MINEHEAD and West Somerset Golf Club's annual fund-raising event, the Arnold Palmer Charity Shield, once again raised a record sum of £2,700, this year for the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Members and local businesses contributed generously, so that in addition to this sum there was an array of prizes to be won by the 172 competitors from 14 different clubs.

The weather could have been kinder, but the standard of play was high, with 21 pairs scoring 41 points or more off 3/4 handicap.

The winners of the Arnold Palmer Shield for the second year in succession were Steve Gay and Richard Furse with 46 points. Runners-up on 45 were Mark Ruttley and Malcolm Bruce with Keith Babb and John Baker third on 44.

Five pairs had 43 points – Martin Kenny and John Kidd, Andy Dahl and Frank Bohun, Roger Green and Nigel Ealley, Nigel Barker and Peter Whalley and Tony Hunt and Rob Sansom.

Four pairs had 42 points — Denis Meadows and Tony Hardick, Peter Jones and Dave Keates, Cliff Langdon and Colin Dewsbury and Tony Pryce (who also had a hole-in-one at the 6th) and Bernard Foster.

Seven other pairs had prizes for 41 points — Terry Groves and Adrian Keates, Chris Thicks and Dave Shambrook, Richard Battle and Hugh Ross, Mark Antonelli and Mark Ibbotson, Andreé Guerrier and Bob Cody-Boucher, Simon Antonelli and Paul Jenkins and Freddie Hodge and Andy Townsend.

The ladies' prizewinners were: Pat Guerrier and Val Anderson with 39 points, Jeanette Tucker and Sara Warren (38), Gisela Hamilton and Christine Harper (37), Audrey Watts and Julie Jones (34) and Audrey Watts and Eve Bolton (34).

Other prizewinners were: Nearest the pin, 4th, Andy Dahl; 10th, John Freeman; 14th, Dave Shambrook; 18th, men, Mark Ruttley, ladies, Sara Warren; fairway target, 8th, Adrian Keates; 13th, Paul Failla, 17th, Brian Lewis; longest drive, men, Andy Townsend, ladies, Sara Warren; putting, Nigel Barker.

Pictured at the cheque presentation after the event are, from the left, club captain elect Peter Jones, Parkinson's Disease Society branch secretary Peggy Browning, helper Dorothy Redd and president Freddie Hodge.

l On Saturday, Minehead played matches against Tiverton Golf Club. The A team lost 4-1 away, with the only win coming from Mark Singleton and Harold Compton, and the B team won 4-2 at home with wins for Peter Jones and Colin Morley, Steve Beswick and Steve Gay, Dave Shambrook and Trevor John and for Dave Singleton and John A'Court.

Photo: James Guscott