New president

PRAISE for the county team which won the inter-county league title last year and confidence in their ability to retain it this year was the message of Terry Trude as he was elected President of the Herts Golf Union last week.

Presiding at the annual meeting held at his own club, Harpenden Common, where he is also president and former captain, Terry, who succeeded Tony Bailey (Letchworth), spoke of the close relationship between the golf union and the clubs, and hoped clubs would contribute to the county magazine, creating more general interest and a closer understanding between clubs, members and the union.

Also elected at the meeting as members of the executive committee were three former club captains, Alan Green (Mid Herts) and Hugh Wikner (Hadley Wood), re-elected, and Gaius Potton (Berkhamsted), while Terry paid tribute to retiring committee member and colts manager Gerry van Lottum (Redbourn). Also re-elected was county secretary John Newton (Knebworth).

Outstanding individual playing performances during last season brought their rewards, notably for Graham Povey of Brickendon Grange, Tom Speyer of West Herts and Nick Pateman of Porters Park, while Moor Park claimed the Scratch League honours for the second year.

Former county president and secretary Clive Harkett presented his trophy to Povey as Order of Merit winner, snatching the title on 185 points with a late run of success, winning two out of three qualifiers, after Moor Park's John Ambridge, 172, had led most of the way.

The Junior Challenge Trophy, awarded to the boy with the best stroke average from eight rounds out of 16 events, was won by Tom Speyer, who received the trophy from the President.

The John Gill Trophy, awarded to the player who plays in most league matches and scores most points, was won by former county champion Nick Pateman, the trophy in his absence being presented by the President to Lionel Cooper, captain of Porters Park.

The President's Cup was presented to Gary Higgins, captain of Moor Park, Division One winners of the Scratch League, while the President also presented shields to captains of division winners - Peter Marshall, Porters Park (Div.2), Peter Steed, Stevenage (Div.3), Peter Medcalf, Ashridge (Div.4), Craig Stewart, Harpenden (Div.5), Michael Bailey, Whipsnade Park (Div.6), Cae Menai-Davis, The Shire, London (Div.7).

International honours have gone to James Watts (East Herts), as a member of the England boys team, while Tom Shadbolt (Mid Herts) has been selected for the England under-21 squad.

Herts became first winners of the Home Counties Under-16 League title and with it the Mike Amos Trophy, donated in memory of the late former president.

County captain James York had previously at the union's annual dinner, named his player of the year as Tyrone Carter (Brocket Hall), while three times former county champion John Ambridge completed one of the season's outstanding performances in August, playing 72 holes qualifying in the English Amateur Championship at Royal St George's, winning two match-play rounds before losing by one hole to the eventual champion, then returning to the county to play 36 holes at Porters Park and next day 36 holes at his Moor Park club, before winning the Hertfordshire Bowl in a play-off.

l ANDY CLAPP celebrated his Captain's Day of the Herts Alliance at Chesfield Downs with a victory in the team event, though it came after a countback, and he made it a double when he tied first in the individual pro event.

Andy, from the London Hatfield club, in his captain's role, led the winning Letchworth team of Alliance secretary Malcolm Plumbley and Peter Goldsmith to a 79 score, which was matched by Whipsnade Park's trio of pro Mark Day, John Holden and Paul Harris, who came second with a last nine holes of 39 to 40. Ashridge's team of Peter Cherry, Liz Holroyds and Pauline Twogood came third on 76.

Clapp, Cherry and Rob Leonard (Mid Herts) tied first in the pro event, with level-par rounds of 71, with Day on 72.