The Fifty Eighth playing of the DALKEITH CUP, a mixed four ball combined stableford event, took place on a “beautiful Scottish Summer’s Day!!” on Sunday October 1 with a field of twenty four pairs setting out on their quest to become the Mixed Four Ball Champions. Krystyna Knottnerus and Tony Cowan continued their sponsorship of the Cup and their ongoing support is appreciated by all.
The event was named after our neighbouring suburb of Dalkeith.
“The suburb of Dalkeith derives its name from an estate of 320 acres taken up in 1831 by Adam Armstrong. He named it Dalkeith Farm after the district near Edinburgh from which he had migrated in 1829”.
This year’s field included six past winning combinations – Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster (2009), Patricia and Steve Noske (2013), Veni Tang and Gary Hing (2015), Marg Doyle and Joe Alexander (2018 and 2019), Nikki and Fred Wehr (2020) and the champions from the last two years Carolyn Browne and Mackenzie Buck who were looking for a “three-peat”.
The defending champions Carolyn Browne and Mackenzie Buck did not play up to expectations and the remainder of the Past Champions finished in second to sixth positions – an excellent effort
Apart from the defending champions and past winners of the trophy ones to watch were the sponsors, Krystyna Knottnerus and Tony Cowan, Mandy Sudlow-Brown and John Mitchell, Ali Baker and Scott van Heurck, Rhonda Moore and Marty Morris and Chris and Stewart Wharton.
The Leader Board after 15 holes looked something like this-;
63 points Marg Doyle (20) and Joe Alexander (15)
58 points Veni Tang (21) and Gary Hing (9)
56 points Mandy Sudlow–Brown(23) and John Mitchell (22) – Cath Bellemore (7) and Paul Baster (13)
55 points Krystyna Knottnerus (23) and Tony Cowan (21)
53 points Patricia Noske (22) and Steve Noske (7) – Jane Waters (45) and Stuart Waters (8)
52 points Nikki Wehr (29) and Fred Wehr (26) – Chris Wharton (27) and Stewart Wharton (8)
So, it looked as though the “Double Champions”, Marg Doyle and Joe Alexander were an excellent chance of making it three titles – but as we know golf is a funny game and, in this case, the last three holes proved crucial to the outcome
The leaders could only amass 4 points on the 16th and 17th and were now desperately hanging on to their lead with 3 others now in contention.
With one hole left things had changed – the semmingly unassailable lead had become only one point and it was still a very close run thing with four pairings within 3 points
67 points Marg Doyle (20) and Joe Alexander (15)
66 points Mandy Sudlow–Brown(23) and John Mitchell (22)
65 points Veni Tang (21) and Gary Hing (9)
64 points Cath Bellemore (7) and Paul Baster (13)
Once again Marg and Joe could only manage 2 points on their last hole (the 18th) and now had to sit and wait for the others to finish.
Cath and Paul could only have 3 points on their last hole – the 1st, as did Veni and Gary on the 5th.
Mandy and John both had 2 points on their final hole, the 2nd, and overtook the two-time champs and with 14 points over their last 3 holes against Marg and Joe’s 6 points the trophy was theirs.
A remarkable comeback but you have to feel for Marg and Joe – what could have been.
So now to the Final Leader Board –
70 points Mandy Sudlow-Brown and John Mitchell
69 points Marg Doyle and Joe Alexander (and leading past champions)
68 points Veni Tang and Gary Hing
67 points Cath Bellemore and Paul Baster
66 points Nikki and Fred Wehr
65 points Patricia Noske and Steve Noske
The leading individual scores were –
39 points John Mitchell
37 points Nikki Wehr, Steve Noske
35 points Stewart Wharton, Sally Wehr, Gary Hing, Marg Doyle
As we have come to expect the club staff made a significant contribution to a most enjoyable afternoon and evening.
Congratulations to our 2023 Dalkeith Cup Winners Mandy Sudlow-Brown and John Mitchell and once again we acknowledge the ongoing support of the club made by Krystyna Knottnerus and Tony Cowan.
The final sponsored Mixed Event on a Sunday is scheduled for the 5th of November and is an American Foursomes event sponsored by Jill and Tony Morgan.
Good luck to all players in the forthcoming Club Championships.
From – Greg Fitzhardinge
