TREBLE celebrations turned into quadruple joy when Bransford seniors staged their first octogenarians’ day.

A stableford tournament marked the recent 80th birthdays of three section members, Robin Brighton, Mike Kenway and Mike Kemp, and the event also produced an extra bonus in the form of a hole-in-one for one competitor in a field of 60.

The day, blessed by bright sunshine but quite breezy on occasions, saw the entrants split into three teams under the Kemp, Kenway and Brighton banners.

Kenway’s Green team just edged out Kemp’s Blue team 608-605 and Brighton’s Red squad totalled just under 600.

The top individual prize went to Brian Lawrence (22 handicap), who recorded 46 points and was four clear of runner-up George Batty (20).

Relatives of the celebrating octogenarians took part and three claimed spots in the top 10 with Roger King finishing fourth on 40 ahead of Peter Scott (39) and Tim Brighton (38).

Other leading scores were Rob Wetton (21) on 40, Rob Walker (25) and Peter Harrison (24) on 39 and Gerry Rebbeck (15), Brian Taylor (22), June Atkinson (17) and Pauline Wetton (25) on 37.

Robin Brighton (26), Kemp (28) and Kenway (28) scored 31, 27 and 26 respectively.

The day’s other celebration was for the first hole-in-one achieved by Alan Wallcroft.

Wallcroft, who plays off 20, secured his ace on the 169-yard, par-three 11th hole.

He said: “There was quite a bit of wind against us on the tee so I used my driver and hit a punched shot.

“We were able to watch the ball all the way and then it disappeared first bounce into the hole.

“I couldn’t believe it at first and turned to ask my playing partners, Peter Appleton and Ted Buckett, if they thought it had gone in and both quickly confirmed.

“I still wasn’t sure until we got to the green but there was the ball sitting in the hole.”

The second round of the seniors’ stableford league was played in heavy rain, which saw the field considerably depleted to 29.

Not all completed their rounds but Bob McGrath (16) led the way in Division One with 32 followed by Roy Williams (19-27) and Trevor Atkinson (14-25).

Division Two was won by John Phillips (20-34) ahead of Wallcroft (20-31), Rob Wetton (22-31), Richard Holding (21-26) and Ken Jones (21-23).

Leading the way in Division Three was Pauline Wetton (25-27) in front of Robin Young (28-22) and Neil McAllum (28).

The Friday roll-up stableford was close in Division One with Ferey Ghani just holding off three other players to win by a point. Ghani managed 15-36, Mike Davidge 17-35, Bill Bowen 20-35, McGrath 16-35, Wallcroft 20-34 and Graham Wilks 15-33.

Division Two went to Walker with 34 when he just edged out Andy Lamb (34) on count-back, while Dick Bettsworth (25), Kemp and Lawrence finished with 30.

Bransford seniors posted win number 10 from 12 with a 4-2 success at Gloucestershire club Brickhampton.

RESULTS

Phillips (21) and Williams (19) won 8&7, Rob Blake (15) and Paul Edlin (22) won 3&1, Ghani (15) and Wallcroft (20) lost 2&1, Ian Hamilton (12) and Harrison (24) won one-up, Davidge (17) and Neil Sheldon (23) won, Harry Goodwin (16) and Lee Dyment (19) lost one-down.