Another busy period in Navy golf culminated at Broadstone Golf Club in Dorset with a successful Navy Championships week, writes RNGA Secretary Cdr Gary Skinns.

In the individual strokeplay event LMA Scott Gilbert (DMTC Fort Blockhouse) at last managed to lay the ghosts to rest and fulfil his promise by becoming Navy Champion for the first time.

His win was based around two sub-par rounds, the first of which was a magnificent three-under 67. The course at Broadstone is a deceptively strong par 70 with a standard scratch score to match, and some of the players found it difficult in what was a long week of golf.

Gilbert, however, showed everyone the way with a dream start to the event. His three-under-the-card first round was made in the first few holes, when he found himself six under after just five holes with two eagles and two birdies.

Had two putts of 6ft each dropped he could have found himself an unprecedented eight-under after six holes.

Following a competent second round 74, he again beat the par in the third round with 69, effectively sealing the championship. Leading by 12 shots, he was able to take his foot off the pedal to record a final round 78, still winning by a substantial margin.

Gilbert described his first round as “one of the best I have ever played”, and of the start “unbelievable” was the only word.

While not able to match Gilbert’s magnificent effort, the joint runners-up, Cpl Fred Lomas (HMS Raleigh) and MEA Adam Hawkins (HMS Sultan) played very steady golf. Lomas, who played below handicap, took the consolation trophy by means of a superior last nine in the final round.

All three are rewarded by automatic selection for the Inter-Services team that will do battle at Saunton in September. The concerns of availability are already evident, however, as Gilbert in particular may be involved in professional exams that coincide with the major event of the year.

The leading individual entry prize for non-Command selected players went to CPOCT Jumper Collins (JSSU Oakley) while the non-qualifiers greensomes was won by the PT branch pairing of WO Duncan Roberts (Tal-y-Bont) and CPO Derek Nordon (HMS Neptune).

The Inter-Command Strokeplay event went as predicted, with the Royal Marines strength in depth coming through to take the title by one the largest margins ever recorded. With six scores to count out of eight in each of three rounds, for the first time in living memory, the Royals counting scores were all sub-80. Six of the team of eight made the cut, and had it not been for a disqualification this number would have increased to seven. Portsmouth took the runner up spot.

Pompey did, however, manage to turn the tables in the Inter-Command Matchplay Championship by relegating the Royals to runners-up. All the money was on a clean sweep for the sartorially-elegant Marines, and with just the final round to go, the two protagonists were level on points.

The odds stacked even more against Portsmouth when they lost one of their key players with an injury, and although their top half put 21/2 points on the board, the Royals, needing only a halved match to clinch the title, seemed to be too strong in the back two matches.

Match Four was the key game, and the Pompey hero turned out to be POWTR Steve Searle, who had had a miserable week up to that point, but who upset the form book with a creditable win over current RN squad member Sgt Ned Kelly enabling his team to retain the title.

All in all an excellent week with good weather in the main, an excellent course and a very hospitable club. Salutary lesson of the week was supplied by Lee McCathie from Scotland who, after rounds of 76 and 77, thought he had recorded a third round of 76 which would have put him in the top six. He then found he had signed for a wrong score at one hole and was therefore disqualified. Always check your card before signing!

Previous to the championships, the RN ladies team wrapped up their programme of friendly matches with an excellent win against Cams Hall ladies at Southwick Park.

The season record of two wins and one halved match represents the best for many a year, and thoughts now turn to the Inter-Services.

Against Cams Hall, the overall score was 3-1, with wins recorded by the pairings of OM Claire Jones (HMS Collingwood)/Lt Cdr Isabel Kent (DNR), POWTR Helen Wright (HMS Exeter)/WO Pauline Last (DDA Aldershot) and Capt Angela Muxworthy (AFPAA Worthy Down)/PO Wally Dommershuizen (MCTC Colchester).

A four-man team represented the Navy in the prestigious Graham Butler Trophy at Ferndown.

The strong pairings of Hawkins/MEM Mike Setterfield (RM Poole) and Lomas/CWEA Steve King (SFM Portsmouth) put together rounds of 77 and 73 to lie in second place after the first round, but poor second rounds from both pairings put paid to hopes of success in this high-quality field.

A minor recovery in the final round saw them climb to finish seventh, the highest since 1993, and assures a place in next year’s event.

Thoughts now turn to the Inter-Services Championships at Saunton next month, when the men and ladies take on their Army and Royal Air Force counterparts.