Bonallack name lives on at his former club (From Echo)

Bonallack name lives on at his former club

4:20pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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A TOTAL of 84 players competed for a trophy named after their most famous member at Thorpe Hall.

Sir Michael Bonallack is arguably Britain’s most famous ever amateur golfer and was a Thorpe member for many years before taking over the top role at the home of world golf — the Royal and Ancient, at St Andrews.

Winner on the day was Mark Talbott, a young golfer who works in the pro shop at the Thorpe Bay based club.

The Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy is an Essex Golf Union order of merit competition for golfers off a handicap of eight and below. The day was generously sponsored by Fairfield BMW and the entry was oversubscribed.

It is played over two separate 18 holes and the trophy is for the best two scratch rounds.

There are also prizes for the best morning and afternoon totals and best net scores.

The course was in fine condition but was made difficult by a strong north-easterly wind, with a difficult second cut of rough , which made the member ball spotters and the Essex referees very much appreciated.

Thorpe Hall members were delighted to hear that Talbott shop was leading the field with an excellent morning round of 67.

He was followed by Steven Shields, also of Thorpe Hall, with 70. Next, with a 71, was Jonathan Day of Braintree.

The wind increased in the afternoon and the effect was noticable on the scores.

Louie Higgon, of Thorpe, with 72 in the afternoon, and Joe Kelly, from Woolston Manor, a 73, were two of the few to improve on their morning scores.

Finally, after a long day, the final scores were in and Talbott, with an afternoon 74 to go with his morning 67 (141) was first, winning the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy, the winners plaque and £300 voucher.

In second place with 147 (7572) was Higgon with £200 voucher.

In third place with 148 (70 78) was Shields with £100 voucher and in fourth spot, with 149 (73 76) was James Scade of Braintree.

First on Handicap, with a £100 voucher, was Simon Goy of Thorpe Hall with a net 145 (73 72). Second was Nick Elson, of Maylands, with a net 146 (71 75) and third was Charlie Burke, of Warley Park with a net 147 (77 70). The best morning score went to Jonathen Day, of Braintree, and tops in the afternoon was Joe Kelly of Woolston Manor.

The prizes were presented in the evening by Mike Thirkettle, president of the Essex Golf Union.