Andy Slater 18/20/38 (Remembrance) and Steve Foley 19/18/37 (MonthlyMedalMay) both enjoyed individual glory early in the season but today came together to post an impressive 75 point haul to win the Royles’ Challenge Trophies . A couple of points off the pace at the turn they scored consistently ( a Slater 11th hole birdie the highlight ) to outlast their rivals with an excellent display .
Noted golf strategists Nick Alderson (18/19/37) and Greg Harding (14/21/35) have both had decent seasons but started relatively slowly and found themselves 7 points off the pace at the turn ...Harding had posted a low 14 points but rallied to equal the best individual back 9 haul contributing 21 points as together the pair scored a ‘best in show’ 40 points back 9 to make a challenge and eventually finish in second place !
Intrepid ball-finder/striker/supplier supreme Keith Walton (21/17/38) was joint ‘best in show’ individually with a superb 21 at the turn and partnered with affable ex-squaddie Brian Cawley (17/16/33) who produced a steady 17 points to put them second at the turn ... sadly the silver surfer pair couldn’t quite reach the heights required in the back 9 and their unspectacular 12 point finish over the last 4 holes efforts meant they slipped to a fourth placed finish
Nathan Butterworth (18/19/37)and Anthony Grinnell (16/19/35) were also slow starters and in mid-division at the turn but they dovetailed well to produce a 38pt back 9 to finish third but will surely look back with regret on a quartet of 2 pointers that stalled their momentum during the round .
Earlier in the round , Alty ex-captain Norman Crowther(21/12/33) and his faithful secretary partner Matt Goodall (18/19/37) had together scored a ‘best inshow’ 39 points ( including 4 birdies ( 3 from NC) ) and put themselves in pole position to take the trophies . Sadly Crowther ( who had produced the joint best individual front 9 of the competition ) seemed to lose focus and a low 11 point haul by the Committee‘d pair in the next four holes saw them fall back and ultimately finish in 5th. place .
2017 Royle Challenge Trophy winners Danny Miller and Andrew Wood did not defend their title together with Miller teaming up with his preferred partner Paul MacDonald to a unexpected lowly 18th position 14 points behind the winner .