MAZDA PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners of the regional finals of the Mazda Pairs National Golf Championship 1999 have just been confirmed. The Japanese car company's tournament, now in its third year, has attracted a strong following and the five winning pairs from around the country will meet at La Manga in Spain in November for the Grand Final.

Scottish Finals

Jim Black of Broomridge, Stirling and John Currie of Bridge of Allan, won at Cawder Golf Club on 29 June in the Scottish regional final. They are both members of the Bridge of Allen Golf Club.

East/South East Finals

John Filby of Brundall and his golf partner Craig Eastaugh of Norwich saw of other pairings on 9 July at the South Herts Golf Club in Totteridge. They are members of the Royal Norwich Golf Club.

Mazda owner John, whose handicap is 20, and partner Craig, handicap 14, scored 47 points on a course in excellent condition, having been used as a qualifier for The Open just 4 days previously, just over 6,400 yards from the white pins.

The second pair also scored 47 on the warm and sunny Thursday afternoon, but John and Craig won on a count-back.

South / South West Finals

Freshwater (Isle of Wight) golfer Robbie Faulkener once again triumphed in the regional final of the Mazda Cars' premier sporting challenge. Last year also saw the handicap 10 player in top place.

With his new golfing partner for the 1999 event, Andy Rigby of Newport (handicap 21), he breezed home in glorious sunshine well ahead of the opposition - in a week where the professionals at the Open at St Andrews were in real difficulty!

Robbie and Andy, both members of the Freshwater Bay Golf Club were at The Manor House Golf Club in Castle Coombe, Wiltshire. Their massive 50 point score was three points ahead of the second place pairing.

Midlands / North West Final

James Herring of Crewe and his golfing partner Steven Jones of Haslington, narrowly saw off other pairings on Tuesday 20th July at the Patshull Golf Club near Telford.

James, whose handicap is 9, and partner Steven, handicap 8, scored 47 points, just one ahead of the second pairing who, in turn, were one ahead of the third placed competitors.

North East / South Yorkshire

Glenn Davison and his golfing partner Tim Littlewood, both from High Green, Sheffield (and both of Tankersley Park Golf Club) won on Thursday 22 June at the Moor Allerton Golf Club near Leeds.

Glenn, who handicap is 16 and partner Tim, handicap 20, scored an excellent 45 points, braving a combination of wind, rain and sunshine.

Regional finalists were drawn from pairings brought together in the Japanese car manufacturer's prestigious golfing event, having attracted a considerable following.

Under the rules of the competition, each Mazda owner had to pair up with a non-Mazda driver and play at local courses against other similar pairings. On receipt of the scores, the top pairs were invited to the regional finals.

To ensure a high standard of entry, the format of the tournament is a fourball betterball Stableford, with a maximum handicap of 18 for men and 30 for women.