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GOLF: Pike breaks rules to win open title
ADAM Pike has become the youngest ever winner of the Thorpe Wood Open Championship – in fact he was too young to have even played in it.
ADAM Pike has become the youngest ever winner of the Thorpe Wood Open Championship – in fact he was too young to have even played in it.The club stipulate all entrants must be over 18 to play in the Open but somehow 16-year-old Pike managed to slip through the net and then escape the field to lift the title.
A pupil at Prince William School in Oundle, Pike took time out from revising for his GCSE's to complete the testing 7,086 yard course in a one-under-par 72.
Not only was it the best gross score on the day, but it was also good enough for the four handicapped Elton Furze member to scoop the net award.
What made his feat all the more amazing was the fact it was only the third time he has played the course – his first in competition play.
But you would not have known it as he made a flying start with birdies on the opening three holes.
Pike said: "I had a really good start to the round which helped me a lot.
"After that it was a case of just keeping playing steady and, although I did drop a couple of shots, I managed to do that."
It was the Elton teenager's first senior competition win and with ambitions of one day joining the professional circuit, it is one he is keen to repeat.
He added: "It's a good feeling to get my first win under my belt and I hope I can go on and win a few more.
"I'd like to go on and play professional on one of the tours and win a tournament there."
Next up for Pike is playing for Cambs boys in a tournament at Worcester, then sitting down to complete his GCSE exams in 13 different subjects.
"At the moment it is a case of balancing playing golf with my exams," said Pike. "But it is good to take some time off from revision."
Carl Fisher finished four shots behind Pike with a net 72, with Mike Gordon – who was on holiday from Sydney, Australia visiting his brother – third on countback.
• ORTON Meadows Ladies go for glory in the Mary Forster Bowl at Milton Keynes on Sunday.
The trio of Jane Silkstone, Anne Lowery and Dot Franklin have navigated their way through to the National Final, having won their qualifying group and then a tricky semi final against Basildon.
They blasted their way past Basildon, who had won their group by a margin of 12 strokes, to book their place in the Milton Keynes final.
• THORPE Wood's Suzanne Dickens produced a remarkable recovery to finish 17th at the Spanish Open at the Club de Golf de la Coruna.
The Stamford-born 32-year-old looked as if she would have a battle on her hands to make the cut after firing a bogey-laden five-over-par 77 in the opening round.
And, after dropping shots on three of the opening five holes of her second round, it looked as if Dickens would not make it through to the weekend.
But she showed all her experience to remain composed and produced six birdies in 11 holes to card a 69 to comfortably make the cut.
Another 69 in the third round moved Dickens up to 11th spot and within striking distance of the leaders, but she was unable to maintain her form in the final round, shooting a 74 for 17th overall.
• MILTON Ladies bowed out of the Mail on Sunday tournament after Gill Preston suffered defeat at the last hole.
Preston needed to win her match to force a final hole play-off against Northants County, but lost to Janet Holiday as Milton went down 3-1.
Lucinda Davies produced Milton's only win of the match, defeating Kirsty Jennings 4&3.
Greetham Valley had no such problems as wins from Kay Ropson and Joan Millington guided them through against Kirby Muxloe.
• GREETHAM Valley's Steffan Dutton aced the 179 yard fifth hole at Sleaford during a Lincs League match.
Playing downwind with a seven iron, Dutton turned away from his ball after playing it and missed seeing it land on the green and roll gently into the cup.
• MILTON pair Neil Presto and Adrian Firman are in the Northants team to play Leicestershire in the Anglian League at Kettering on Sunday.
MILTON
Men's
Harlestone 2.5, Milton 5.5: Neil Presto halved, Ian Symonds won 1up, Richard Cole won 2&1, Danny Symonds won 5&4, Rory Edwards won 2&1, Robert Fredericks lost 6&5, Chris White won 3&2, Neil Brown lost 5&4.
Milton 4, Oundle 5: C. Phillips/M. Gallagher won 2&1, R. Rome/J. Double lost 6&5, B. Bellamy/T. Burgh won 5&3, J. Greenaway/Z. Hussain won 3&2, W. Stocks/E. Doherty won 5&3, P. Juggins/B. Shaw lost 1 down, A. izod/R. Laxton lost 5&4, G. Hodson/R. Field lost 3&2, M. Williamson/D. Mankelow lost 1 down.
Ladies
Mail on Sunday Milton 1, Northants Counts 3: Georgina Dunn lost 2 down, Anne Edwards lost 5&4, Gill Preston lost 1 down, Lucinda Davies won 4&3.
Three Club Trophy: 1 June Hillson net 71, 2 Sandra Juggins 73(cb), 3 Heather Simpson 73.
Coronation Trophy: 1 Amanda Norton 95-27-68(cb), 2 June Hillson 97-29-68.
AEG Qualifier: 1 Amanda Norton net 71(cb), 2 Roz Cuthbert 71(cb), 3 Georgina Dunn 71.
Seniors
Milton 5, St Neots 3:D. Smith/R. Rodgers lost 4&3, F. Godfrey/D. Hipwell lost 1 down, L. Larkman/T. Dyer lost 2&1, R. Hart/P. Jones won 3&2, A. Parsons/P. White won 1up, R. Field/T. Elverson won 2&1, C. Lloyd/M. Chambers won 4&2, P. Collins/M. Bains won 2&1.
ELTON FURZE
Mens
Captain's Team Qualifier: 1 Dave McCulloch 38pts, 2 Bev Stevens 36, 3 Mike Penfold 33.
OLD NENE
Men's
Old Nene 4, Cromwell 0: Ralph Hix/Robert Taylor won 2&1, Neil Setchell/Colin Farrar won 4&3, Paul Groves/Ivan Smith won 3&2, Jon Fox/Alan Francis won 2&1.
Old Nene 2, Parkway 2: Neil Setchell/Paul Groves won 1up, John Frey/Colin Farrar lost 5&4, Malcolm Hole/Alan Palfrey won 4&3, Robert Taylor/Mike Cockman lost 1down.
Ladies
Abbey Rose Bowl: 1 Brenda Groves 40pts, 2 Sally Barnard-Taylor 35.
Mixed
Texas Scramble: 1 Neil Setchell/Brenda Hix/Alan Francis net 60.3, 2 Robert Taylor/Alan Palfrey/Anyta Francis 60.4.
GREETHAM VALLEY
Mens
Greetham Valley 5, Thorney Lakes 1: Adie Ashworth/Matt Cawte halved, Trevor Smith/Ian Coulson halved, Graham Smith/Mick Peasgood won 2&1, Ray Gladwinfield/Richard Wilson won 1up, Danny Williamson/Rory Smith won 4&3, Glenn Sharpe/Sam Sharpe won 6&5.
Lincs Foursomes Second Round Greetham Valley beat Grimsby 6up: Adie Ashworth/Dominic Ralfs won 2up, Trevor Smith/Ian Coulson won 5&3, Glenn/Sam Sharpe lost 1 down.
Sleaford 5.5, Greetham 0.5: Alan Bennett/Ben Potter halved, Tony Veasey/Charlie Sparks lost 6&4, Bob Warters/Tom Bain lost 2down, Jason Lindsay/Tony Watson lost 4&2, Neil Harris/James Boughton lost 5&3, Steffan Dutton/Bob Green lost 1 down.
Mixed
Greetham Valley 5, North Luffenham 1: Gordon Wiles/Liz Taylor won 2&1 against Gordon Vance/Heather Knapp, David Knapp/Vera Hamilton lost 3&1 to David Devlin/Ann Grange, Ian Johnston/Christine Edwards won 3&2 against David & Helen Purvis, Alistair Hamilton/Rita Knapp won 2&1 against Bill Sharman/Chris Rippington, Neil Sellars/Sheila Miles won 6&5 against Dennis Clark/Jan Devlin, Chris Miles/Glenys Sellars won 7&6 against Stan Smith/Alisa Dempster.
THORPE WOOD
Mens
Open: l A. Price 72-4-68, 2 C. Fisher 83-11-72(cb), 3 M. Gordon 79-7-72(cb), 4 Darren Sturgeon 85-13-72(cb), 5 A. Stevens 89-17-72(cb).
Seniors
Thorpe Wood 3, Burghley Park 5: Dave Elwell/John Wilson lost 6&4; Fred Plant/John Sergeant lost 2&1; Graham Scarff/Dave Johnston won 5&3; Roger Harris/Bill Ringham lost 6&5; Dennis Brown/Ron Turner lost 2&1; Ross Dyer/Derek Firman won 5&4; Pete White/Brian Corney lost 3&2; Graham Priest/Roy Chapman won 2up.
Thorpe Wood 2, Greetham Valley 4: Dave Elwell/Fred Plant lost 1 hole; Roger Harris/Wally Wareing lost 1 hole; Colin Bagley/Graham Priest halved; Ross Dyer/Bill Hennigan won 4&2; Derek Firman/Dennis Brown halved; Pete White/Roy Chapman lost 6&5.
ORTON MEADOWS
Mens
Derek Burridge Challenge Trophy Orton Meadows 8, Malton 2: Paul Gabriel/Paul Priston lost 3&2 to Andrew Batley/James Littlefair, Sav Fasulo/Ken Kobayashi won 6&5 against Geoff Scott/Nigel Howes, Mick Box/Tony Slaney won 3&2 against Philip Allen/Phil Kelly, Alan Hallam/Phil Bonham won 7&6 against Neil Mitchell/David Visithe, Bryn Woods/Larry Norley won 3&1 against Dean Saunders/Rob Askham.
UK Playgolf (NAPGC): Division One 1 R. Panter 40pts, 2 W. Stocks 39; Division Two 1 J. Nichols 46, 2 C. Baker 36; Division Three 1 A. Thomson 33, 2 R. Williams 30.
Jock Stewart Trophy Orton Meadows, Newmarket: Paul Gabriel/Bob Duthie won 6&5, Paul Priston/Mick Box lost 1 down, Allan Hallam/Jordan Nichols won 1 up.
Ladies
UK Playgolf (NAPGC): 1 J. Silkstone 41pts, 2 T. Humphreys 29.
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