The career rail industry project manager delivered a first-class performance to win the men’s Lucking Cup at Leighton Buzzard’s Plantation Road club where he has been a member for almost 20 years.
A former Captain of the Seniors Section of the club, Linslade-based George claimed the scalps of four experienced campaigners on his way to winning a trophy he will receive from Club Captain Robbie John at a presentation evening in January.
His victory came just weeks after he carded a hole-in-one on his way to a Lucking Cup win over Ian Woodman, using a six-iron for his second inch-perfect 150-yard ace on Leighton’s Par 3 14th hole. George had earlier beaten Terry Dell and then Trevor Stone before facing Steven Molyneaux in the final.
Former squash, tennis, badminton and cricket exponent George, playing off a handicap of 18, got off to a dream start, winning the first three holes. Steve struck back in a nip-and-tuck encounter before George secured victory on the 16th with two holes to spare.
“Although I got off to a great start, Steve was always a threat. I’m just glad I didn’t have to play those two very difficult final holes,” said George.
It was a trophy winning week too for seasoned campaigner Sandra Bellis, no stranger to winning in her 39 years as a member of the Leighton club. She beat 40 club colleagues to win the Ladies Olive Wood Trophy for a third time, having had her name inscribed on the trophy for victories in 1998 and 2014.
A 20-handicap golfer, Sandra carded 42 points to beat single-figure golfer Kate Wright by six shots, former Ladies champion Jenny Stafford finishing third on countback. Patti Marriott, Christine Robinson and Judith Ammon headed the chasing pack with 34 points.
Leighton’s Mid-Handicap league team managed by the experienced Sam Messenger has reached the knock-out
stage of the Bedfordshire League, and will face Millbrook in the quarter finals at the Plantation Road course on September 1. The five-strong Leighton team finished top their division with Luton Hoo, South Beds, Chalgrave and The Bedfordshire, winning all four home matches, two away matches and losing the other two in tie-break play-offs.
Martyn Flynn won Saturday’s Club stableford with 41 points, pipping Simon Enright on countback, with Stuart Goodwin claiming third place ahead of Paul Atkinson, Stuart Goodwin and Sam Messenger, who all had 39 points. Alex Smith, Stdeve Marriott, Ben Hazell, Kate Wright, Colin Jeffrey and Dharm Naveen Diwakar headed a chasing pack with 38 points.
Sundays Faulkner Family Foursomes was won by Lee and Niki Clark, beating Alex and Mike Smith on countback after both pairs finished with 68.5. Angela and Richard Samuels finished third a shot behind on 69.5.