Amateur golfers flocked to Flintshire for second Gateway to Wales Autumn Festival

Over 150 competitors took part in the three-day event, which was held at the Padeswood and Buckley, Mold, and Old Padeswood Golf Clubs.

The event, supported by North Wales Tourism and Flintshire Council Leisure and Tourism, attracted golfers from all around the UK as well as a couple from the USA.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, John Green, of Gateway to Wales Golf, said: “As a voluntary group representing Flintshire Golf Clubs, we have been delighted with the response.

“95 per cent of the entries were visitors to the county who stayed locally and provided a boost to local tourism.

“We would particularly like to thank the members of each of the golf clubs involved who worked so hard on the day to demonstrate the welcome and hospitality our visitors to Flintshire can enjoy.”

“Unfortunately, the competition was cut short due to the particularly adverse weather conditions on Sunday which had led to a waterlogged course.

As a result, the £150 prize and the title of ‘The Gateway to Wales Autumn Golf Festival 4BBB Champions 2019’ was handed to the winners over two days.

Terry Lawson and Tony Hill from Hollywood and Cocks Moor Woods Golf Clubs, Birmingham, won the tournament with 84 points. The duo scored 40 points in wet conditions at Padeswood and Buckley, before scoring 44 points at Mold Golf Club.

An aggregate mixed prize was also handed out to Roger and Mary Chester from Hessle Golf Club in East Yorkshire as the pair scored 79 points.

The prizes were sponsored by the Beaufort Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Buckley.

Presenting the aggregate prizes, Mark Small of the Beaufort Park Hotel, said: “We are delighted to be involved with sponsoring this golf festival and look forward to supporting next year’s event.”

Gateway to Wales Golf will be holding their Spring Golf Festival between May 23-25, 2020 at Northop, Hawarden, and Holywell Golf Clubs.

Meanwhile, their third annual Autumn Golf Festival is due to take place from September 25-27, 2020 at the Padeswood and Buckley, Mold and Old Padeswood Golf Courses, with entry forms available to be downloaded from any of the participating clubs’ websites.

After the first day of the competition, at Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club, Ben Askew and Andrew Schofield, of Silverdale Golf Club in Carnforth led the way with 44 points.

James Foley and Martin Jackson of Hollywood Golf Club were second with 41 points, while Keith Porter and Phil Mashiter of Silverdale were third with 40 points.

The eventual winners, Terry Lawson and Tony Hill, were fourth at the end of the opening day with 40 points.

Their 44-point haul on the second day was the second-best score of the day itself, with James Davis and Colin Marshall of Huyton and Prescott Golf Club marginally beating them with 45 points.

Robert Read and Mark Crump also of Hollywood Golf Club were third on the day with 43 points, and Sandra Owen and Julie Booth of Towneley Golf Club were fourth after also scoring 43 points.