Last Sunday, Tenby GC entertained South Pembs GC in the first round of the Jeff Harries Bowl. The format is greensome foursomes. It was a sunny day, although a strong south-westerly wind made scoring difficult.

The opening game saw Dave Morris and Andrew Cope face Alan Jones, who has been Dyfed County Champion on several occasions, and Anthony Hall, a former Welsh international who has recently returned home and taken up golf again.

The visitors were always in control and ran out handsome winners by 6 and 5.

Two of Tenby’s big hitters, Chris Thompson and Terry Davies, faced father and son Bob and Chris Veale. The South Pembs pair were four up after six holes and remained one ahead with two to play. However, the home duo won the last two holes to seal a fantastic comeback.

Tenby’s third pair of Jack Harries and Neil Thomas were both former members of South Pembs. They proved to be far too good for Ben Steele and Richard Scourfield, winning 5 and 4.

Darren Thomas and Gary McNeilly faced Andrew Morrissey and Billy Irving, who drives the ball a massive distance. The Tenby pair were always behind, but hung on bravely, albeit eventually falling one down.

Loz Phillips and Tim Davies were six ahead after 10 holes, but young Joe Buckle and Darren Lewis began to claw back the deficit until they lost the 16th hole and the game by 3 and 2.

Rob Willcox and Mark Griffiths ran out convincing victors against South Pembs. skipper Paul Grimwood and club captain Simon Bourne by 5 and 4.

In the last game, Idwal David and Jerry Whitehouse struggled against Paul Walkey and Danny Overend, losing 3 and 2.

Thus, Tenby progressed to the quarter-finals by the narrowest margins, four games to three, thanks mainly to a tremendous fightback by Thompson and Davies.

The draw has been made for the quarter-finals and Tenby now face a tough tie away at Milford Haven.