Players brave elements for Golf Classic second round

Keen golfers struggled through the wet weather yesterday in the second round of BMJ’s Golf Classic at Little Aston Golf Club, Sutton Coldfield.

Despite the weather, teams scored fairly highly, with the winning team of Dell Fitzgerald, Stuart Davidson, John Gibson and David Young scoring 106.

Andy Simpson, Steve Boyle, Paul Olney and Paul Edwards came second with 103 points. And in third place were Bill Worsfold, Robin George and John and David Jones with 101 points.

The highest scoring individual not on a winning team was Steve Cofton with 34 points, while the highest scoring sponsor was Mick Hucknall, also with 34.

Andy Simpson of sponsor Castle Cement said: “The weather was very tough, which made things difficult but the course was in fantastic shape. We did well on the front nine holes but we all struggled on the back nine.”

John Gibson of Travis Perkins, a member of the winning team, said: “It was good fun, there was good banter between players and teams around the course. As a team we didn’t do too badly considering how bad the weather was.”

Steve Boyle, of the second place team, scored the highest overall with 38 points. He has a strong track record in the competition, as he was the highest individual at the final in Le Touquet three years ago with over 40 points.

Boyle said on his success on the course: “I chip and putt like a god. Seriously, the course was in fantastic condition. We may have come second, but the captain of our team kept us motivated, even though he chipped and putted like Stevie Wonder.”

The next round of the BMJ Golf Classic takes place at Fulford Golf Club, near York, on June 19.