News from the Tee

Home players Martyn Jones and Keith Morgan claimed the 2011 Valleys Open Golf Day held at Morlais Castle Golf Club last weekend with an excellent 4BBB stableford score of 45 points. The competition, run between Valley cluster Clubs Aberdare GC, Mountain Ash GC, Rhondda GC and Morlais Castle GC attracted no fewer than 160 entries with R Neck and M Thomas of Rhondda GC finishing in second place on count-back also returning an excellent score of 45 points, home players Damon Delaney and David Groves claiming third place with a fine score of 43 points. Other prize winners on what proved to be an extremely successful day were Anthony Mullins of Morlais Castle GC who won nearest the pin on Hole 11, Matthew Delahaue of Mountain Ash GC who won nearest the pin on Hole 17 and Andrew Coleman, also from Mountain Ash GC who won longest drive.

Last weekend also saw Morlais Castle complete its final official competition of the 2011 calendar, the prestigious 36 Hole Gross & Net. The first round played at the beginning of September attracted 79 entries and saw Ceirion Jones return an excellent round of one under par 70 to lead the gross competition from Mike Gwyther (73), Jack Powell (74) and Darren Murphy (74). In the net event, 10 handicapper Alan Hubbard led after Day 1 following a terrific round of net 65 following a 75 gross, Jack Powell occupied second place with a net 66 whist 9 handicap Brendan Toomey was two shots further adrift following a round of net 68.

As always, Day 2 proved an intriguing affair as the lead in both the Gross and Net Competitions continually changed hands. In the Gross event, Darren Murphy posted a second round of 74 to set the early clubhouse target at 148. With Jack Powell falling away following a disappointing round of 83 the competition would prevail into a three horse race contested between three previous winners, could Murphy hold onto the Clubhouse lead, could Ceirion Jones record another low round to secure the title for a second time or would Mike Gwyther come through in the latter stages and claim another title as so often has been the case. A disappointing round of 77 from Jones, albeit good enough to claim the clubhouse lead, would provide Gwyther with a slender opportunity and a gesture of good will he was unwilling to miss as the 52 year old scratch golfer returned a round of 74 to a two-round aggregate of 147 and claim the title on count-back. In the net event, Robert Cushen made a late push for glory recording the round of the day with a superb effort of gross 74 net 64 for a two round total of 141. Paul Carpets (68), Simon Morgan (69) and Robert Powell (70) also returning excellent second rounds to try and force their way into the reckoning. It was however Darren Murphy who took full benefit of first round leader Alan Hubbard not returning a second round score as a second round of net 70 from the 4-handicapper claimed the net competition with a two round aggregate of 140.

Gross Net

Mike Gwyther 73 & 74 147 Darren Murphy 70 & 70 140
Ceirion Jones 70 & 77 147 Jack Powell 66 & 75 141
Darren Murphy 74 & 74 148 Robert Cushen 77 & 64 141
Simon Morgan 79 & 74 153 Simon Morgan 74 & 69 143
Robert Powell 79 & 75 154 Ceirion Jones 68 & 75 143

This Saturday Morlais Castle recognises the individual achievements of 2011 when it hosts its annual Captains Night Presentation Evening at 7.30pm whilst on the course winter league gets into full swing, please check notice boards for all information.