Record numbers of players turned out on Sunday to make this year’s Melton Lions’ 23rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament yet another huge success. Tournament winners with a score of 42 points were Melton Golf Club member Tim Buxton and his friend Martin Crossland from Newcastle.
“For the first time this year we decided to change the Tournament into a pairs competition,” said organiser Derek Whitehouse, “and we are delighted that a record 165 golfers took to the course for a fantastic day’s sport.” The day started with glorious sunshine and even though later in the afternoon there was a period of wind and rain, nothing dampened the spirits of the players.
The event, which is one of the Lions’ two biggest money spinners in the annual programme, has raised around £8,000.with all profits going to help disadvantaged young people in the local area.
At the evening award ceremony and big charity auction, Mr Whitehouse thanked the Melton Golf Club for hosting the event, with special praise going to the greens staff and artisan helpers for “providing a course which is now one of the very best in Leicestershire.”
He thanked the major sponsors for backing the tournament – Browning Suzuki, NFU Mutual, Pearces the Jewellers, Richard Barnes, The Melton Building Society and TTS Shipping – all the individual tee sponsors and everyone who donated lots for the charity auction and raffle, which this year alone raised nearly £2273 towards the total. “I would specially like to single out the generous members of the Melton Golf Club who were prepared to pay to play their own course to support this wonderful cause. We really do appreciate it.”
Overall Winners Tim Buxton & Martin Crossland 42pts ocb 2nd Peter Poolan & David Poolan 42pts ocb, 3rd Neil Eaves & Ann Langfield 41pts ocb, 4th Ian Newcombe & Greg Dyer 41pts ocb, 5th Paul Gough & Michael Haines 40pts ocb, Mixed Winners Phil Millward & Dorothy Jaggers 40pts ocb,
Ladies Winners Leah Radford & Sue Hitchman 35pts ocb, Nearest Pin 5th Nigel Roberts, Nearest Pin 7th Andrew Bryant, Nearest Pin 14th Paul Coope, Nearest Pin 16th Mick Curtis, Mens Longest Drive Sam Pollard, Ladies Longest Drive Sue Hitchman, Nearest Pin 2nd Shot Barry Hubbard, Nearest White Line Jon Baxter, Putting 1st Graham Naylor Putting 2nd Kevin Robertson