Wednesday 6th July saw a top-quality field of players from many Clubs across England and the UK take part in the inaugural Peter Alliss Memorial Trophy. Hindhead Golf Club, Peters local Club was the venue and what a fantastic course to hold this first of what will be an annual mixed WAGR event that will be held at various Clubs that Peter was associated with.
The format was, as Peter would have expected and appreciated, seventy-two holes over two days medal play, with no cut, a real test of golf and stamina and so it proved to be. As Jackie, Peters wife said at the presentation, he would have been looking down smiling at some of the fantastic golf played across the two days of competition.
No less than twenty-two sub-par rounds from fifteen different players showed the quality of the field, the best being a fantastic 65 from West Hill’s Josh Balson-Scales.
The eventual winner 15-year-old Monty Holcombe lead the way with sub-par scores shooting 69,69 & 66, his last round was the only one over par, this allowed a fantastic fightback from Sam West with a sublime 66 to match Monty’s four round score of 280 and force a playoff. Hindhead member Alex MacDonald came within one shot of the joining duo with a score of 281.
The sudden death play-off holes to be used were the 1st & 18th until a winner was decided. The first was halved with both players scoring pars, then on the next hole Monty took control with a excellent drive up the middle of the fairway with Sam finding some trouble in the right rough, Monty hit the green with a fine composed approach shot while Sam unfortunately found more trouble. Two putts for par from Monty secured a well-deserved victory to be the first player to get his name on the trophy, very impressive from a player so young.
A special mention must go to Ben Patterson who had a hole in one on the 15th in the final round.
What a fantastic start to a tournament in honour of such a wonderful man, the voice of golf, as Jackie said, he will definitely be looking down with a huge smile on his face!
I have to say it’s a privilege and honour for Surrey Golf to be asked by the family to organise and run these events now and in the future for a man who we were proud to have as our Patron for many years. I have no doubt it will go from strength to strength and hope to see you at the next one in 2023.
Results
1st Monty Holcombe (Walton Heath) 280 won on the second won on the sudden death playoff hole
2nd Sam West (Liphook) 280
3rd Alex MacDonald (Hindhead) 281
4th Darragh Monaghan ((Walton Heath) 282
5th Carl Banner (Beaconsfield) 285
6th Ben Patterson (Hindhead) 287
The venue for the 2023 event has yet to be confirmed but will be announced on the Surrey web site along with other media platforms in the next couple of months.
Steve McNeill
County Secretary
Monty with Jackie Alliss
Monty
Sam West