Woodham

Club Captain Steve Haslam, was hoping for a comprehensive win and 'Oh yes they could' with thumping wins for Shaun Goad and Peter Moralee by 6&5,Damien Stevens 5&4, John Banks 5&3 and James Ivil 3&2. There were tighter matches for Mark Hodgson who won on the 17th by 2&1, and Lee McCavanagh was taken to the last green before overcoming a talented opponent. Steve Haslam said after the match 'This team never ceases to amaze me, they were outstanding'.

So it is on to Brancepeth GC next Tuesday, in a top of the table clash that could well decide the destination of the League title.

It couldn't have been closer at the top of the leader board in the Sixteen Helpful Amateur Golfers Society Annual Charity Day. Only one point covered the first four teams, with count backs required to settle the placings. The team of Dave Mawston, Peter Waters, Andrew Hughes & Geoff Smith scored 118 pts (pictured, after the prize presentation by club captain Steve Haslam). In second place on the same score were Peter Roberts, Peter Coleby, John Gledhill & Finlay Elliott.

On 117 pts in 3rd place by virtue of a countback were Dave Bowman, George Smith, Dave Goad & Ian Ratcliffe. No doubt giving themselves a good talking to, were the 4th placed team of Dave Little, Steve Haslam, Sean Kay & Kevin Martin, who also scored 117 pts, but only 1 of them came between all four players on the 18th hole!

Lee McCavanagh, Tony Stafford, Geoff Bowles & John Martin were 5th on 113pts, and even they needed a back 9 countback to beat the 6th place team of Don Gittins, N Morris, S Farlow & S McGee.

Nearest the pin on the 8th was Mark Borsberry. Longest Drive on the 16th - John Carey and Nearest the Pin with his 2nd shot on 18th was Peter Roberts.

The Sixteen Helpful Amateur Golfers Society was formed in the mid 1980s to raise money to assist a young boy called Anthony Lee Maddison who suffered from Spina Bifida.

The Society developed from there and their Charity Day is now an annual feature of the Woodham programme.

The money raised is used to help local people and families who may need special equipment or specialist care. They also look to helping local organsiations such as Special Schools.

During the past year the Sixteen Helpful Amateur Golfers Society have donated £3,000 to Walworth School in Newton Aycliffe for children with special needs. This went towards the construction of the Playdale Play Area which was recently completed.

£1000 went to the Chloe Miller Fund. Chloe is a young girl of 6 years of age, from a local family, who suffers from Spina Bifida. She requires surgery and specialised equipment for her rehabilitation.

£500 went to Warwick Road School in Bishop Auckland. This is another school providing education and help for children with special needs and they required specialist equipment and computers for the children.

The Sixteen Helpful Amateur Golfers Society thank everyone who took part in their Golf Day that enables them to carry on with their charity work.

* www.woodhamgolf.co.uk