NGL Centenary Medal Finals

Seven Northamptonshire Club members wrote their names in County history as they claimed the top prizes in their respective divisions of the NGL Centenary Medal Finals, which took place at two separate venues.

With the Golf Union in Northamptonshire celebrating its 100th year, the winners of a series of club qualifiers were held for the right to compete for glory in the Finals held recently at Wellingborough GC and Peterborough Milton GC.

With the first Centenary Medal Final taking place in late August, Mark Davis claimed the plaudits on his home course at Wellingborough in the Men’s single-figure handicap section on countback from Overstone Park’s Dale Burton after a net 72.

Martyn Pound (Northants County) produced an excellent finish in the mid-handicap category as he covered the back nine in gross one-over-par to nudge a single stroke ahead of Peterborough Milton’s Harrison Slater, who carded a net 69.

The pattern of strong finishes was also evident in the Ladies low-handicap competition as Gill Mullaney (Rushden) carded gross pars on four of the last eight holes in a net 70 to earn a two shot victory from three players.

Northants County teenager Joe Jaggard had the thrill of compiling the best net score of 67 as he finished two clear of Wellingborough member Ewan Clee.

With the second Centenary Medal Final taking place at Peterborough Milton GC on Sunday, Diane Ahearne came close to securing a home win in the Ladies high-handicap category but a net 75 left her one adrift of winner Lin Birch (Kingsthorpe).

Joanne De Waele (Whittlebury Park) compiled an excellent score of net 68 to clinch the Ladies mid-handicap event by three strokes from Elizabeth Swan (Oundle).

The other section on the day also witnessed a three shot triumph as Ben Simpson (Rushden) compiled a net 72 in the Men’s high-handicap competition to finish clear of Steven White (Kettering) and Jonathan Owen (Cherwell Edge).