Cradoc Golf Club's Men's Team have had two good home wins recently although tasting defeat in an away match. Hosting Burghill Valley on 28th May they ran out winners by 5.5-1.5. Their winning pairs were Tony Payne & Tom Astle 2&1, Rob Cleaves & Paul Exton 3&2, Brian Evans & Dai Lewis 5&4, Wayne Gittoes & Phil Davies 1 up and Huw Rodwell & John Rix 3&2. Martin Aldworth & Chris Williams halved. On 11th June in a League match at Rhosgoch, Cradoc went down by 1.5-3.5. Sam & Drew Lloyd were Cradoc's only winners 3&1 with John James & Roger Jones halving. A week later the team had a 5-0 home victory over Knighton in another League match. The winning scores were Rob Evans & Dan Brown 5&3, Brian Evans & Wayne Gittoes 2&1, Chris Williams & David James 3&2, Nick Powell & Martin Jones 2&1 and Sam & Drew Lloyd 6&4.
Cradoc's Wayfarers squad have won one and lost one of their recent home games. Parc GC visited and went away with a 3-2 win on 13th June in spite of big wins from Cradoc's final two pairs. David James continued his winning ways in partnership with Clive Pearson 6&4 and Team Captain Brian Nelson and Pat Jones won 8&7. On 17th June they returned to winning ways with a 3-2 win against Morlais Castle. David James retained his 100% record winning 4&3 with Clive Price. Derek Lloyd & Clive Pearson won 2 up and Brian Nelson & Pat Jones won 3&2. The squad is getting strong support from some new team members.
Cradoc's Halletts team won their Plate competition match 2.5-1.5 versus Southerndown and meet Glamorganshire away in the next round. Team Captain Phil James & Aled Rodgers won 4&3 Mike Mellors & Len Green had a walk-over whereas Gareth Ratcliffe & Martyn Like halved. Away at Whitchurch Halletts could only manage a half from Aled Lewis & Andrew Currie.
Cradoc's Seniors Open Competition on 14th June saw Aberystwyth member T.Thomas win the Black Horse Trophy with 44 points, also heading the 1 to 14 handicap group. J.Phillips of Cotswold Hills GC won the 15 to 24 group with 38 points. P.White from the same club won the over 70s prize with 36 points. The only Cradoc member to reach the leader boards was Len Green carding 37 points in third place in the higher handicap category. In their recent annual Wales versus The Rest match Welsh Seniors won by 4-2 to win the George Davies Trophy. A great achievement recently by Senior Jack R.Massey who scored 40 points in winning the Rose Bowl at the Royal Welsh Army (North) Championship at Abergele GC, North Wales. Cradoc's Seniors interest in the 2011 South Wales Seniors Classic ended with their A Team losing 1-2 at home to GlynNeath in the Cup, Team Captain Tony Payne & John Jones won 4&3 but the crucial match was lost on the 18th green. Cradoc's B Team conceded their away match at Neath A Team in the Bowl competition.
Recent Stableford results at Cradoc saw wins for Matthew Jones, with 44 points on 8th June ahead of Gareth Powell and Sam Lloyd both on 37, and Gary Jenkins scoring 38 on 12th June with Alex Morgan in second on 37 and Graham Isaac third 34.
Cradoc Golf Club's first Winter Stableford of 2012 on 8th January was won by Matthew Gardner, carding 37 points playing off 20, seven-eighths of his Club handicap of 23, for the 16 holes in play due to restricted light for the afternoon golfers. Adrian Pride (7) and Wayne Gittoes (also off 7) were in second and third places with 35 points. John Drain (4) came next on 34 with Nick Powell (10) and Lew Phillips (19) scoring 33 points in 5th and 6th. Thirteen golfers had birdie twos earning 5 balls each in a field of 65.
The last Winter Stableford of 2011 on 11th December had seen Nick Powell (10) win with 35 points, just one point ahead of Nick Morrell (also off 10). Three golfers followed on 31 points :- Alex Morgan (12), Les Gwynne (11) and Peter Childs (16). John Drain (4) was sixth with 30 points. Five players scored birdie twos winning 6 balls each. 32 members competed.
At the turn of the year Cradoc had completed 5 of the 10 Winter League rounds. There was a three-way tie on 21 points comprising Steve Edwards and Huw Rodwell from 4 wins and one loss, and Lou Jones ( 3 wins and 2 halves). Dai Lewis was 2 points back from 3 wins, one half and one loss. Rob Hardy was in fifth position scoring 18 points from 3 wins and one half. The next round of the League is on Sunday 15th January, followed by a Stableford competition on Sunday 22nd January.
Cradoc men’s team were away to Builth Wells where they suffered an embarrassing defeat of 3½-1½.
Club captain Brian Evans pleaded the Fifth Amendment when asked for the results; however, other sources reported that the only winning pair, with a very convincing win of 8&6, was Brian Nelson and Les Gwynne.
The bank holiday got off to a good start with the Inaugural Cup which was an open Stapleford competition for ladies and gents. A large entry of 73 men and 12 ladies took part and was won by Mike Lynch with 41 points off an handicap of 25 followed by three, each scoring 37 points, Dil Gurung off 20, Bradly Lynch off 24 and Aled Lewis off 20. The highest scoring ladies competitor was Jan Boreham with 34 points off 26.
A mixed Texas Scramble was played on bank holiday Monday in cold, wet conditions which resulted in a low turnout, the competition was played in teams of three, winning team was John Drain, Ryan Williams and Jan Williams with a nett score of 62.5 and in second place was Nick Morrell, Mike Hudman and Rob Hudman scoring a nett 63.
The mid week medal attracted a low turnout due to the wet weather and was won by Ben Rees with a nett 68 of a handicap of 9, in second place was John Gow with a nett 71 off 14 and in third place was Anthony Bowkett with 76 playing off 20.
Cradoc’s Hallets first match of the 2012 season was at home to Radyr where they secured a win of 2½-1½ with winning pairs Bryan Jones and Martin Like 5&4, Paul Exton and Aled Rogers 6&4 with Aled Lewis and Mark Perry securing the halve.
Due to the very wet conditions during the latter part of the week, both the Wayfarers and senior’s matches were cancelled. The Wayfarers were due to play away at Llantrisant whilst the senior’s were due to play at home to Kington. Both matches are to be re-scheduled for a later date.
A large turnout of 83 players competed in The Golf Union of Wales (GUW) individual handicap qualifier in spring like conditions with leader in the clubhouse Johnathon Watson scoring a nett 68 off a handicap of 16, in second place was Ken Manning with a nett 69 off 10 and in third place was Adam Stevens with a nett 72 off 8. Lee Bannister came in with the lowest gross score of 74, playing off a handicap of 1.
