RAF GOLF ASSOCIATION 2002

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RAF Individual Championships 2001Photographs Scores

YORKE BATTLES THROUGH AT YORKSteve Yorke has been crowned the 2001 Royal Air Force Golf Association IndividualGolf Champion. In competition against 59 of the finest golfers in the RAF, the sergeantfrom Abbey Wood produced consistency and durability to win this years Championshipsby 5 clear strokes from Dave Marshall in 2nd place and Mark Blaber in 3rd.Fulford Golf Club on the edge of York provided the venue for this 4 round scratch strokeplay challenge, played on the course that dates back to 1906. The rough was at its mostvigorous for a parkland venue. Fairways had been narrowed and the large deep greensmanicured to provide the smoothest of surfaces to putt on. Most unusual for acompetition that has the reputation for dumping inches of rain on the competitors andblowing gales, this year, the near perfect weather conditions provided only a light breezeand temperatures that hovered between the high 70s and low 80s.In trying to assess whom would be potential contenders for the trophy first awarded in1922, Steve Yorke had entered the Championship in what he described as the lowest offorms. Dave Marshall had produced the results only a month earlier by winning thePersonnel and Training Command Championship, and although Mark Blaber hadn'tbeen seen since his early departure from the ACC Challenge, the week he was available,he had produced some stunning scores.As the Championship got underway the 1st round saw Paul Keating, who is now atNorthwood, going out in the first group and submitting a 76. This was followed by WestDrayton's Chris Audin, some 6 groups back, who then set the true pace with a 73. It wasnot until one of the last groups came in, that Leuchars Steve Davis managed to equal the73. Benson's Paul Hughes set himself up well with a 75 followed by Cyprus playerGeoff Ascroft with a 76. Brampton's new boy Mickey Ward and Digby's Pete Brewerboth shot a creditable 77 together with Coningsby's Deano Lewis, Linton's Mike Ruddand Steve Yorke.Played on the same day, the 2nd round saw some individual performances to be proudof. As the players went out in the same order as the 1st round, a few competitorsdemonstrated consistency in their game. Mike Rudd produced a second 77 and DeanoLewis improved his score by 1 stroke, to post a 76. Geoff Ascroft only dropped a strokefrom his morning round to score a 77. Mark Blaber bettered his score by 2 for a 77, andPete Brewer jumped 3 strokes to submit a 74. Captain of the RAF Team Gordon Scarrattfrom Kinloss also entered a 77, but Digby's John Duke, Coltishall's Paddy Mournian andBaz McKee all carded 76. Although, much earlier in the round the target had been set by2 fine scores of 71 from Wyton's Dave Marshall and Steve Yorke.The top 30 and ties qualify for the 3rd and 4th rounds, and with the cut made at 167, 34players were left to compete in the Championships over the remaining 2 days. At thecommencement of the 3rd round Steve Yorke had a 3-stroke lead over Pete Brewer.Chris Audin was in contention 4 off the lead on 152, and Dave Marshall, Geoff Ascroftand Deano Lewis were on a total of 153. Mike Rudd and Paul Keating were 1 strokefurther adrift on 154.Round 3 on Tuesday morning saw conditions remain favourable, if a little humid. Thisenabled some fine golf to be played by a number of contenders. Based at RAF Leuchars,St Andrews player Chris Peacock together with Dave Marshall both produced 75s. ChrisAudin kept in touch with 74, and Steve Yorke produced a round containing excellentcourse management and self-discipline to shoot a 73. St. Mawgan's Mark Blaber shot agreat 71, but the round belonged to Tom Devany. Submitting a splendid 2 under par 70,this was to be the best score of the whole Championships.To help the non qualifiers get over the disappointment of not being around for the finalday, a Stableford competition is held for the non-qualifiers on the Tuesday, and thisyears event was won by Boscombe Down's Keith Thompson. After this, all the non-qualifiers said their farewells, including a number of competitors who had travelledgreat distance to compete. Paul Boulonois had entered from Cyprus and John Coady hadflown in from his work on the ASTOR project team in Texas. Nevertheless somepositive aspects can be taken from the experience. Not least the knowledge that to attainthe level required to make the cut requires high levels of commitment and dedicationtogether with keeping it on the short stuff!As the final days play approached players went into their pre-match routines. Yorke wasagain paired with Audin, and although 5 strokes separated them, on a course thatcontained a mixture of narrow fairways, overhanging trees and some of the toughestrough on any parkland course, a thoughtful and measured approach was required.No excuse could be made for poor play because of the weather. A light breeze andtemperatures in the 70s enabled more praiseworthy golf. As competitors positionedthemselves just in case Yorke slipped, Brampton's Rod Shimwell ground out a 75.Keating scored a 74 but Audin slipped with an 81. Lewis managed a 76 and Ascroftfound the transition from 'browns' to 'greens' no problem, as he scored a 74. Theseplayers made the top 10, but with automatic selection for the team to represent the RoyalAir Force in the Inter Services coming from the top 5, Mike Rudd had already stated hisintentions. He was gunning for a result on his home course and shot a splendid 73 toqualify in 5th place. Being 1 of only 5 players to post all scores in the 70s, Pete Brewerentered the fray with a fine 75. Mark Blaber also shot a 73, but Dave Marshall headedthe round and finished in 2nd place with a fine 72.As the dust settled players were able to reflect on a great Championship, at a wonderfullocation. Mike Rudd had won the Seletar trophy for the best net score by a member ofthe Royal Air Force Golf Society, and he had also picked up the Hine trophy which isawarded to the best gross player over the 4 rounds who is older than 40 years. Also ofmention should be Coningsby's Aaron Ashcroft who won the Portanova trophy which isawarded to the best gross player over the 4 rounds and who is under 25 years. With allscores counted the other presentations were made. A terrific 74 was in the bag, whichgave a total of 295, only 2 strokes over the standard scratch score for the 4 rounds.Under significant pressure, Steve Yorke had retained his 5-stroke lead to become theRoyal Air Force Individual Golf Champion of 2001. Photographs

ScoresName Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Total

1 YORKE 77 71 73 74 295

2 MARSHALL 82 71 75 72 300

3 BLABER 79 77 71 73 300

4 BREWER 77 74 78 73 302

5 RUDD 77 77 78 73 305

6 ASCROFT 76 77 80 74 307

7 LEWIS 77 76 78 76 307

8 AUDIN 73 79 74 81 307

9 KEATING 76 78 81 74 309

10 SHIMWELL 81 81 77 75 314

11 ASHCROFT 79 80 77 78 314

12 MOURNIAN 80 76 76 82 314

13 DAVIS 73 77 82 82 314

14 DEVANY 78 80 70 86 314

15 C PEACOCK 81 81 75 81 318

16 A PEACOCK 78 82 78 81 319

17 GREGORY 78 81 76 85 320

18 EDGAR 79 81 82 79 321

19 WARD 77 83 80 81 321

20 ANDREW 81 81 78 81 321

21 SCARRATT 81 77 84 80 322

22 SPEAR 82 85 79 77 323

23 WATSON 81 81 80 81 323

24 HUGHES 75 81 79 88 323

25 McKEE 84 76 81 84 325

26 PARKER 83 81 86 77 327

27 WRAY 85 82 83 81 331

28 MACLEOD 81 82 82 86 331

29 HOLLINGS 85 82 87 78 332

30 MACPHAIL 85 82 79 86 332

31 DUKE 85 76 89 84 334

32 RITCHIE 84 82 84 85 335

33 FLETCHER 88 79 84 85 336

34 J RIDDELL 83 83 88 86 340

NON QUALIFIERS

35 BEER 80 88 168

36 BOWN 82 86 168

37 CODLING 84 84 168

38 CORDNER 79 89 168

39 RUDDELL 82 86 168

40 BARTUP 84 85 169

41 OLIVER 89 80 169

42 SMITH 88 81 169

43 MORRIS 83 87 170

44 COULTISH 85 85 170

45 CAMPBELL 89 81 170

46 HARDCASTLE 88 83 171

47 THOMPSON 89 83 172

48 WARWICK 87 85 172

49 SPOOR 86 87 173

50 JOHNSTON 84 90 174

51 CLEMSON 86 89 175

52 COADY 86 90 176

53 BEVERIDGE 87 90 177

54 CORBETT 94 83 177

55 BOULONOIS 89 92 181

56 LUSHINGTON 98 93 191

57 TURNER 95 100 195

58 M RIDDALL N/R

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