Vickers' gym service

Vickers opted to spend the winter building up both strength and stamina, engaging in regular visits to the gym to pump iron and tread the mill. Now those exertions have been rewarded.

The Knaresborough ace opened his season with victory in the '3-D' National Pro-Am tournament in Spain. Competing on the European Tour school courses of Paus and Emporda, Vickers triumphed in emphatic fashion by no less than eight clear shots. His season was off and running.

Back on closer-to-home territory Vickers' slick form continued this week on his first visit to The York GC in Strensall for close on ten years. He finished as one of the 13 qualifiers in the north-east round of the Glenmuir British Club Professional Championship putting him into the final at Devon's Saunton Sands course next month.

On a day of swirling high winds Vickers posted a commendable one-over-par 72 for joint-fourth place, three shots adrift of the day's victor, Walton Golf Centre's Adrian Ambler.

Vickers' Strensall strength was boosted by an electrifying start in which he birdied the first and second holes.

Said the man, who has been professional at Knaresborough for nine years: "In the previous few events I was starting badly. So I had been working hard to rectify that at Strensall.

"It was an excellent start. I was really focused and hit a good tee shot at the first, then a good second shot before holing a 15-footer for the birdie. On the second I sank a ten-footer. That set the tone for me to be steady for the rest of the round."

Vickers admitted to being heartened by his overall start to the season, insisting that the winter work he had put in was a major contributory factor. He has the prospect of the Glenmuir final to display as evidence of his winter regime.

Joining Vickers in the Saunton final will be Bridlington Links' Steve Raybould after a round of 73 and Scarborough South Cliff's Tony Skingle, who was a shot further back.

Malton and Norton pro Steve Robinson has also qualified for the prestigious Glenmuir British Club Professional Championship although he battled through the north-west competition at Motram Hall, Cheshire.

A poor start saw Robinson three-over after five and looking down and out, but in wet and windy conditions he putted himself back into the race to finish third with one-over - giving him his sixth successive final appearance.

"I was three over after five, feeling sorry for myself and wondering why I had driven across the M62 to play in the rain for this," he told the Evening Press. "But I pulled it together and finished the rest of the course in two under.

"It was just important to qualify for the final. Now I've got a job on my hands when I get there."

THE Wright stuff was well in evidence at Kilnwick Percy GC.

Robert Wright won the April medal with a nett 59 off his handicap of 26, which was subsequently reduced to 22.

He headed Peter Sayer (nett 62) in second, Phil Curtis (nett 66) third, and Tom Rastall fourth on count-back from Kyle Mathers after each shot nett 68.

Wright then topped the Golf Foundation Weetabix age-group championship-p qualifier to go through to the regional final for the Under-16s at Howley Hall in July. Kyle Mathers was runner-up.

Chris and Iona Buckle totalled 40 points from a greensome stableford format to win the Douglas Bader Cup qualifier for mixed pairs to go into the regional final to be played at York's Pike Hills or Forest Pines in August. David Jacobs and Linda Johnson were runners-up on 37 on count-back from Alan and Vivien Howson.

Heworth GC's grip on the Lewis Trophy was extended to a fourth successive year.

The popular York Union of Golf Clubs' event was held at Scarthingwell GC, where the 'home' pairing of Alwyn Anderson (playing off eight handicap) and Mark Whittaker (10) were poised to finally end Heworth's reign after they totalled 40 stableford points.

But they had not counted on the late-off pairing of Jim Batt (4) and Dean Wharton (15). The Heworth duo posted a winning 41 score to ensure the Lewis Trophy stayed in the confines of the Muncaster House course.

Another Heworth pairing - Bernard Mennell (8) and Gary Taylor (12) - were third on 39.

DESPITE missing key players Steve Dunn and Jonathan Plaxton Fulford GC reached the fourth round of the national Mail On Sunday Club Classic after a 2-1 home win over Hessle.

Mike Rudd squared his match with a birdie four at the 18th-hole, while Kevin Miller rallied from one down with three to play for birdies on the 16th and 17th for a one-hole victory.

Meanwhile, Liz Jones and Ann Robinson beat Hull's Alison Brown and Deborah Kay by two holes to reach the third round of the Daily Mail foursomes at Fulford.

TOFT Green Golf Society's first outing at Allerthorpe GC was won by Stuart Morley, whose 40 stableford points was two ahead of Jon Bean with Terry Hallas third on 37.

Steve Peacock, Mick Rickell and John Thompson won the morning team competition with 43 points after the best two of three to count. The Society is also due to play at Scarcroft, Scarborough South Cliff, The Oaks and Gainsborough.

ALLERTHORPE Park GC's season opener, a medal competition, was won by Neil Stephenson with a nett 58.

The division two prize went to Stephen Roberts on 62 with Shane Wagstaff winning the lowest gross prize with 68.

The mixed Spring Trophy stableford was claimed by Margaret Senior, Clive Debenham and Richard Craven on 82 points, three clear of Sheena Barton, Pete Culley and Don Hill. Sally Wilkinson won the longest drive award with Thelma Dutton nearest to the pin.

THREE Fulford players - Kath Stubbs, Anne Everton and Judy Jones - all posted two-under-par 72 to reach the final stages of the York Union Fulford Rose Bowl to be played at Malton and Norton on September 1.

Margaret Burton was Fulford's fourth qualifier with 76.

FOREST PARK GC's MW stableford was won by Stephen Rowe with 41 points ahead of Paul Whitelaw and Trevor Nolan, who each pooled 38.

The club's Ladies Golf Union medal 2 event was won by Davena Burn with a round of 71.

JOHN Miller and Euen MacPhail finished fifth in the annual Driffield EGGS Open with 38 points, three behind champions Frank Bartley and Jack Boyes (Ganstead Park).

THE York Golf Club's April monthly medal was won by 12-handicapper Jamie Gavin, who shot a nett 66. The best gross of 75 was compiled by Dave Holder.

FULFORD Ladies halved with hosts Garforth 3-3 in their Yorkshire Scratch League tie.

Updated: 10:50 Saturday, May 04, 2002