Ocky’s take the plaudits at County’s Golf Day

Haverfordwest County held their third annual open golf day at Haverfordwest Golf Club recently and although there were not quite the team numbers in attendance of other years the quality was very high before Ocky White’s talented team beat off the challenge of a quartet from Withybush Coachworks by a single point, with the team from Exeldent a close third.
Played over 18 holes and with three of each quartet’s scores to be counted at each hole, it was expected that some groups would score heavily on the well-manicured fairways and superb greens provided by head green-keeper Andy Roach - and the Ocky White boys carded a score of 129 points to ease home and win the engraved crystal decanters and specially printed tee shirts to mark the occasion.

‘Reload’ leads the way

Leading the way for Ocky White’s team was current Haverfordwest GC’s captain Paul ‘Reload’ Davies, who, playing off a handicap of two, recorded a net 64 to rack up a huge 44 points to set his team well on the way, and undoubtedly please non-playing captain Mark White. There was great support from other players Stuart Jones, Martin Fair and Nick Price so their final score of 129 points was always likely to feature in the top three.
Just a single shot off the lead, and looking back on a poor all-round display at the second hole which cost them dearly in the final analysis, were the Withybush Coachworks team of Adi Haworth and his brother Damian, plus Camrose’s veteran cricketer Terry Price and 14 year old golfing prospect Greg Walters, who played really well off his 9 handicap alongside Terry and the Haworth brothers, who are fairly recent converts to the game and oozing enthusiasm.
In third place was the experienced foursome from Exeldent comprising Craig Morrissey, Richard Davies, Gary Corby and John Bauer, just two points further adrift. 

Noisiest team

Arguably the noisiest team around the course was the one involving John Barrack, who was telling yarns all the way round, and Tim Green, the pocket-battleship former footballer and well known local brewery representative. They also had former Haverfordwest captain Mark Hughes, who was also a good cricketer with Hook in his younger days, and Martyn ‘Stumpy’ Thomas, the former Llangwm rugby player and ex-Hook cricketer. They always play to win but could be heard chuckling around the full 18 holes from their two buggies which they used so that they could save their energy for laughing, instead of walking!

Special thanks

Organiser David Hughes was quick to sing the praises of those involved for their support, with a team coming down from Port Talbot AFC which included Colin Pascoe, a former Swansea City player and now part of Roberto Martinez’s backroom staff at the Liberty Stadium. He also thanked Haverfordwest Golf Club for their support and the catering staff there  for supplying a first class meal  Sadly, though, there was no representation from the Bluebirds’ playing staff – although Micky Ellis, from the current coaching set-up, and his team were the first to drive off in the morning and set the target with a steady score.
David’s team was second to test their skills around the course but perhaps Mr Hughes was more focussed on the organisational side because there was to be no podium position for the Hughes’ gang of four.

The other special prizes and winners were as follows:
Longest Drive on 4th:  Ricky Watts
Nearest Pin on 8th: Michael Davies
Nearest Pin, second shot, on 16th: Paul Davies.

The recorders for the day were Dai Crouch and Lenny Lewis, from the voluntary staff at the Bridge Meadow, whilst the MC and trophy presenter was Bill Carne, from Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk