All is well for the Wellfairs

THE WELLFAIRS, island player Sue and husband John, are the 54th winners of the Star Trophy open foursomes. They came from several shots back to post a second day 65 and win the event on countback from Keith Opie and Hedley Watson who produced an identical total on the two days, but ultimately lost out on an inferior back nine yesterday.

John Wellfair was delighted with the victory, telling the presentation party it was his first competition success in 14 years' of trying.

'It is the first time my name has gone on the cup and I will cherish the moment.'

Both he and Gill Burford, who played alongside the Wellfairs on both days, paid tribute to Sue Wellfair's game.

'Sue is just playing superb golf - she is playing her socks off,' said the island matchplay runner-up.

'They didn't put a foot wrong,' she added of a pair who, despite testing conditions for the second day running, found four birdies.

But much of the talk in the Royal Guernsey and L'Ancresse clubs was the performance of Roger Chauvel and Geoff Meagher, the pair who had signed for a 41 on the last hole on day one.

Their disappointment at the error was compounded when the two shot a superb 66 in the second round. Had the four they shot on the 18th hole on day one stood, they would have emerged winners by two.

They finished out of the official prizes but their misfortune was tempered by the sponsor's gift of two £41 meal vouchers and, from the Royal Guernsey, cheeky hole-in-41 certificates.

The best stretch of golf of the day came from past winners Tony and Jamie Blondel, who covered the back nine in 32 gross which helped them into fourth overall.

The overnight leaders, Brian and Cath Chapman, again played good golf but were made to pay for two eights. They finished seven shots behind the winners.