Champions crowned in region’s biggest golf leagues
The champion clubs and individuals in this year’s North East Rabbits Golf Association’s Rabbits and Inter leagues were crowned at Rockliffe Hall with two Finals Days in October.
In the Rabbits league, for players with handicaps 16-28, Roseberry Grange lifted the team title with 222 points in the seven scores from eight format as Kirkbymoorside took the runners up spot with 211 points.
Roseberry Grange captain Ray Clifford said: “For a small club like ours it’s a great achievement to win the league. The whole team are chuffed to be the best in the North East.
“The club has gone from strength to strength following a tough period in 2011 and success like this makes it all worthwhile. The team performed really well at Rockliffe and despite three sets of penalty shots we managed to get over the line.”
The Rabbits Finals Day saw the leading teams from the league’s four divisions and the best runner up compete for the team total. The leading points scorers from all 33 clubs also competed for the NERGA Rabbits Individual Championship with Graham Nealan from Garesfield beating Romanby’s Nigel Edson and Dinsdale Spa’s Dave Curry to the title with 39 points.
In the association’s second Finals Day the leading teams in the Inter league, for players with handicaps 8-15, took on the Hurworth course. Roseberry Grange missed out on double success by just two points as Ripon City were crowned team champions with 228 points.
Ripon City captain Wayne Best said: “To get the win at Rockliffe Hall was a fantastic achievement for the team and for our club. We came close to making it to finals day last year and had a great time there this year.
“I led the Rabbits team a couple of years ago and to lead the Inter team to the win is great feeling – it’s definitely the highlight of my golfing career.” In the Inter Individual Championship, which featured the leading point scorers from all 21 clubs, Robert Dove from Hunley Hall’s 41 points was enough for a two-point victory over Whitby’s John Hartley.
Association secretary Martin Hill said: “The feedback from this year’s leagues and our two Finals Days, which saw 125 players taking part, has been fantastic and we must thank all of the clubs for continuing to be part of the association’s success.
“Plans are well underway for 2017, with new clubs joining both the Rabbits and Inter leagues.
“To be able to provide competitive inter-club golf for more than 1,600 players in the last five years has been fantastic and we’re looking forward to growing further and giving more players the chance to compete regularly across our region.”
