Winners – 2020/21 ETIQUS – Race to Hoylake – AGW Golfer of the Year
AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon with ETIQUS Gary Butler and Rob Perkins and with the photograph taken in front of Royal Liverpool’s impressive golfing legacy.

The 2020 AGW golfing year began with so much uncertainty and ended last week on a joyful note for two AGW members after an historic first-ever 2020/21 ‘double season’.

The Covid-19 restrictions and the subsequent loss of golf outings saw the AGW decide to run the ETIQUS – Race to Hoylake – AGW Golfer of the Year over two seasons and in a first time since the inaugural hosting of a AGW Golfer of the Year award in 1993.

Two events in 2020 and all five in 2021 meant the hosting of seven tournaments to find the AGW ‘Champion Golfer’.

It was Dave Edwards who burst straight into ETIQUS – Race to Hoylake contention proudly capturing the inaugural Renton Laidlaw Quaich in October 2020 at Kingsbarns Links.

Iain Carter won a third AGW crown with his Ron Moseley success at Royal Mid-Surrey.

Season 2021 dawned with still so much uncertainty and fortunately, and after much juggling, the AGW managed to squeeze in a full season of five events commencing in June with the Michael Williams Hogget and with Dave Edwards announciing his ‘Race to Hoylake’ determination by travelling all the way from the top of Scotland to leafy Surrey to be among those teeing-up at Walton Heath.

Colin Harding emerged a two-point winner with AGW Golf captain, Peter Dixon picking-up a vital third place finish. Thanks here to Gordon Simpson for all his arrangements.

Dave Edwards then regained his ‘Race to Hoylake’ lead by 22 points with an impressive showing in the defence of the Renton Laidlaw Quaich at Dumbarnie Links in Scotland.

Though Rob Perkins went back to 13 points clear at the top in capturing the R & A Salver at Royal Cinque Ports and with Peter Dixon now just 10 points adrift of Dave Edwards in the bigger ‘Race to Hoylake’ points picture. With two events remaining in this 2020/21 season it seemed to be down to three – Rob, Dave and ‘Dinky’ – who would win the trophy and the much sought-after gleaming ETIQUS watch?

With the Ron Moseley and the Fred Pignon trophy to be staged back-to-back on October 11th and 12th, and with three front-runners present, the spoils of an inaugural seven-event season were there for the grabbing.

Dick Turner emerged the winner at Delamere Forest to deny Peter Dixon but with ‘Dinky’s’ second place result lifting him to second on the ‘Race to Hoylake’ with 117 points, just 10 adrift of Rob Perkins, who lead with 127 points, while Dave Edwards struggled somewhat with 28 points and to drop back into third on 114 points.

In an exciting final round on the 2023 Open Championship host venue, and after seven AGW events in almost exactly a year, we had a tie at the top and for a third occasion in AGW history. Peter Dixon snatched 37 Stableford points to finish runner-up for a second day running and tie Rob Perkins for the title of 2020/21 ETIQUS – Race to Hoylake – AGW Golfer of the Year on 154 points and this after Rob battled his way to a share of 13th place in earning 27 points.

Both Peter and Rob competed in five of the seven events but with Peter collecting an impressive 78 points over his closing two rounds compared to Rob’s 55-point haul.

To his enormous golfing credit, Rob created AGW history in winning the prestigous title for a third year running while it was agreed Peter would retain the trophy for the opening six months.

Of note, the top-three place-getters in Peter, Rob and Dave each played five of the seven events while Dave Facey, who finished eighth on the oversall standings, also contested five events.

So, congratulations and well done to both Peter and Rob.

Though let’s spare a thought for Dave Edwards, and with wife Yvonne very welcome company also over the two days in England, finishing third with 150 points. Indeed, Dave had ‘wiped’ the opening three holes at Royal Liverpool and produced a sizzling 36 points over 15 holes only to miss out on the title by five points. As well, no-one showed a stronger AGW golfing commitment over the 12-months than Dave.

Thank you to AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon again for his tireless ‘behind-the-scenes’ work and thank you to those members who continue to support the AGW golf.

In conclusion, a very special thank you to ETIQUS Gary Butler for his continuing and most generous support.

Here’s now to 2022

Bernie McGuire, Secretary

2020/21 ETIQUS – Race to Hoylake – AGW Golfer of the Year

FINAL STANDINGS

154 – Peter Dixon (20 + 33 + 23 + 41+ 37)

154 – Rob Perkins (29 + 35 + 35 + 28 + 27)

150 – Dave Edwards (33 + 21 + 32 + 18 + 36)

127 – Dick Turner (23 + 26 + 44 + 34)

124 – Brian McLaughlin (26 + 37 + 33 + 28)

123 – Martin Dempster (24 + 35 + 36 + 28)

122 – Adrian Milledge (26 + 31 + 36 + 29)

113 – David Facey (24 + 21 + 19 + 23 + 26)

103 – Mike Aitken (32 + 33 + 38)

101 – Malcolm Campbell (38 + 35 + 28)

88 – Andy Waple (28 + 35 + 25)

85 – Matt Cooper (23 + 28 + 34)

78 – Dan Murphy (26 + 31 + 21)

68 – Neil McLeman (24 + 24 + 20)

56 – Martin Vousden (24 + 32), James Nursey (28 + 28)

52 – Euan McLean (24 + 28)

51 – Iain Carter (30 + 21)

50 Steve Carroll (21 + 29)

46 – Andy Farrell (22 + 24)

39 – Jeremy Chapman (21+ 18)

37 – Colin Harding (37)

35 – Kevin Garside (35)Nick Rodger (35), Bernie McGuire (23 + 12)

31 – Rob Hodgetts (31), Adam Lanigan (31)

29 – Gordon Bannerman (29)

28 – Alex Perry (NR + 28)

27 – Bill Elilott (27)

23 – Gordon Simpson (23), Ben Evans (23),

 21 – Graham Otway (21), Mark Garrod (21)

19 – Ian Mullins (19)

Nil Return – Bob Harig, Rex Hoggard