back to win the 16^th and 17th. In a nail biting finish, Gough had the chance to be all square on the last, but missed the putt and Johnson took the match 1up.

The Junior Championship was a less tense affair as Ray Beadell overcame the challenge of Michael Price to win 7&6. Beadell was 9 up at lunch, but did not have things all his own way in the afternoon as Price attempted a spirited comeback, finally succumbing to Beadell on the 30^th hole.

Mark Duguid defeated Graham Jones 1 up to take the Mugs Cup for a second time. With never more than one hole in it throughout the day, the match was in the balance until the final putt on the 18^th green.

The Belfairs Cup was more straightforward for Nigel Warder, convincingly beating Lawrence Schooley 11&10. Conceding 4 shots to his opponent, Warder dominated the morning round to lead 8 up at lunch and then did not lose a hole to win the match on the 26^th. 

Nicholas takes the Gold Medal

Belfairs youngest member, 15 year old Nicholas Mounsey, became the first person to win back-to-back Gold Medals when he repeated his 2015 success on Sunday. A round of 66 established the lead in the morning and a 71 in the afternoon put the result beyond doubt. Consistent Hugh Brown put in a good challenge to take the runner-up spot follwed by Alex Tindell in third.

Result

Ron aces the Silver Medal

Ron Murray started with a hole in one a the first and then stormed home in Sunday's Silver Medal with an outstanding 61, receiving a rwo shot handicap cut for his efforts. Andrew Nash was 11 shots back in second with Alan Berry taking third place.

Result:

Full result of the Gold & Silver Medals can be viewed here

The prestigious Kennedy Cup, played over 36 holes, was decided on Sunday with Ray Jones emerging the winner from Ray Beadell and third placed Harry Smith. Leader after the first round was Graham Jones whose nett 65 put him 2 shots clear of the field, but he failed to capitalise on his lead and namesake Ray overcame the blustery conditions in the second round to card a fine 67 and overall 137. Beadell and Smith both finished with 140, but Beadell took the runner-spot on countback.

Kennedy Cup

In the weekend medals, club captain Chris Shawyer carded a nett 65 to comfortably win the Saturday medal and Nicholas Mounsey took Sunday's event with a nett 64.

Full results:

In the ladies section It was a double triumph for Terri Hirons taking both the D Condie and the August medal.

All club competition results and handicap list can be viewed here

Belfairs Golf Course celebrated its 90^th anniversary on Saturday and the occasion was marked by glorious weather and an Open Competition attracting over 60 players from Belfairs and Southend Golf Clubs, Southend Borough Council and members of the public. The overall winner with 45 points was Belfairs member Dave Buddle who was presented with a commemorative tankard by Ian Brown from Southend Borough Council.

The ladies section held their Club Championship and Sue Meddle is the new champion winning from runner-up Alex Meddle and third placed Mandy Moir. Mandy also featured prominently in two other events last week, taking first place in the Bronze Championship and then winning the Lady Captain’s Day competition. Full results:

Ladies Club Championship

Ladies Bronze Championship

Lady Captains Day

A nett 66 took the Memorial Trophy in fine style for Ray Beadell last week, winning comfortably from Mark Gopy (69) in second and Richard Mounsey (71) in third.

In the single stableford, Alan Berry (37) made an overdue return to form to take first place from Alex Tindell (36) and third placed Hugh Brown (31).

The Windfall Trophy was contested by the ladies and 31 points was enough for Andrea Clarke to take first place from runner-up Susan Meddle (29) and Linda Wellham (28) in third.    

Baz Patel and Lawrence Schooley’s tremendous run in the Daily Mail Foursomes finally came to an end at Bedford on Saturday with the home side still requiring a last gasp putt on the 18^th to secure victory. Patel and Schooley reached the last 64 from an original 190,000 entrants and congratulations go to both for a remarkable achievement.

Prize Winners

It was Harold Foreman week at Belfairs as the men and ladies contested their seperate versions of the Trophy.

In a close finish at the weekend, a nett 69 from Andy Nash was just enough to secure the win from runner-up Ray Beadell (70) and third placed Ian Douglas (70).

In the ladies competition, it was Terri Hirons (78) who emerged the winner, beating Hazel Webber (79) into second with Joan Smith (79) in third.

On Thursday, the Ping 4BBB Stableford resulted in a comfortable win for Andrea Clarke and Sue Meddle (38) from second placed Joan Howroyd and Linda Wellham (33) with Tish Askins and Gloria Goldring (31) in third.

Despite the glorious sunshine, a strong breeze and thick rough made scoring very difficult in the Strokeplay Championship on Sunday and it was Russell Johnson who prevailed in the conditions to take the honours. Leading the field after the morning round with an 81, Johnson improved in the afternoon to card a 78 (159) and win comfortably from runner-up Baz Patel (171) and third-placed Steve Mann (171).

Playing at home on Saturday, Patel and partner Lawrence Schooley recorded their fourth consecutive win in the Daily Mail Foursomes, this time beating Crondon Park 2 up. The tournament is now regarded as the greatest amateur golfing event in the world with more than 190,000 players competing in their club qualifying rounds and the Belfairs pair now go into the 5th round draw as one of the remaining 128 clubs.