Junior Harris drives his way to win at Perton
On the first tee the serious stuff started, the first four groups all hitting good tee shots and were well in range for regulation golf, but as you can imagine not all the players were able to convert their initial good play. The groups moved along nicely helped by players picking up when they could not score a point and also by helping each other to look for lost balls. This is a good standard to maintain as it helps everyone enjoy the day much more, keep it up everyone.
On the course there were some players who started slow but then got into their stride, Clyde Pile in the last group was having a good battle with Tony Irish and as that particular match ebbed and flowed, Clyde opened is shoulders to hit the short par 4, 12th in one and almost converted his eagle put, he did however convert an easy tap in for birdie. On the same hole Ken Brown had to retire hurt after his dancing feet on the tee went into Michael Jackson style, he then completely lost his balance with both feet in the air he landed badly on his left wrist, so could not continue with his round. We don’t want to see anyone get injured playing golf so let’s hope he’s back and well enough for the next event don’t forget to nail those feet down next time with some 6inch nails.
Dean Leith’s group were having lot of verbal challenges with the group goading him to produce the longest drive on the eighteenth hole. As we all know Dean has the game to produce a long drive, however, on this occasion he could only hit his drive about forty yards in ‘Sally Gunnell’ style. Elsewhere on the course both Eric Queeley and Junior Harris were eating up the course and not too far behind was Nat ‘The Giza’ Burrows and Roan McLeod both producing some great golf of their own. Newly married David and Deloris Simon were playing a love match of their own; according to Vassel Brown, their golf was good also. By the way Congratulations to you both from everyone at CGS!!
All players were pumped up on the course, trying to obtain a good finish to gain those vital Order of Merit points to position themselves for a place in the CGS team to take on the Chris Morris society in September for the ‘Carib-Morris Cup’
On the day however, It was long driving Junior Harris who would be the victor today, I must say that Mr Harris is one of the most consistent drivers of the golf ball in the CGS, it must be all those years playing county cricket. Junior would finish the day with 42 points playing off a 12 handicap a very good score indeed. He not only won the event but he also capitalised on his designated birdie hole by almost eagling it having driven the short par four and eventually tapping in for birdie.
Second place went to Eric Queeley who scored 41 points just missing the winner’s circle by two points. Eric plays off an 8 handicap. Eric commented that he too left shots on the course and was surprised to be in mix but was very happy with his second place finish. Eric also picked up the longest drive with a low boring drive into the wind down the eighteenth fairway. He converted that effort into a birdie to ‘seal the deal’.
Third Place on count back went to Nat Burrows with a very credible 38 points playing off a 12 handicap – Nat commented, “I knew and felt I would be in the mix again” and he was proved correct and what a reception he received from the members for his third place runner up. Well done Nat you are building points for the end of year ‘Carib-Morris Cup’.
Just to round off the day, captain Jacko who picked up the nearest the pin prize on the day introduced Bob Hazel and Lincoln Moses (pictured left) to present the trophies to the winners. Bob Hazel, (on right) former footballer of the 1970s and 1980s, notably with Wolves, Port Vale, Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City and represented England under 21’s and England B’ teams. He played for QPR in the 1982 FA Cup Final against Spurs. Perhaps his most impressive performance came in the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion where he marked Cyrille Regis out of the game.
Lincoln Moses (on left), the manager of Britain’s first ever black-led football club ‘Continental Star’ and who was honoured with an MBE for services to community football in Birmingham and will be presented with the MBE in June this year. Continental Star FC, which has recruited players from inner city Birmingham, has used football to support, guide and counsel those who find themselves excluded from mainstream society. Lincoln has been general manager of Continental Star for 23 years after joining as a player in 1975, is also a member of the FA Race Equality Advisory Group.
The CGS would like to sincerely thank both Bob and Lincoln for taking time out of their busy schedules to be with us. We had a good laugh at some of the comments they made during the evening presentations.
Secretary Denny Senior also thanked the CGS committee and members for donating £50 towards cancer research following the recent passing of his mother to cancer.
The CGS would like to thank Dr Josh Johnson a CGS & Perton Golf Club member and all the staff at Perton for their warm welcome and service to the CGS members and their guests. The service was first class and the food was just as good, well done. We look forward to returning sometime in the near future.
Well done to the CGS Committee, again for another well-organised day, keep up the good work! The CGS members do appreciate all the hard work and free time you all give towards arranging these events!
A special thanks to Denny for again doing a lot of the ‘donkey’ work in getting this event organised, especially with all that he’s been through lately, your hard work is appreciated.