GOLF: Palairet joy for Tiverton (From This is The West Country)

GOLF: Palairet joy for Tiverton

2:29pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Sport

Tiverton surged into the quarter-finals of the Palairet Trophy after a comfortable 4-1 victory over Thurlestone at a windy Dainton Park on Sunday.

Tiverton, last year's beaten finalists, went through thanks to huge 7 and 6 wins for Rhys Cruse and Ben Hearn in the first game and Martin Selby and Ollie Taylor off third.

Second pair Jim Bray and Harry Konig were three up after eight and had the chance to complete the victory, but they were pulled back to all-square on the back nine and eventually lost on the 19th.

Chris Audin and youngster Daniel Perry wrapped up the overall win with a 2 and 1 triumph in the fourth game.

Matt Woodgate and Nixie Acfield also won on the 17th to secure a last-eight showdown with Dawlish Warren.

Andy Bowers returned to Tiverton after an eight-year break to win his second club championship on Saturday.

Bowers, playing off four, completed an exceptional day by winning the nett competition for the President's Cup after a six-hole play-off. Bowers carded gross scores of 73 and 70 for a total of 143.

Rhys Cruse came second on 145 after rounds of 74 and 71 while Jim Bray was third on 146 after two 73s. Ollie Taylor was also in contention after the first round before following up a 73 with an 80.

Bowers was forced into extra holes in the President's Cup after Carl Skinner matched his nett scores of 69 and 66.

With the scores level after the four-hole play-off, and the 1st being tied with a five, Bowers holed a 15-footer for a birdie on the 2nd to secure a double victory.

Results: Club Championship (Granlund Scratch Cup) - 1 Andy Bowers (73+70=143); 2 Rhys Cruse (74+71=145); 3 Jim Bray (73+73=146); 4 Carl Skinner (78+75=153); 5 Ben Hearn (76+77=153); 6 Ollie Taylor (73+80=153); 7 Matt Woodgate (79+75=154); 8 Tony Allsopp (75+79=154); 9 Cameron Bundy (82+73=155); 10 Nixie Acfield (79+77=156). President's Cup (nett) - 1 Andy Bowers (69+66=135); 2 Carl Skinner (69+66=135); 3 Ben Pitkin (73+64=137); 4 Daniel Perry (70+70=140); 5 Cameron Bundy (75+66=141); 6 Alex McFerren (73+68+141); 7 John Phripp (73+68=141); 8 Julian Partridge (69+72=141); 9 Jim Bray (71+71=142); 10 Gary Aitchison (71+71=142).

Ian Brierley had a hole-in-one on the 14th as Tiverton's veterans earned a dramatic play-off victory over Saunton in the Emerton-Court Trophy.

With both legs finishing 2½-2½ and the scores level at 5-5, it meant first pair Brierley and Mike Eastmond had the task of going down the 19th.

Having won their match 4 and 3, Brierley and Eastmond succeeded on the first extra hole to complete the job.

Results: 1 Ian Brierley and Mike Eastmond won 4 and 3; 2 Gerry Franklin and John Phripp won 2 up; 3 Graham Dyson and Derrick Barrett halved; 4 Mike Hurley and Peter Stuckey lost 3 and 2; 5 Bill Tobin and David Jack lost 2 and 1.

Caroline Anderson carded 39 points to win the second June Stableford for ladies.

Results: Silver Division - 1 Nicola Chilcott (38); 2 Abbie Moyes (37); 3 Stacey Ford (35). Bronze Division One - 1 Caroline Anderson (39); 2 Oki Northwood (34); 3 Margot Seamer (31). Bronze Division Two - 1 Janice Haynes (35); 2 Lin Waddington (34); 3 Pauline Hussey (32).

Tiverton's juniors moved into the next round of the Basil Steer Trophy after a 2½-½ victory over Exeter at Padbrook Park.

Trevor Milner posted an excellent 39 Stableford points to win the veterans' four-club challenge competition.

Results: 1 Trevor Milner (39); 2 Marcus Scott (36); 3 Noel Thomas (36); 4 Gordon White (36); 5 Ken Kirk (33); 6 Derek Garnsworthy (33).