The first AGW event of the year took place at Walton Heath on Wednesday, 2nd June, 2021, with Colin Harding emerging as a deserved winner at the end of day of golf played in warm and dry conditions.

Walton Heath very generously offered us five tee times for the New Course and we were able to fill every slot, with a number of players – take a bow Dave Edwards, David Facey and Andy Waple – travelling from the other end of the country to take part.

AGW Golf Captain Peter Dixon hands the Michael Williams Hogget to Colin Harding

While it would be fair to say that Walton Heath’s famous gorse played havoc with many of the scorecards, everybody seemed to appreciate a venerable old course that tested every aspect of the game.

In the end, however, the battle for the Michael Williams Hogget came down to two players, Kevin Garside and Colin Harding. Kevin had a superb front nine that included two net eagles in an outward score of 22 points. A couple of mishaps on the inward nine proved costly, but he still finished the day with an impressive 35 points and the clubhouse lead.

Colin, however, was not to be denied. He reached the turn with 20 points and was able to maintain his momentum, coming in with 17 points on the back nine for a total of 37 points and a two-point winning margin.

It is Colin’s second Michael Williams Hogget victory after winning the trophy in 2012 on the Edinburgh course at Wentworth. Colin also won the 1996 Ron Moseley Trophy at Loch Lomond and the Golf Writers Championship in 2016 at Royal Portcawl.

Special thanks go to Gordon Simpson for liaising with the club and arranging tee times and fabulous hospitality. It was also great to have Roddy Williams, the son of Michael, join us for the day along with Johnnie Garside and the son to Kevin.

Peter Dixon, AGW Golf Captain

Scores – 2021 Michael Williams Hogget, New Course, Walton Heath

Roddy Williams with new Michael Williams Hogget winner Colin Harding

37pts: Colin Harding (H’cap 8) (New h’cap 7)
35: Kevin Garside (19)
33: Peter Dixon (17)
31: Adrian Milledge (19), Rob Hodgetts (18)
30: Roddy Williams (guest, 20))
29: Rob Perkins (8)
28: Andy Waple (10)
27: Johnnie Garside (5)
26: Dan Murphy (1)
24: Neil McLeman (19), Andy Farrell (15)
23: Ben Evans (18), Dick Turner (17), Matt Cooper (12)
21: Iain Carter (6), Mark Garrod (9), David Facey (14), Dave Edwards (19)
18: Jeremy Chapman (38)

Rob Hodgetts, Roddy Williams, Iain Carter & Dave Facey
Johnnie & Kevin Garside, Peter Dixon and Neil McLeman

Ben Evans, Rob Perkins, Dick Turner and defending champ, Dan Murphy
Dave Facey lets one rip on the New Course at Walton Heath