Men’s Scratch Championship 2024 at Woodhall Spa – Saturday 17 August Hotchkin Course and Sunday 18 August Bracken Course
The men’s scratch championship saw a small but talented field of players competing to be the NAPGC champion for 2024. Weather was good but the courses were set up with some tricky pin positions that fully tested what was a strong field of players.
A four over 77 was the leading score for the day before Graham Braybrooke returned a very good level par 73 and thus a four-stroke lead to carry into day two. Graham stretched his lead on day two, before a slight wobble and some good play by Liam Cella enabled the gap to close to within two shots. He then looked to be out of position on the 17th hole, but responded by hitting a tremendous second shot to the par 5 from which he made a birdie after narrowly missing the eagle attempt. After a par down the last the outcome was sealed with a final round two over 75 giving Graham a combined 148 and 3 stroke tournament victory.
Final Standings were Graham Braybrooke (148), Liam Cella (151) and David Watson (162).
Graham now goes on to represent the NAPGC in the England Golf Champion of Champions, back at Woodhall Spa in September.
Men’s Championship 2024 at Woodhall Spa – Sunday 18 August Bracken Course
The men’s championship saw 52 players making the tee sheet having battled through club and area qualifying events. Disappointingly there were 3 no shows so 49 players ended up competing for the national trophies. Well done to all who made it to the national final.
Weather was reasonable with the sun shining mostly, though there was a little bit of breeze which was reflected in the scores that saw only two players shooting net par or better and the playing conditions calculation being plus 2.
In the scratch section play was close with Liam Cella (Haste Hill) and Graham Braybrooke (Hoebridge) paired together and battling for the title. Eventually Liam came through shooting a two over 74 gross to lift the J H Taylor Trophy, with Graham just one back on 75. However, by way of consolation his 75 net 72 proved good enough against the rest of the field and he lifted the Championship net trophy. Also in Division 1, Steve Meacham (Cannock Park) picked up the Piccadilly Div1 net trophy with a 75.
In the other divisions battles were equally hard with Philip Curtis (The Downshire) shooting net 75 to win division 2 with two 75’s close behind in the prizes. Division 3 was won by Phil Seddon (Cannock Park) with a net 75 from two 76’s and in Division 4 Geoff Wheeler (Rose Hill) with a net 76 took the trophy on countback.
Many thanks to Les Hasell for running the competition through the year, to Stuart Cella and Deryck Walker for supporting at the national final and all other NAPGC organisers who manged the area events.
