Lightning man strikes it lucky

4:06pm Wednesday 18th October 2006

JUST three days after surviving a lightning strike on Woodford golf course, John Raine was back in action to lift the October Medal second division prize at the club at the weekend.

The 71-year-old, who had a remarkable escape on Wednesday thanks to his rubber-soled golf shoes, landed the Monthly Medal prize with a 68 nett.

That was despite his game going to pieces over the last three holes which he played in 17 shots, three-putting from four foot on the 16th alone. Still, the Loughton-based player is not complaining about that even though the win means that his handicap of 21 will be lowered by one stroke.

Chris Ball matched him in the gross returns when he came in also with a score of 89.

But his lower handicap of 17 meant that Chris was relegated to the runner-up spot with Keith Phillips, who plays off 23 shot a round of 96, to come in one stroke behind in third place on a nett 73.

It was a close-run thing in Division One of the medal with Enfield-based Sean Marah (handicap six) just pipping club champion Michael Everitt (handicap five) on a count-back after both players came in on 71 nett.

There were seven players all just one stroke behind on 72 nett, including David Webb, Roy Webb, Mike Smith, Terry Chisholm, Mark Bonham, Mark Deeming and Anthony Murray.

l For full details of Raine's amazing lightning escape see the news pages this week.

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