Junior captain Alfie Boxall held off reigning champion Zane Cohen in a dramatic final-round duel to be crowned Westridge Golf Club champion.
The Club Championships, held over 25th and 26th July, produced an exciting finish as Boxall overturned a 3-shot overnight deficit before edging Cohen by a single stroke on the final hole.
Day 1 was played in calm, sunny conditions, with the course set up to test the field and low scores proving difficult to achieve.
In the scratch competition, pre-tournament favourite Boxall carded a level-par 72 but trailed reigning 2-time champion Cohen, who led on 69. Ian Couse sat 3rd overnight after posting a 76.
The handicap competition was equally competitive, with Cohen’s net 69 enough only for 2nd place after Bowy White also returned a net 69 but claimed top spot on countback. Couse occupied 3rd place with a net 65, also on countback from Brian Skelley.
Conditions changed dramatically on the second day, with drizzle and gusting winds making scoring even tougher.
Boxall quickly erased Cohen’s advantage before moving into the lead, only for the defending champion to respond and draw level. The pair remained locked together until the closing stages, with Boxall eventually sealing the title on the final hole to finish on a 36-hole total of 143, 1 shot clear of Cohen on 144. Co-club captain Mark Royl claimed 3rd place on 154.
The handicap championship was just as closely contested. Overnight leader White feared his hopes had disappeared after taking an 8 on the 16th hole, but with scoring difficult across the course, a 5-over-par net 69 proved enough to secure victory on 133 net.
Jan Little produced the round of the weekend with a superb 61 net – the only under-par handicap round of the championship – to leap from 28th overnight into 2nd place on countback with 134 net. Cohen finished 3rd, also on 134 net.
Elsewhere during the week, Lorraine Swallow won Wednesday’s Medal with a superb net 60, ahead of Helen Whittaker (64), Martin Whitehead (65) and Melvyn Pratley (66).
Peter Dixcey took victory in Friday’s Hole Stableford with 20 points, while John Stephens claimed 2nd on countback from Phil Brennan after both finished on 19 points.
Weekly results
Wednesday 22nd July – Medal
- Lorraine Swallow – 60 net
- Helen Whittaker – 64 net
- Martin Whitehead – 65 net
- Melvyn Pratley – 66 net (OCB)
Friday 24th July – Hole Stableford
- Peter Dixcey – 20pts
- John Stephens – 19pts (OCB)
- Phil Brennan – 19pts
Club Championships (25th-26th July)
Scratch
- Alfie Boxall – 143
- Zane Cohen – 144
- Mark Royl – 154
Handicap
- Bowy White – 133 net
- Jan Little – 134 net (OCB)
- Zane Cohen – 134 net
