Charity the real winner at golf day

TWENTY-two teams of four turned out at Cooden Beach Golf Club on Monday in support of captain Kevin Owen's chosen charity this year - St Michael's Hospice in St Leonards.

After wind and rain for the first two holes, the weather conditions suddenly lifted and the competition was completed in bright sunshine.

The day was generously supported by local businesses and members, and was enhanced by the attendance of former cricketers Martin McCague (Kent and England), Paul Pritchard (former Essex captain), John Shepherd (Kent and West Indies), Pat Pocock (Surrey and England) and John Lever (Essex and England). They were joined by former Davis Cup tennis star Chris Bailey, now a Sky Sports commentator.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The eventual winners were Cooden member Colin Wood's team which was made up of himself, Nick Waldron, Bill Plumridge and Andy Hannah with 89 Stableford points. They finished a point clear of the Shepherd Neame team of Christian Hamilton, Nick Hughes, Joe Murphy and Derek Howe. In third place was the Donaldson Dunstall team of Colin Dunstall, Terry Weston, David Warden and Lever on countback with 87 points.

Following an excellent after-dinner speech from former England hockey coach and goalkeeper Roger Dakin, an auction raised more than 2,000 to take the day's proceeds to some 6,700.

Hospice chairman Derek Norcross and fund-raiser Jenny Tyrrell attended the dinner with the former thanking the club for the extremely generous donation.