Golf League News
Handicap League
Group A
The heavyweight clash between the two unbeaten sides in Handicap League Group A went the way of the home team as Staverton Park made it four wins in four outings with a 13-3 victory against Hellidon Lakes.
The visitors, who had won their previous three matches this season, started brightly as Gary Osborne and Gavin Aris grabbed the opening tie by three holes.
Hellidon also managed to halve the last couple of games, but the match was effectively all over by that stage as Staverton dominated the middle three ties.
Andy Sant and Barry Harding took game two by three holes, Adrian Thompson and Ted Nilsson won the next by the same scoreline, before Greg Young and Darren O’Brien put the contest beyond Hellidon with a seven-hole success,
Group C
Farthingstone’s strong tail made all the difference in their Group C away clash with Silverstone as they recorded a superb 14-3 victory to maintain their chances of qualifying for the last four.
With the opening two ties being halved, Farthingstone moved clear with a three-hole success from Robert Luckham and Ricky Brown, only for the hosts to level the overall score by taking the next tie by the same mark.
After suffering a surprise home defeat to Silverstone in early May, Farthingstone showed their determination to avoid a repeat result as Carl Harrison and Adrian Miller Farthingstone won by six holes, before David Carthew and Stephen Stein added a five-hole success in the last match.
Group D
Overstone Park moved clear at the top of Group D, courtesy of a 5-3 victory at Cold Ashby – their second away victory of the campaign.
In a tight contest, Overstone did most of their best work early on as Dale Burton and Jay Wiggins took the opening tie by one hole, Dan Fowkes and Phil Gardener won the next by three, before Peter Etheridge and Jay Vieyra extended their lead by one more.
The home team reduced the deficit in the remaining games, but Overstone still held out for victory that means they sit one point ahead of Collingtree Park, who drew 7-7 in their latest away match at Oundle.
Despite losing games three, four and five, Collingtree grabbed a share of the spoils thanks to wins from Andrew Bush and Wayne Harmer (four holes) and Jason Hendle and Chris Stills (three holes).
Scratch League
Division 3
Silverstone backed up their excellent 5-1 victory at Oundle at the start of the month with another success as they moved to the top of the third division with a 4½-1½ home defeat of Rushden.
James Falvey (3&1), Steve Bryden (3&2), Mark Jordan (5&4) and David Sanders (4&3) bagged wins, while Simon Orrey added a half for Silverstone. The away team’s only point came from Steve Kempson down the 18th hole.
Intermediate League
Kettering boosted their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals as they collected their first victory of the Intermediate League with a 5-3 success against Northampton at Collingtree Park GC.
Despite Northampton claiming the opening point through Westley Barber, Kettering took control thanks to wins from Andrew Alexander, Paul Wilson and Edward Keech, who triumphed 7&6.
Northampton’s Graham Truby pulled one back, but Kettering kept their nerve in the remaining three ties, all of which reached the closing hole, as Mark Hastie bagged a point, while Lee Hughes and Andy Robinson secured a half apiece.
Junior League
Northants County B saw their perfect winning record in Junior League Group A come to an end as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by Peterborough Milton A.
The home side started strongly with points from Jack Meakin and Charlie Cannell, but were pegged back by Milton, who snatched a share of the spoils thanks to wins from Gabriel Bowden and Sam Mayman on the 16th hole.
Ladies Ceil Leitch League
Group A
Elton Furze booked their place in the quarter-finals following a 3-2 home success against Wellingborough B in Ladies Ceil Leitch League Group A.
With two wins already under their belts, the hosts seized control thanks to points from Susan Pawson (6&4) and Anna Fray (5&4), before Anita Cordery confirmed the home victory on the 16th hole.
Away points from Helen Marriott and Melanie Ross on the 18th hole could prove crucial for Wellingborough, who can still snatch second place in the table as they host Whittlebury Park in their final match this week.
Group B
Wellingborough A snuffed out any fears of relinquishing their place in the quarter-finals as they defeated Kettering 5-0 at home to guarantee second place in Group B behind winners Rushden.
With Kettering needing to win to have any chance of reaching the last eight, the home side maintained their focus as Susan Kellett, Ellen Steel, Liz Rees and Carole Cornforth all triumphed with holes to spare, before Bina Shah confirmed the whitewash on the 18th hole.
Group C
Overstone Park recorded their fifth successive win of the season with a 3-2 victory at Kingsthorpe to grab first position in Group C.
Suzanne Silvester got the visitors going with a 4&2 success, teenager Freya Pickford added another Overstone point, before Katie Watkins wrapped up the away scoring with a 2&1 win.
Fellow quarter-finalists Oundle had to be content with the runners-up spot as they ended their campaign with a 3-2 defeat at Cold Ashby, for whom Marguerite Kraus-Rudder, Linda Boyd and Julie Bott scored.
Group D
Staverton Park had few problems joining Northants County in the last eight as they defeated Brampton Heath 5-0 at home in their penultimate Group D outing.
The hosts, who will guarantee top spot with victory at Brampton next week, earned the plaudits thanks to wins from Sharon Jones, Carolyn Coxon, Teresa Cruickshank, Candice Jones and Samantha Harding.