Golf

Lyme Regis Golf Club - By William Halden

HANDICAPS give every golfer street cred. The number after their name instantly describes their ability and their status.

Keith Hicks, handicap 10, is a legend of the Lyme Regis seniors but since he started golf 40 years ago he has never attained that illusive single figure status. That is until the monthly Stableford on Monday which he won with a convincing 41 points, four points ahead of the field.

His score earned him a handicap of nine. If he had not missed six on-the-edge putts in his first half his handicap and his score - would have been even better.

Runner up was Gilbert Cuthbert 37 points on countback from Mike Coleman.

*For weeks, Gerry Donlon has been pleading with the secretary for his handicap of 23 to be lowered but to no avail.

His score on Monday did the trick, and down it tumbled thanks to a winning first place in Division Two, some determined golf and a score of 38.

In second place on countback was John Hadfield and third was John Linnet with 37 points.

*The Ladies too value their handicaps. Sheila Clare (nicknamed 'hot-streak Sheila' at her previous club), who has only just edged into the top division with a handicap of 20, showed on Thursday that this is just the start.

She took top place in the monthly medal with a net 72 which earned a handicap reduction down to 19. In second place was Roisin Burree 85 (12) 73 and third was Felicity Poole 87 (11) 76.

Star of the second division was newcomer Penny Smith. She has only just started learning golf and was given a preliminary handicap of 28. It was her first-ever competition and she more than justified her rating with a second place 103 (28) 75. In first place was Pamela Robinson 98 (25) 73 and third was Jean Kemp 99 (23) 76.

Daphne Sweetland, who has hardly been out of the prize lists this season, found her handicap dropped from 29 to 27 with her net 70 win in Division Three.

In second place was Faye Seed one shot behind and third was Doreen Wild with a net 72.

Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club

DIVISION One winner of the October Medal was Steve Cleal with 90 (12) 68.

In second place was Mike Chivers, 87 (9) 78, on countback from Bryn Dare 90 (12) 78.

Division Two: 1 Richard Fox 87 (17) 70; 2 Stuart Prince 88 (17) 71; 3 Tony Burt 87 (15) 72.

Division Three: 1 Rob Beston 101 (28) 73; 2 Martin Horton 97 (22) 75; 3 Clive Graham 104 (28) 76.

Ladies Drawn Stableford: 1 Julie Woodroffe 35 points; 2 Barbara Cooper 28; 3 Sue Walsh 27.

LGU Medal Division One: 1 Sally Woolmington 94 (24) 70; 2 Shirley Andrews 97 (21) 76; 3 Diana Stothard 103 (21) 82.

Division Two: 1 Wendy Quant 102 (25) 77; 2 Liz Walker 109 (27) 82.