Eggo's 20ft birdie at 18 denies his major rival

GOLF nut Matt Le Tissier was principal guest at this year's Slattery Decor Bowl run by the Royal Guernsey. But 'Le God' didn't quite have the magic touch around the L'Ancresse links on this occasion.

That was left to Bobby Eggo who topped the field with a 40-point total which in gross standings was only a shot away from equalling his own course record.

Eggo has recently undergone laser-eye treatment which does not appear to have affected his eye for the game one bit.

Eggo's scoring was made even more remarkable given the steady and persistent northerly wind and only average condition of the greens.

Nonetheless, and owing the course a shot at the last hole, Eggo needed a birdie (net par) at the very least to win the competition and the former Island and Channel Island champion duly obliged by holing out from 20ft for a two to complete a remarkable back-nine total of just 30 strokes.

As a result Eggo pipped John Le Lievre.

Both players finished on the same mark but courtesy of that remarkable inward half, Eggo took the Slattery Decor Bowl.

Eggo is not often associated winning events in the handicap standings so it was a pleasant surprise come the evening's presentation for him to collect the honours and handsome first prize from Matt Le Tissier.

Philip Le Lievre (19 handicap) and brother of runner-up John (7), headed a group of three players just one point off the pace.

Meanwhile, fellow 39-ers Iain Scott (4) and Wayne Moore (19) finished winners in their own right.

In his first year out of the junior ranks and due to Bobby Eggo's victory in the handicap standings, Scott's converted gross round of 71 meant he was eligible to collect the first of what he hopes are many best scratch score prizes.

Young Moore just saw off Sean Mills by a point to win the junior prize.

Matt Le Tissier was one of six invitees fighting it out for the guest prize, but with what can only be described as an up-and-down round of golf, resident professional Norman Wood did enough with 34 points to pick up a canvas oil painting hand-picked from Ireland by John Slattery.

ANGELA BEESON played the round of her life to win the Royal Guernsey Ladies' section Cancer Relief Trophy.

Played in ideal conditions low scoring was always likely among the 70-strong field.

Having completed 18 holes and with a total of 44 Stableford points, technically eight-under par, June Jefferies (26 handicap) must have thought that she had done enough to collect the spoils.

In fact she would end up third, beaten into runners-up spot by a fine round of golf and a return of 45 by the in-form Claire Giles (37 handicap).

But 40 handicap Beeson capped the lot with a massive 46 points and with it collected the Cancer Relief Trophy for 2003.

Along with several other players Beeson received a reduction in handicap, but with the high scoring reducing the women's standard scratch of the course to par 71, converted gross score winner Veronica Bougourd's total of 37 was net level par, meaning the island's top women's player remains a seven handicap.

Jan Chamberlain (9) also shot a converted gross score of 78, but just lost out on the scratch prize on countback.

Prizewinners: Angela Beeson 46 points, Claire Giles 45, June Jefferies 44, Alison Wakefield 41, Di Rowland 40, Pauline Le Page 39.

Longest drives: Di Aitchinson, Val McDade.

Nearest the 18th pin: Moira Finn.

Nine-hole competition: Nancy Hamilton

L'ANCRESEE Golf Club have regained the Prince Edward Cup from the Royal Guernsey.

The 'artisans' won the the Bank Holiday Monday clash by 19-14.

Many of the 33 matches went to the final few holes but Brian Queru and Bob Le Bargy and Frank Sidgwick and Peter Dowding completed 6 and 5 wins for the L'Ancresse club.

In the top match Royal captain Jock Tanguy did all that could be asked as he and John Herschel defeated L'Ancresse vice-captain Tim Mileham and Roy Martel 4 and 3.

In doing so the losers maintained their 100% losing record in the event

A GROUP of younger Guernsey Junior Club members beat the Royal Guernsey Ladies' Section Bronze section in a friendly affair.

The up and coming youngsters did themselves proud, none more so than Jamie Le Page and Mark Allez, both just nine, who in the lead match won the final two holes to beat Deidre Heyworth and Betty Donaldson on the final green.

Results:

Jamie Le Page, Mark Allez eat Deidre Heyworth, Betty Donaldson 1up; James Cooper, Ben Perfitt beat Collette Le Lievre, Jane Symes 7 and 6; Tom de Garis, Aaron Finigan beat Jan Sherwood, Joan Hobbs 3 and 2; Tom Le Huray, Sam Bulmer beat Liz Downing, Lyn Astle 8 and 7; James Shorto, Naro Zimmerman lost to Monica Thomas, Di Rowland 2 and 1.