Amateurs excel at Hockley

The Alliance played its first fixture of 2004 at a very windy and squally Hockley, making good scoring difficult, particularly as the competition was a 27 holes foursomes medal for the Zambra Trophy.

Captain Zambra was a founder-member of the Alliance way back in the 1920s and was captain of both Hayling and Alresford, so it was perhaps appropriate that Alresford players featured prominently among the prizewinners.

Uncharacteristically, it was the all-amateur pairings who produced the better scores, with the team of Ken Mills and Barry Norgate lifting the trophy with a fine 105 (against a par of 105), their morning level par 71 including three birdies.

Their playing partners, Colin Herring (Corhampton) and Mick Clay (Rowlands Castle) matched them in the morning but finished three shots back in the afternoon to take second place with 108.

Third place was clinched with a good last nine holes by the Basingstoke pairing of Mick Peace and Gerry Hinchcliffe with 109 (73, 36).

The pro-am section was really an Alresford benefit, with their assistant pros taking the first two places. Tim Allen with David Harrison came out on top with 110 (73, 37), with Rhys ap Iolo and Brian Bellamy just quarter of a shot behind (74, 37).

After a promising morning, Matt Tryhorn and Dave Estall (both Corhampton) were relegated to third place, finishing on 111 (71, 40).

The home pairing of Gary Stubbington and club captain Dave Mecklenburgh had set the pace in the morning with a fine 69, but the latter was forced to retire after lunch with a shoulder injury.