Falmouth Win Summer Handicap League Final

Falmouth are the 2024 Summer Handicap League Winners as the finals day was played out in anything but summer conditions. The Falmouth team overcame Tehidy Park to claim the trophy.

The two morning semis saw Falmouth pitted against Porthpean whilst Tehidy Park took on Mawgan Porth, each of the four teams having topped their league across the summer period.

As both matches got underway the rain started and it is not an exaggeration to say it rained all day. Trethorne indicated the greens would holed up and they did so - just! But for the players who battled the elements the surprisingly warm but very damp conditions were tough.

Falmouth defeated Porthpean by 4.5 - 1.5 in the first semi-final with 4 comfortable wins for Adam Pryor, Jack Stocker, Nick Hodges and Callum Davis. For Porthpean Mike Rooney was their  only winner as he overcame Peter Lewis by the odd hole and their half point came from Karl Rance against Ronnie May.

In semi-final 2 Tehidy Park repeated this scoreline in their win over Mawgan Porth. Three of the six games were close as Tehidy, conceding a considerable number of shots to their opponents, got over the line to reach the final. Their team had winners in Peter Rule, Mark Bratt, Sam Williams and Chris Campbell, the latter almost holing his tee shot at 8th, a  205 yard par 3. Mawgan Porth's only winner was Simon Tonkin who had a great battle with Phil Lawrence before winning at the 19th, whilst their half point came from Lee Gallagher in his match with Freddie Kirkland.

During the lunch interval the rain stopped and there was hope for a drier afternoon. But as if to rub it in, as the final got underway the rain returned with a bit of a vengeance. And it did not let up.

Through 6 holes the top two games were all square with Falmouth having an edge in game 3, healthy early leads in games  4 and 5 whilst Tehidy led game 6. Tehidy needed to see an advantage gained in the top two games.  This was not to be the case though.

For Falmouth Adam Pryor went 2 up through 11 holes and moved to a 4&3 win over Tehidy's Peter Rule. Tehidy levelled the overall score as Phil Lawrence claimed a 5&4 win over Ronnie May. Two further Falmouth wins followed as Peter Lewis beat Mark Bratt 3&2 and Jack Stocker saw off Sam Williams by the same score. Williams had been 5 down through 7 holes but staged a comeback to be just the one down after 11. For him a putt to win the 16th stayed agonisingly right on the edge of the hole and Stocker was left with a short tap in to register his win and put Falmouth 3 -1 up in the match.

For Falmouth the winning point was delivered by Nick Hodges as he saw off Kirkland in yet another 3&2. Once more the edge of the par 3 16th hole refused to let Kirkland's ball in and Falmouth were over the line. The last game saw Callum Davis and Chris Campbell agree a half.

CGU Vice President Alan Creber congratulated both teams on reaching the final and thanked host club Trethorne for their hospitality and the excellent service provided to competitors.

For Tehidy Park Vice-Captain Phil Staton expressed thanks to Trethorne ad the Cornwall Golf Union, saying how much better the SHL had been this year and that he hoped more clubs might consider entries in 2025. He congratulated Falmouth on their win and concluded by saying how proud he was of his Tehidy team.

Winning Club Captain Phil Jones was a very happy man as he praised his team and congratulated Tehidy Park on the very sporting manner in which the final had been played. He too thanked host club Trethorne and the Cornwall Golf Union for the work it undertakes on behalf of golfers in the county.

Creber then presented a voucher (£150) to Phil Staton for his team, and a trophy and further voucher (£300) to Phil Jones.

SF 1 Mawgan Porth v Tehidy Park

SF 2 Porthpean v Falmouth

Final Tehidy Park v Falmouth

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