A handful of lessons with his professional golfer son-in-law paid dividends for retired account director Ian Kempsell.

For the 62-year-old grandad won Leighton Buzzard golf club’s Barney Hallam Christmas Cup by a four shot margin to win his second trophy in his 27 years as a member of the Plantation Road club.

Ian carded 41 points which included four from a birdie on the last hole of the day to beat Danny Nairne and Steve Shepherd by a comfortable margin.

Said Ian after being presented with the trophy by Peter Myrants as his last official engagement as Senior Section Captain before handing over the reigns to successor Ian Rimmer: “My son-in-law Sam Smith, a former Junior Captain at Leighton and now a very successful professional coach, has been ironing out a few flaws in my play which has vastly improved my consistency. Having said that, had my playing partner on the day Tim Martin not blobbed out on two holes, he could have won the Cup instead of me.”

Ian, whose only previous trophy win was the Henley Cup some years ago, had his handicap reduced by two shots to 16, much to the delight of his regular playing partners.

Other leading finishers in the 68-strong line-up were: 36pts – Tim Martin, Mike J Smith; 35pts – Mike Manning; 34pts – John Tarbox, Peter King, Ian Rimmer, Neil Laming.

The competition for players aged 75 or more was won by David Vaughan.

Ian Woodman and John McKay teamed up to win the club Christmas Foursomes, carding 38.5pts to beat Kent Waterman and Paul Ellam by a shot.  Peter Darwin and Ben Irvine took third place with 36.5pts, with Darran Valentine and Will Sampson, Steve Deverill and Steve Boud and Phil Eddy and Robin Lawes heading a chasing pack with 36pts.

Three pairs tied top spot with 34 points in the Mixed Christmas Greensomes, with Sandra Bellis and Simon Thornton collecting the Mel and Pauline Glover trophy on countback from Josie and Peter Sheridan and Patti and Steve Marriott. Diana and Graham Pellow took fourth spot with 32 points, a shot clear of Jenny Stafford and Brian Whiting.

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