UK Title Goes West
Added: (Tue Oct 11 2005)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
For the second successive year Yorkshire provided a winning pair at the International Pairs UK grand final – but the overall title went to Somerset.
Selby Golf Club’s Kath Bridges and Aileen Stockton took the UK ladies’ title – at the third time of asking for Bridges, who had qualified from her club on two previous occasions. However, the overall title went west, to Somerset in fact, in the form of Vivary Golf Club’s Colin Murphy and Mark Pavey.
Murphy and Pavey beat off the challenge of 39 fellow pairs to be crowned International Pairs UK champions 2005 – and lead the home challenge at spectacular Celtic Manor in next August’s world final.
But six-handicapper Murphy will remember the day for more than one reason after his dramatic hole-in-one on the 196-yard, par-three third on the Torrance Course, the first ace in the history of the International Pairs final.
“It was fantastic – I can’t get my head round it all,” said Murphy.
“I hit a six-iron. It never left the pin, pitched around 20 feet in front of the hole and went straight in.”
Inspired by the hole-in-one, Pavey and Murphy scorched to a four-shot win over the two tough St Andrews Bay courses which hug the Fife coastline and offer breathtaking views to the Old Grey Town and across to Carnoustie.
And the golf served up by the Vivary boys certainly matched the sublime location.
“Mark was fantastic and I was playing second fiddle and didn’t have much to do. We just came up here for the experience, arriving in the dark on Wednesday night, before going out at 8.10am in the second group on the Devlin course the next morning.
“We went out in 25 points before totalling 44 on the first day, and on the second day we turned in 23.
“I felt the front nine was tough and it wasn’t until the 16th tee that we heard we were four or five points clear. The pressure was on but Mark finished par, par, par and it’s all been unbelievable.”
The pair qualified at their home course in Taunton before winning their semi-final at The Kendleshire in Bristol with 42 points to take their place at magnificent St Andrews Bay.
Pavey said: “It’s been absolutely terrific. Everything has been A1 and hopefully we’ll be back again next year.”
Murphy added: “This is the bees’ knees – as good as it gets. Roll on August 2006.”
The Drumoig semi-final – one of five played across courses in Scotland on the eve of the two-day final - provided two of the UK’s winning pairs: Bridges and Stockton, and the mixed pairs champions from Edinburgh’s Marriott Dalmahoy, Carole Mason and David Donaldson.
Twenty-one handicapper Stockton, who came in as a late reserve for Jill Green, the Selby steward’s wife, said: “On the front nine on the final day Kath played like Norman Wisdom, but on the back nine she played like Greg Norman.
“It has been amazing to experience the International Pairs and I hope to be back again next year with Kath should we qualify at Selby.”
Bridges, who plays off 17, added: “I would recommend this to anybody to give it a go. It’s sheer luxury and something I couldn’t afford to do under my own steam – but this has cost us only £5 each.
“Before the final round we were quietly confident but we gave points away and my husband, Derek, who caddied on the day, told us to walk tall and get on with it.
“This is one experience I won’t forget and it hasn’t all sunk in yet.”
Mason and Donaldson landed the mixed title after two excellent rounds of 43 and 39.
But the victory may have left a sour taste in the mouth of Carole’s husband, James.
He double booked when due to play in the qualifier with his wife at their club and asked five-handicapper David to step in.
“James didn’t expect us to qualify, never mind go on to win it,” said Carole, who plays off 14.
“We thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s been a new experience. Despite living in Edinburgh we’ve never played at St Andrews Bay - but we will be back.
“The qualifier was the first time we played together.”
David added: “We played two great golf courses in wonderful condition with great company on and off the course.
“But to pay a £5 entry for the treatment we’ve had and two nights in a magnificent five-star complex can’t be bad, can it?
“The organisation has been fabulous and we didn’t appreciate, until we arrived, the amount of work that goes into organising such a fantastic event.
“I would put St Andrews Bay on a par with the likes of Turnberry and Gleneagles.”
Speaks volumes really.
■ To find out more about the International Pairs – the largest tournament in the world for club golfers and which is now on the verge of expanding into its 40th country – visit www.internationalpairs.com.
RESULTS
Men: 1, Mark Pavey & Colin Murphy (Vivary), 88pts – overall UK champions; 2, William Ramage & Keith Turnbull (Larkhall, Scotland) 84 – on countback – Scottish men’s champions; 3, Michael Ball & Colin Smith (East Berkshire) – English men’s champions; 4, Matt Goy & Mark Brookbanks (Brampton Park) 83; 5, David Allen & Nick Bethel (Tewkesbury Park) 81; 6, Ian Farquhar & Ian Milne (Edzell, Scotland) 81; 7, Adam Laidlaw & Bob Riley (Morpeth) 80; 8, Mark Newman & Robert Wardle (Selby) 80; 9, Karl Scott & Paul Mills (Bristol) 80; 10, John Ellis & Ian Doughty (Garforth) 79; 11, William Sangster & Philip Bramall (Chart Hills) 78; 12, Neil Gilham & Michael Doyle (Reigate Hill) 78; 13, Julian Salt & Sam Humpston (Matlock) 78; 14; Gary Stephen & Kevin Masson (Inverallochy, Scotland) 76; 15, Gary Jones & Andrew Morgan (Glynneath, Wales) 76 – Welsh men’s champions; 16, Steve Mager & Colin Stone (Waltham Windmill) 76; 17, Michael Arkle & Harry Hogg (Rothbury) 76; 18, Steve Waller & Derek Shilson (Kendleshire) 76; 19, Malcolm Ilgunas & Sandy Jackson (Biggar, Scotland) 76; 20, Tom Kaye & Dan Leach (Howley Hall) 75; 21, Gino Dandrilli & Lee Cameron (Elton Furze) 75; 22, Darren Mordecai & Andrew Thorne (Cottrell Park, Wales) 74; 23, Geoff Creedon & Dan Corlett (Old Thorns) 74; 24, Jim Cameron & Rodger Kingston (Harleyford) 73; 25, Mark Kirby & Paul Moore (Crondon Park) 72; 26, John Sinnott & Sean Moores (Oxley Park) 72; 27, Lee Rhodes & Shaun Smith (Scarborough South Cliff) 71; 28, Martin Land & Andrew Green (Norfolk) 70; 29, David White & Zachary White (Sherdons) 70; 30, Stuart Bruton & Gary Lawrence (Monmouthshire, Wales) 69; 31, Peter Vickerman & Jim Lyons (Lydd) 69; 32, Mark Hawkins & David Borasinski (Barlaston) 62.
Ladies: 1, Kath Bridges & Aileen Stockton (Selby) 73 – overall UK ladies’ champions; 2, Ann Foster & Sarah Harris (Elsham) 69 – English ladies’ champions; 3, Theresa Douglas & Patricia Jones (Chase) 65; 4, Cynthia Hardeman & Karen Neil (Bewdley Pines) 57.
Mixed: 1, Carole Mason & David Donaldson (Marriott Dalmahoy, Scotland) 82 – overall UK mixed champions; 2, Chris Wiggins & Moira Waldron (West Berkshire) 76 – English mixed champions; 3, Les Shortreed & Martha Shortreed (Peebles, Scotland) 70 – Scottish mixed champions; 4, David Newman & Angela Newman, (Minchinhampton) 68.
ENDS
Information for journalists
Issued by Pete Richardson Communications Ltd.
Pictures of each pair competing in the final are available upon request.
For more information or pictures please contact Dave Bowers or Pete Simm, on 08700 330 550. Or email dave@prcpr.co.uk or pete.simm@prcpr.co.uk.