Leigh Hales made a triumphant return to the amateur ranks by claiming the Club Champion title at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis Golf Club.

Teenager Millie Thompson, meanwhile, clinched the Ladies Championship honour in emphatic style.

The weekend of July 25/26 saw 171 competitors taking part and, although they were playing on a beautifully presented course, conditions proved incredibly testing as rain lashed the competitors on Saturday and there was a strong breeze the following day.

The standard of golf remained superb and as usual, both the ladies and men played nett and gross competitions over 36 holes, with the lowest totals winning.

Hales, who has spent the last few years plying his trade on the professional circuit, claimed his third title after edging out Jake Bacon by a single shot.

His first round of 76 in wet conditions left him five shots behind overnight leader Bacon. With the second round tee times decided by first round score order, it was Hales who set the clubhouse target after firing a fine score of 68 (-3) for a total of 144.

It left Bacon requiring a 72 to take the title. Agonisingly for the recently joined member though a couple of 3-putts on the final nine holes saw him miss out by the narrowest of margins. Defending champion Lloyd Edwards finished a shot further back in third place.

In the nett competition, John Cullinan (h9), won after shooting a second round 69 to add to his first round 70, giving him a winning margin of two shots over second placed Danny Urquhart.

Steve Rawdon rounded out the top three with a 142 total but he didn’t go away empty handed as his scores were good enough to hand him victory in the Intermediate Scratch Plate for players with a handicap of six and above.

Another notable achievement of the weekend in the men’s event was a hole-in-one by Allan Tucker on the 11th in round one.

In the Ladies Championship, Thompson claimed her first title over defending champion Nicola Smith.

The Kent Girls’ captain set it up in her first round, displaying maturity beyond her years in a superb 68 (-4), which included two birdies and two eagles to hold a 10 shot lead overnight. Her second round 76 and a 144 total was enough to keep the rest at arm’s length.

The ladies nett event was won by Hannah Eves with a total of 145 with Chelsea Edwards second.

Ladies captain Stella Dyson and club captain Lee Knowles were on hand at a socially distanced presentation. Hales will go on to represent the club at the Watson Trophy next year whilst Thompson will move forward to the Champion of Champions event.

Club pro Chris Weston said: “Congratulations to all of our winners and all the members who made the weekend one to remember.

“A special mention should also be made for the greenkeeping team who produced a fantastic course despite being a man down for the week preceding the event.”

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