Eggo off to a flier

HAVING come through two qualifying medal rounds and three rounds of matchplay, Royal Guernsey's Bill Landles and L'Ancresse Golf Club's Andy Eggo met in the Henderson Cup final. In near-perfect golfing conditions Landles, who played off a 15 handicap, could not get his nose in front over the 17 holes and Eggo used all his experience to maintain control and run out a 2 and 1 victor.

It may have been a different story for Landles had he not let Eggo get off to a flier.

The island player went three up after as many holes, although there was little Landles could do against Eggo's short putt for a birdie two at the third.

After the quick start one handicap Eggo came to a run of holes where he conceded shots to his opponent.

At the long fourth and sixth, Landles used his allowance to good effect and a respective net par and birdie saw the deficit reduced to one down.

A four at the ninth was good enough for Eggo to take a two-up lead at the turn and a birdie at the 10th restored his earlier advantage.

But refusing to lie down Landles played himself back into contention over the following four holes and an excellent putt from off the green at the par five 14th saw him get back to all-square.

Eggo took it all in his stride, though and waited for his opportunity at 16 where without a shot, Landles could not match Eggo's par.

L'Ancresse Golf Club's top man then confirmed his status as one of Guernsey's finest with a birdie at the 17th to take the match 2 and 1 and with it the trophy.

As an employee of the sponsor for over 20 years it was only fitting that Mick Marley would form one half of the victorious partnership who took the Maubrook Jewellers mixed greensomes event.

Playing with Jenny Kimber, the island champion accumulated 40 stableford points and took the title on countback from four other pais on that score.

Having gone out in a one over par tally of 17 points, the winners scored 23 on the back nine which they covered in a net 32, 35 gross.

In the same competition the nearest-the-pin prize at the short 18th hole went to Jill Herschel and Ted Enevoldsen, courtesy of a hole in one.

The wife of the Royal Guernsey captain stroked a three-wood into the wind at the last and after two bounces, it rolled into the small four-inch target for a celebratory ace.