Ely City Golf Club player Terry Ryan clinches Cambridgeshire Senior Championships title for the first time

Ely City Golf Club’s Terry Ryan held his nerve to be crowned champion at last week’s Cambridgeshire Senior Championships.

Ryan, who had never previously won the event, had to recover from a disappointing performance on the 17th hole to get his hands on the title at Gog Magog Golf Club.

Mark Lydon, who recently joined Gog Magog from the Cambridge Country Club, set the early pace with a fine score of 75.

Lydon came home against the wind in a creditable 38 strokes, which included a birdie two at the 17th hole.

His lead, however, was short lived as Neil Hughes of the home club beat his score to record a 74, which included a run of 10 holes from the first tee of threes and fours.

A double bogey at the 16th hole was a setback but two good pars to finish against the wind gave him a realistic chance to chalk up his third seniors title.

As the main contenders came in it looked like 74 was going to be a winning score as Kevin Diss with 75, defending champion Ken Parsons, Billy McQueeney and Doug Bottomley (all on 77) came up short.

It was left to Ryan to make the final challenge and as he stood on the 17th tee he needed two pars for what would be a round of 71 gross. However, a double bogey five at the 17th hole left him needing a par at the last to win the title.

A poor drive down the last left him with a difficult second shot out of the heavy rough and he duly decided to take a chance and try to carry the cross bunkers which were 97 yards ahead with a pitching wedge out of a horrendous lie.

With all his might he managed to clear the cross bunkers and his ball rocketed just short of the front edge of the green. And from there he two-putted to win his very first Seniors Championship with a 73.

Meanwhile, a score of 76-8=68 by Andrew Durman of The Links Golf Club in Newmarket won him the best nett prize on the day.

The Super Seniors Rose Bowl for the 65-69 age group was won for the first time by Steve Searle of the St Neots Golf Club with a 79 gross which included a birdie three at the final hole.

As for the Masters trophy – for the 70-plus age group – that was won by Hughes for the fourth year in succession.