Baildon Golf Club see Willis shine in team competition win

Star player Ian Willis was key to their success, shooting the joint-best stableford score of the competition (37) alongside team-mate Kevin Woodhead, and achieving the best gross score of 73.

This was of course a team event, and with Willis and Woodhead in such good form, no-one else came close to beating Baildon, as the Bradford outfit won by six strokes from East Bierley.

Speaking to the T&A, Willis said: "There's always that expectation when you're playing at home that you should win a team event.

"We prepared well and then performed well, not just Kev and I, but our captain John Brear, vice-captain Martin Binns and Martin Patchett.

"We're an experienced side, and both Kev and I have been club captain before.

"We did well as a united team."

With he and Woodhead the individual stand-outs of the day, Willis was asked whether the key to winning a team competition was having more than one player perform at the top of their game.

He said: "It's always good to perform individually where you can, because you want to test yourself.

"I got the best gross and Kev got the best nett, so we were definitely both pleased with that.

"I felt in control throughout my round really, except for maybe one or two poor shots.

"I think the key was having good control of the ball, as from a course management perspective you need that at Baildon, as it is fast, links golf.

"It was a good day with good company, and it's always good to win."

Willis has a handicap of just four, far better than the rest of his Baildon teammates.

Asked if he felt the need to be a leader of the side, Willis said: "With me having a low handicap, I always try to set an example and get us off to a good start.

"The lower your handicap, there's always a bit more pressure on you to perform, but on Sunday I felt fairly relaxed.

"I hit my first tee shot big and down the middle, ended up walking off the hole with a nice four, and played solidly after that."

Discussing his form in 2022 on the whole, Willis said: "I've played well in club competitions and had a couple of wins.

"My handicap has come down too, which is harder than it used to be with the new world system in place.

"To lower it now, you have to be more consistent, so that shows I've been playing pretty well.

"I've played more for our scratch team than in the past and though we've not got the results we wanted, I think we've stepped up a level.

"Because qualifying with the new handicapping system is now all year round, I've still got a bit to go in terms of events, but all in all, it's been a pleasing year."