Barry Browning wins the MGS February visit to Lewes on a perfect day for good golf
A big welcome to Roger Todd a new member for the season and to the return of Tony Batchelder to the fold. We were incredibly lucky to enjoy a beautiful day on top of the South Downs and had time to enjoy some fabulous views – it was even warm at times in February. The day started with the Honourable Sec still on skiing time and running about an hour later than scheduled – the caterers even saved his bacon roll and put it in foil to enjoy on his round !!! PS: They were fantastic bacon rolls.
Fifteen players battled it out at Lewes GC where Barry Browning after a 2016 season full of injuries including a dehydrated vertebrae!! played out of his skin and even had an eagle on the 335 yard par 4 5th hole – bagging 6 points which everyone thought had been made illegal in 1958 !! Kelvin Paterson also deserves a mention as had a round of really good quality golf and on a normal day could/would have won the event. Congratulations to Barry with the overall results as follows:-
Individual Stableford
| Place | Individual | Score |
| Winner | Barry Browning | 48 |
| Second | Kelvin Paterson | 39 |
| = Third | Clive Butler, Andy Tippett & Tim Gorringe | 36 |
Barry receives his winnings from Vice Captain Clive Butler
Kelvin gets second place in spite of his excellent 39 points
Team Stableford Scores
| Place | Team Members | Score |
| Winners | Andy Tippett, Barry Browning & Tim Gorringe | 92 |
| Second | Brian Day, Clive Butler & Kelvin Paterson | 84 |
| Third | Tony Batchelder, Mark Hughes & Ken Wapling | 80 |
| Fourth | Pat Layen, Micky Mann & Brian Cheesmur | 75 |
| Fifth | Dereck Coppard, David Howroyd & Roger Todd | 73 |
Dereck wins nearest the pin
Winner Longest Drive (Hole 8th): Mark Hughes with a cracker.
Winner Nearest the Pin (Hole 12h): Dereck Coppard – on a day where most were unable to find this tough green.
48 points is an incredible score and tops the list below with 24 scores of 40 points or more recorded since January 2015:-
| Member | Points | Course |
| BROWNING, Barry | 48 | Lewes GC |
| BUTLER Clive | 48 | Pyecombe |
| HOWROYD, David | 46 | Seaford Head |
| BUCK, Chris | 43 | Seaford Head |
| LAYEN, Pat | 43 | Seaford Head |
| HILLMAN, Paul | 42 | Seaford Head |
| ABLITT Fred | 42 | Mid-Sussex |
| DAY Brian | 42 | Mid-Sussex |
| VALENTINE Carl | 42 | Mid-Sussex |
| MANN, Micky | 42 | Seaford Head |
| WATKISS, Jerry | 41 | East Brighton |
| STOCKER Dave | 41 | Seaford Head |
| TIPPETT, Andy | 41 | Seaford Head |
| HUGHES, Mark | 41 | The Dyke |
| WATKISS, Jerry | 41 | East Brighton |
| VALENTINE, Carl | 40 | Woldingham |
| SELLENCE, Mike | 40 | Mid-Sussex |
| CUDMORE Peter | 40 | Sweetwoods |
| BENNETT, Tom | 40 | Cooden Beach |
| HERBERT, Phil | 40 | Seaford Head |
| WEAVER, Kevin | 40 | Chartham Park |
| BISHOP, Andy | 40 | Willingdon |
| WATKISS, Jerry | 40 | Seaford Head |
| MANN Michael | 40 | Chartham Park |
The first trophies of the year are up for grabs at the Neville Golf Club Tunbridge Wells on 17th March. A pair’s competition played with a twist and a yellow ball! The current holders are Mr Dereck Coppard & Mr Jerry Watkiss. Further details will be circulated by the Hon Sec nearer the time.
Please note the full calendar of games can now been seen in the golf dates section and credit where credit is due to the Honourable Secretary who has made a fantastic selection of courses for the membership to feast or famine on this year !! Excellent work David.
