While Tiger Roll was romping to victory in Saturday’s Grand National, two Leighton golfers were cantering to the finishing line in the club’s Captains Cup final, winning the coveted trophy for the second time in four years.
There was no photo-finish needed either at the Plantation Road course as Andy Ashall and Paul Naudo completed their 18 holes with a 45 point haul, five clear of runners-up Steve Giles and Mark Vincent.
Andy, 50, a company director and five-handicap golfer, and Paul, 58, a retired distribution manager playing off 17, had won one of the 11 weekend qualifiers with 47 points, and put in another sterling performance to collect the trophy from Club Captain Robbie John.
“After failing to score on the first hole, it was one of those days when everything just clicked,” said Andy, Paul adding: “For good measure, we also had a pay-out in the Grand National.”
Other Cup final finishers were: 39pts – Mark Hammond and Colin Mcleod, Lee Sanders and Mark Reynolds; 38pts – Brandon Sanders and Danny Reynolds, Phil Coumbe and John Mckay, Justin Moss and Kent Waterman; 37pts – Stephen Boud and Barry Kent, Geoffrey Barker and Terence Roe, Steven Paine and Nigel Barnes.
Leighton’s Senior section got their new inter-club season off to a flying start with a 5-2 victory over local rivals Aspley Guise. After skipper Peter Myrants and David Roberts lost the opening match to Aspley’s Rod Kupczyk and Tony Widmer, Martin Broadley and Will Sampson, Keith Griffiths and Denis Leitch, Geoff Allatt and David Bishop, Harry Adam and Chris O’Mahony and Mike Manning and David Payne won for Leighton. Stuart Lawrence and David Gamble claimed the last match for Aspley, while John Brydon and Danny Nairne and Jim Gales and David Matthews halved their match.
Lynne Newnham was top scorer in Leighton Ladies April stableford, her 36 points pipping Ladies Captain Carmen White-Lawes by three shots, a result which earned her a one shot reduction in her handicap to 17. Val Berry was Division One runner-up to Lynne while Carmen topped Division Two with 33 points, three clear of Barbara Bradley. Jane Tizzard won Division Three with 33 points, Margaret Osborne finishing runner-up.
A free golfing ‘taster session’ for girls between the ages of 5-18 years is being held at the Leighton club on Saturday, May 4 between 12.00 and 14.00. The event is being backed by England Golf and the Golf Foundation with participants reserving their involvement by booking through girlsgolfrocks.org.
After five years as Assistant Professional at the Leighton club, Wayne Hugo packs his clubs on Sunday to take up a new appointment in Scotland. Says Club Captain Robbie John: “Wayne has proved to be very popular with many members benefitting from his coaching skills and his encouragement to make the most of their abilities. We wish him well.”
PICTURE CAPTION:
CHAMPIONS….Andrew Ashall (left) and Paul Naudo (right) receive the Captains’ Cup from Leighton skipper Robbie John.
