Chronicle Cup again a real team effort

But competition organiser Andy Morgan was glowing in his praise of the entire field after they pushed the victors all the way in two very tight competitions at Bridgnorth Golf Club.

Barnett won the individual handicap stableford competition by a single point, while Drayton's victorious quartet of Laurence Sidwell, Jonny Roberts, James Reilly and Barry Eaton took the team title by the same margin.

Morgan said: "It went really well. The weather was fine and everybody was very happy with the day.

"It was a great success and both competitions were very closely run. There was just one point in it for both which was good to see.

"And there was a high standard of golf played throughout the day. They both went right to the wire."

Barnett's winning score of 39 saw him finish one point clear of Wayne Hollinshead of Hawkstone Park and Sidwell of Market Drayton, who both scored 38 to finish second and third respectively.

There were prizes presented for the top eight individual finishers with Vitor Torres (Hereford Municipal), Ben Green (Worfield), Stephen Bailey (Burghill Valley), Timothy Davies (Kington) and Jonny Roberts (Market Drayton) occupying places four to eight.

Drayton topped the team leaderboard with a winning score of 98 while Hawkstone Park, Kington and Ludlow all finished just one point behind in second, third and fourth place respectively.

Asked if either winner had been among the pre-tournament favourites, Morgan said: "It's always very difficult to predict who is going to win it.

"It comes down to who performs on the day and the winners simply played the better golf on the day."

The event also saw £130 raised for The Bridge youth club in Bridgnorth, which was the host club's captain's charity.

Bridgnorth Golf Club also earned great praise for the quality of the course and facilities provided for the event.

Morgan said: "The greens were quick and true, and the course provided a tough test of golf.

"It was superb and great credit goes to the greenkeeper as well as the club. Shropshire & Herefordshire Union of Golf Clubs will be looking to hold future events there because of the success of this one."

Next year's Chronicle Cup will take place at Leominster.