Jack Harries is well known in local cricket as a high-scoring batsman and first team skipper at Pembroke CC, who scored over 900 runs for the Treleet team in the 2024 cricket season but he is also one of the best golfers in the county, as he proved recently when he was delighted to win the coveted Scratch Cup at Tenby Golf Club, where he has been a member for 12 years.
 
The competition is limited to low-handicap golfers, hence its name, but Jack is even better than a scratch golfer because he plays off +3, which means he has to give three shots to the normal par of a course and in this competition he played three players who compete off par and Gavin Scotcher in the final, who plays off +1.
 

Early season’s start – and second round revenge

 
Jack had already won the club’s stroke-play competition in 2021 and 2022, more scratch events, but in his previous Scratch Cup Final appearance he lost to David Morris, although he readily admits that this form of the game, when you play against one opponent with a view to progressing to the next round is his favourite.
 
“The draw was made at the start of the season, with deadlines for each round so the players had to make sure games were arranged in plenty of time,” explained Jack, “and in my first game as far back as May I played Paul Hayley and was pleased to win 3 and 2 against a very tough opponent.
 
“The next round was even tougher when it was played in June and I gained a bit of revenge as I beat David Morris 2 and 1 over the allotted 18 holes - and so I was in the semi-final and in with a chance.

 

Good golf played in the semis – and joined by brother Luke for the big day

 

“My opponent there was Roy Edwards, another scratch golfer, and I played some of my best golf of the season as I won 5 and 3, so I was in to the final against Mr Scotcher, who is not only a very gifted all-round sportsman but a fiercely strong competitor, who showed what he was made of in terms of commitment when he played rugby at outside half  for Tenby United and was able to dodge huge opposing forwards intent on causing him damage.
 
“He had another very good golfer in Adam Thorne as his caddy and I was lucky that my younger brother Luke, who was home on holiday from his career as a professional golfer in Europe, actually volunteered to carry my bag and give advice, whether I wanted it or not!”

 

A tough battle and a soaking for all

 
Jack knew he would have to play well as battle commenced at 8am and so he was pleased at the half way stage to be three shots to the good but knew he couldn’t relax during the hour allowed for lunch.
 
It was then that the weather took a turn for the worse, with rain aplenty and high winds that made this difficult links course even harder to master - with Jack’s girl-friend Caryl, alongside his parents Sue and Spencer, having to endure a real wetting as they loyally followed the players around.
 
“Like us they were soaked to the skin but I managed to get a couple of birdies at key times so that I was able to increase my lead and we came off after 13 holes because I was winning by 7 and 5.
 
“Gavin was very sporting in defeat and I was delighted to receive the magnificent trophy from club captain Mick Seal to go with the other mementoes I have won at the club, especially the Stroke Play ones.”

 

And finally . . .

 
Coincidentally, Jack used to actually play two or three times a week at one stage but because of his commitment to being captain at Pembroke Cricket Club he has only played about once a week on average in the summer just gone.
 
“Perhaps that’s the answer,” Jack told us with a typical chuckle, “not to spend so much time on the course and learn to do that well and focus a little better than I have done in the past!”