Eden Trophy goes south
The Eden Trophy returned to English hands this year when Steve Brown from Old Padeswood won the famous old cup following a two-hole victory over Walton Heath’s Ben Taylor.
First held for in 1919, the Eden Trophy has retained its stature as one of the most popular challenges in the amateur golfing calendar.
A total of 240 golfers from all over the UK and further afield contested the 2007 event, with the qualifying standard for this year's tournament a handicap of 4.9.
Brown qualified for the match play stages following a return of 153 over the New and Eden courses, a total which put him at only 25 in the seedings. He was ten shots behind last year’s champion Oliver Farr of Ludlow who claimed the Victory Cup by one stroke from the beaten finalist in the last two years, Steven Clark. Local lad Danny Sommerville was third.
In the matchplay stage, however, Brown’s competitive instincts flourished and he swept to the final with wins over Mark Thrope ( Richmond) 5 and 4, Jamie Dunster (The Worcestershire) 5 and 3, Graham Smith (West Linton) 2 and 1, Oliver Farr 2 and 1 and Jason Perry ( Heidelberg) 2 up.
The Eden Tankard handicap competition was won by Harry Sayers from Tewkesbury Park, who beat Melvin Head (Ashford) 5 and 4 in the final.
Marilyn: a can-do in the wind
Strathtyrum Trophy stalwart Marilyn Henderson arrived from Germany for her annual tilt at the title and succeeded in winning the competition for a record-equalling third time.
Champion in 1996 and in 2005, Marilyn joins Baberton’s Karen Marshall as a treble winner at the Home of Golf.
In opening rounds that were blighted by some appalling weather conditions, Henderson qualified second behind Ann Ramsay of Kirriemuir. Ramsay’s 151 set her an amazing 13 shots ahead of Henderson, and the final qualifier for the matchplay stage came home in 188.
Marilyn defeated Jane Graham ( Moor Park) 6 and 5 in the first round, Anna Norton of Ludlow 3 and 1 then Elaine Clark ( Manchester) 3 and 2 in the next two, before coming out on top in the battle of the giants in the semi final clash with Karen Marshall, winning 1 up. Ann Ramsay stood in wait in the final, with perhaps the superior experience of Henderson telling in her 2 and 1 triumph.
Georgina Keane of Ballybunion took the silver in the Strathtyrum Salver after an impressive 7 and 6 win over Goodwood’s Kathryn Bullock.