Race for honours at Sudbrook Moor Golf Club

A very fine Sudbrook Moor winter scorecard of 40 stableford points from Andy Newman has launched him to the front-runner spot in the brand new 2024 Sword of Achievement.

The Sword of Achievement is based on a player's best six scores of the 12 nominated events with order of merit points earned for each result.

This mixed monthly event was played last weekend and, as Andy says it every month: "I'm after that crown of all titles 'The Sword'."

He has many titles to his name but this is one is still escaping him, although if enthusiasm and motivation are pre-requisites, then it will come to pass one of these seasons.

In 2023, Andy completed the Sword of Achievement season in second place behind Dan Reidy.

With a passion to be out on the fairways that is legendary, when Andy is playing golf, his message is always the same: "I'm living the dream," said with a huge chuckle and his natural smile.

Andy recorded a birdie two on the seventh, which was a significant boost to a steady early scorecard, from an experienced 14 handicap index.

Andy's back nine was a reflection of digging deep with six gross pars and a birdie two on the testing 15th.

Runners-up on the day were John McLaren and Steve Jessop, whose scorecard countback put them second and third overall.

Michelle Gayton took the ladies' prize for best stableford score of 36 points with a very impressive front nine score.

Myra Evangelista and Zoe Martin both recorded 35 points as all three Ladies gained Order of Merit points.

Part of the twos pot share-out went to Amanda Roberts, on the sixth, and Zoe Martin on the seventh.

The gents celebrated scorecards with recorded twos and the most significant eagle two came from Andy Stones on the 17th.

Those taking a share of the sweep were, on hole three, Geoff Back, Pete Armstrong and Steve Jessop; the sixth, Liam Cornes, Pedro Morais and Sean Gibbs; the seventh, Andy Newman and Dave Sharples; the 12th, John McLaren and Geoff Back; the 15th, Andy Newman; and the 17th, Andy Stones.

The following gents feature high in the overall stableford results and will earn points in The Sword Order of Merit: Pedro Morais 38; Liam Cornes 37; Michael Coupland, Sean Gibbs and Nigel Corby 36; Richard Cocks, Roger Newton and Barry Smith 35; Gerry Dunphy, Dave Sharples, Mick Lincoln and Geoff Back 34.