[<<] [>>] by Elizabeth Williams
22nd May 2005 (AC)

Chris Farthing won the Guildford and Godalming May Open, with a round to spare.

This year saw one of the strongest entries to Guildford for several years, with a total of 16 players. Indeed one entrant was so desperate to play that he offered to make a set of striped balls in order to ensure his entry was accepted.

Going into the final round of the Swiz, Chris was unbeaten while everyone else had lost two games, ensuring that he could not be caught. However, results of +3 against Martin French, +10otp against Samir Patel and a failed SXP by last year's winner Stephen Mulliner indicates that Chris didn't have it all his own way. Naturally, local favourite Tony Mrozinski beat Chris in the final round, but earlier losses -4 and -3tp to Paul Castell and Patel had put an end to Tony's challenge. Jamie Burch continued to show good form with 2 TPs, including a +26 win against Mulliner. Jon Male showed good form off a handicap of 3 to finish on fourth in a field that included 9 players below scratch, including a win against French and close losses -5 and -9 to Patel and Burch.

Results

Robert Bateson beat Steve Battison +8, Huxley +4
Russell Bretherson beat Harris +6, Plummer +2(t), Stephens +24
Jamie Burch beat Bretherton +22tp, Male +9, Mulliner +26, Thompson +26tp
Paul Castell beat French +13, Mrozinski +4, Patel +9
Chris Farthing beat Burch +24, Castell +25, French +3, Mulliner +14, Patel +10otp
Martin French beat Battison +15, Bateson +25
Nick Harris beat Bateson +3(t), Castell +6, Huxley +18
Mike Huxley beat Stephens +5
Jon Male beat Bateson +22, Bateson +8(t), Battison +22, French +13
Tony Mrozinski beat Bateson +7, Farthing +17, Huxley +22, Thompson +14
Stephen Mulliner beat Bretherton +21, Burch +22tp, Castell +26tp, Plummer +17tp, Thompson +25tp
Samir Patel beat Harris +3, Male +5, Mrozinski +3tp
Ian Plummer beat Battison +5, Burch +14, Stephens +1(t)
Bob Stephens beat Battison +4(t)
Peter Thompson beat Battison +17, Huxley +16, Stephens +6