The County Zone Golf Magazine Issue 3 | Page 31

News Nightingale wins Sussex Championship by ten S cott Nightingale insists he is playing the best golf of his life after a recordbreaking performance at the Sussex Mid-Age Championship. President: David Richardson - (Eastbourne Downs) County Secretary: Anup Vasant JP - (Dyke Golf Club) Assistant County Secretary: Nicky Reeves - (Eastbourne) Nightingale shot a course record 63 on the West Course at Royal Ashdown Forest to wrap up a massive ten shot victory, the biggest margin in the 18-year history of the competition. The Worthing amateur also returned a three under 69 on the Old Course to record an eight under aggregate of 132 – also a record. “I think the key is that I am just having so much fun. I am older and wiser now so it doesn’t matter as much and I can just go out and enjoy it. It continued an amazing run of success for the 38-year-old who also won the Worthing club championship for a record seventh time along with victory in the Seaford Tusks last month. “I’ve got two children now so I don’t get to play as much as I used to so when I do get a chance to play it is a real treat.” Nightingale said: “I have been playing incredibly well this year. I’ve won five competitions in total and my handicap is the lowest it’s been since I was a teenager. “I can’t even remember when I was plus-three before but it was a long time ago. I’m definitely playing my best golf ever at the moment. ISSUE 3 The County Zone SOUTH EAST Sussex Golf Union Nightingale reeled off five birdies and an eagle at the par five third on the West Course to eclipse the previous amateur record held by Lawrie Tremlett. He added: “I played really well in the afternoon although I could have gone even lower. I bogied the first and the last which was a bit annoying but I can’t complain really.” Captain: Alan Covey - (Ifield Golf Club) Junior Manager: Ian Jaggard - (Mannings Heath) Treasurer: Ray Smith - (Crowborough) Committee Members: Ron Collie - (Haywards Heath) Michael Phillpot - (West Hove) Gerry Honeysett - (H. Heath) Richard Stewart - (Dyke GC) Mike Grindell - (Dyke GC) Richard Thomas (W.Sussex) Past Presidents: Michael Vans Agnew - (Dyke GC) Derek Sparrow - (Dyke GC) Richard Palmer - (Royal Ashdown) Bernard Yates - (Dyke GC) David Harmer - (Willingdon) John Bury - (East Sussex National) Vice Presidents: Joe Pierce - (Ham Manor) David Alderson - (West Sussex Golf Club) John Wilson - (West Chiltington) Gary Scarfield Kerry Scott JP - (Copthorne GC) Trevor Greenfield - (Pyecombe GC) www.sussexgolf.org Eastbourne Downs Golf Club, East Dean Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 8ES Telephone: 01323 746677 Fax: 01323 746777 Our email is: 31 [email protected]