Corbet's hot putter lands him Centenary

ROY CORBET has his name on yet another competition board in the L'Ancresse clubhouse courtesy of a magnificent round of net 64 in last Saturday's Centenary Trophy sponsored by Credit Suisse. Corbet, who plays off a three handicap, strutted off the 18th green having completed the course in no more than 33 putts and a further 43 to get on to the putting surface gave him one of his finer rounds in his long and illustrious golfing career.

A run of three birdies starting at the par five sixth hole kick-started Corbet's victorious round and his three-under par gross 67 was made even more heroic by the way the L'Ancresse veteran recovered from a double bogey six at the 15th.

He responded with two further birdies over the closing three holes.

Corbet's round spoiled what would have been an all but perfect weekend for L'Ancresse captain Richard Young who had won the past and present captains event the evening before.

Young (14 handicap) returned with a net 65 and was quietly confident he would probably win the coveted Centenary Trophy.

But his confidence was shortlived as news of Corbet's effort had got to him before he even reached the locker room.

Young would not have been too disappointed with his runner-up prize, but even that was put at risk by yet another five under par round, this time by junior Jack Mitchell, who missed out for second spot courtesy of countback.

Guernsey's most promising junior, who will now be playing off a four handicap for at least his next four competitions, was eligible to collect the scratch prize and did so with his superb gross round of 70.

Mitchell, who is in his first year playing golf in Guernsey, has now collected first scratch prize honours at both clubhouses based at L'Ancresse and if he continues to find 14 pars a round as he did on Saturday, he will be vying for many more honours this year.

On a day when conditions favoured good scoring, Jason Le Cheminant (20 handicap) also found a five-under net 65 was not good enough for the major prize.

In all, 18 players were under par and other prize winners included Guernsey referee Mark Le Tissier (13) who would not have backed himself to break 70, let alone finish in the top 10, after he registered a nine at his very first hole.

In comparison Mick King (4) shot a solid round of net 67 to collect the veteran's prize.

LA GRANDE MARE Ladies recently staged their Artwork-shop trophy and only a few days after losing in the final of the island bronze division championship, Nicola Wallbridge was back on her home course and still in fine form as she finished runner-up to Jan Fazakerley.

Walbridge (23 handicap) finished with a five under net 59, a winning score on another day, but this was still two shots off the pace set by Fazakerley (19) who returned with a net 57, courtesy of a marvellous back nine.

At the turn Fazakerley struck a rich vein of form and parred no fewer than six of the closing nine holes. A three-over gross back nine tally of 35 was the result and with it Fazakerley had deservedly assured herself of victory.

Geraldine Crispini (22) and Alison Tully (26) finished in third and fourth place respectively, while Janice White (38) collected the long handicap prize with a one under net 63.