Mens Senior Champion 2026 – Simon Kay of Ashridge GC

Our annual County Mens Seniors Championship was played last week (Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th August) at South Herts Golf Club, located in leafy Totteridge, but close to Barnet and Whetstone urban centres. 

A full compliment of 72 competitors took part on Day 1 with an 18 hole medal, with a cut on completion to the lowest 30 players plus ties from the gross leaderboard qualifying through to Day 2, played as a further 18 holes medal the following morning. 

The long hot and dry summer of 2026 continued for us and the event was played in warm and dry conditions, albeit, as is rather the norm this season, a strong breeze was present throughout, but was more pronounced on the afternoon of Day 1, which combined with the fiery ground conditions provided a stern test for the competitors. 

The course was presented well, particularly considering the challenging weather conditions for the greenstaff this summer. South Herts does have the ability to provide irrigation to their fairways, but even so, the fairways were still running very firm and fast. The greens complexes at South Herts are always challenging, with most build up above the players and often severely sloped away from play. 

After conclusion of Day 1, the 2022 Champion Mark Gershinson of Hartsbourne led the event with a steady round of 75 +3, by 1 shot from 2023 Champion Simon Kay of Ashridge and 2024 Champion Paul Nancarrow of Old Fold Manor. Over 20 players were within 4 shots of the lead after day 1 so an exciting day ahead beckoned. The cut was made on 83 +11 with 38 players qualifying through to Day 2. 

The conclusion of the event certainly was exciting for those following round on the Day, including the County Seniors Team Captain Matthew Cohen, and the County President Elect Nick O’Byrne. Paul Nancarrow would take a slim lead into the last 3 holes, but sadly finished bogey-bogey-bogey to end on 152 +8 for the event. Mark Gershinson would bogey the 17th to hand the lead to Simon Kay to take up the last hole, but Simon drive left him out of position and when he couldn’t recover and made a bogey 5, Mark’s steady par on the last meant the pair had tied on 151 +7 for the event and a sudden death play off would be required to determine our champion. 

Both players went up the 1st hole and made regulation pars, but the play off was settled on the 2nd hole where Mark’s approach took an unfortunate bounce right to leave him a near impossible up and down. Simon’s steady par this time saw him take the title. 

Simon will now proceed to represent Herts at the England Golf Mens Senior Champion of Champions event, played at Woodhall Spa in September. We of course wish him all the best. 

In the handicap event for the Terry Trude Trophy, Mark Saban of Mid Herts won the competition on a Day 2 countback after he had tied with Neil Jackson of Brickendon Grange on 145 +1 for the event. Mark’s nett 73 on Day 2 versus Neil’s nett 74. In 3rd place in the scratch event Russell Conway-Lye of Letchworth edged out Paul Nancarrow on a Day 2 countback after a tie on 152 +8. The 65 & Over prize was won by Steve Dawson of Brickendon Grange with 155 gross +11. 

Our thanks to GX Gloves for their support for the event in providing all of the competitors with a free glove prior to play on Day 1 and also providing additional prizes. 

Next year’s Mens Seniors Championship is planned to be played at Verulam Golf Club in St Albans on the corresponding dates, Wednesday 4th & Thursday 5th August 2027.