Haulage company boss Phil O’Brien played the game of his life to drive off with Leighton Buzzard golf club’s Presidents Putter trophy on Saturday - and celebrated with family friends after getting his handicap cut by a couple of shots.
Phil, 56, who had failed to clock-up a major win in his 30 years as a member of the Plantation Road club, carded a record breaking nett 62 to land the coveted title and a new electric caddy presented by club President David Hawkins.
The boss of Grovebury Road based haulage company OBL European Transport, Phil used his 21-handicap to good effect to record “my best ever round”.
Runner-up John Allinson missed out by a single shot, with vet Graham Richmond taking third place with a nett 64, two clear of Nigel Chapman. Judy Ammon won the “top lady” prize, matching partner Graham’s nett 64 on a high-turnout day with record low scores.
Retired Leighton trio Derek Browning, Geoff Allatt and Mike Bluett won Stowe Seniors invitation with 124 points. Derek later celebrating with a hole in one, using a six-iron on Leighton’s 154-yard 11th hole for his first ace shot since taking up the sport 20 years ago.
But he still has a way to go to match wife Margaret, who has hit three holes in one so far.
Sylvia Dell is the new holder of Leighton Ladies Buckmaster Salver, winning with a nett 70, two shots clear of former Ladies Captain Val Brown.
Vice Captain Debbie Pollard Barns won the Silver Division stableford with 35 points, two clear of Sandra Bellis; Zan Nichol pipped Avril Simpson for top spot on countback in Bronze “A” after both finished with 34pts; and Oonagh Russell nursed her way to a win in Bronze “B” with 34pts, two clear of Christine Bateman.
Hairdresser Ann Tilbury won Leighton Ladies Captains day with 41pts, and had two shots clipped from her handicap. Division leaders were: Silver: Liz Bagshaw, 37pts; Sandra Bellis, 35pts; Judy Ammon, 34pts; Bronze “A”: Gill Ladd, 36pts; Sylvia Dell, 36pts; Paula Cox, 33pts; Bronze “B”: Rosie Hartnell, 31pts; Jean Bendall, 30pts; Val Kent, 30pts.
[] Steve Baines is the new holder of Leighton SeniorsTucker Cup, his 40 point haul beating Senior skipper Fred Ritchie and John Tarbox who both had 39pts.
[] Cedars student Ben Proud, 14, has been forced to pull out of the Bedfordshire Schools team to face Herts, Middlesex and Essex schools for the McPartlin trophy next week after breaking his hand playing football. Leighton’s Ollie Banwell, Freya Daniels and fellow Cedars student Alisa Chaman are in the 10-strong squad.