Two months into the Widows Golf Society season and the storylines are beginning to take shape — and at the top, it’s becoming a tale of two frontrunners.
Hopkins vs Graves – Early Pace Setters
Leading the way are John Hopkins and Mark Graves, both sitting on 22 points, and already beginning to edge away from the chasing pack.
Hopkins has built his position on consistency, posting a strong return of 3 wins, 2 losses and 2 birdies, while Graves has taken a slightly different route — and arguably the more eye-catching one. His 4 wins from 7 rounds is the standout stat of the season so far, underlining just how clinical he’s been when it matters.
And if that wasn’t enough, Mark Graves produced the moment of the season so far this weekend…
Shot of the Season – Graves’ Hole-in-One
Step forward the 9th hole.
Club in hand: 6 iron.
Outcome: Perfection.
Graves struck what can only be described as a pure shot — tracking all the way, never once looking like it would miss — before dropping straight into the hole. A hole-in-one, and one that not only lit up the round but has also dragged him firmly into contention in the Birdie race.
The Chasing Pack
Behind the leading duo, there’s a tightly packed group refusing to let the gap grow too large.
- Tim Crane (18 pts) – A strong showing from the new captain, with 3 wins already on the board… though whispers are growing louder about whether his handicap might need a closer look.
- Paul Leech (18 pts) – Always there or thereabouts
- Stuart Webb (17 pts) – Quietly putting together one of the most impressive seasons so far, consistent and competitive week in, week out.
Further back, Brian Hamer (15 pts) remains within striking distance, while Andy King (13 pts) — despite leading the early birdie charge — has work to do if he wants to challenge at the very top.
Birdie King – A New Challenger Emerges
What looked like the usual two-horse race between Andy King and Paul Leech has taken a twist.
Andy leads with 9 birdies, Paul sits on 7, but Mark Graves’ hole-in-one (counting as 5) has suddenly propelled him into the conversation.
The question now is simple:
Is this finally Andy’s year — or has Mark just changed the entire race with one swing?
At the Other End… A Familiar Struggle
While the top of the table is pulling clear, the battle at the bottom is just as intense — if not quite as glamorous.
Graham Walker (8 pts) finds himself under pressure, showing form not entirely dissimilar to his beloved Tottenham Hotspur — flashes of promise, but ultimately struggling for consistency.
Thankfully for him, there’s no relegation in Widows Golf.
Close by are Barry Humphrey (8 pts), Dave Hope (10 pts), and David Leech (10 pts), all still searching for momentum as the season progresses.
This Week: Big Numbers, Big Performances
If the season has been competitive so far, this week took things to another level.
- Winning team total: 48 points
- Total points scored across the field: 259
Not quite a record — the archives still show a 49-point round from a couple of years ago — but this was a Sunday of exceptional scoring across the board.
The Season So Far
Two months in, the picture is becoming clearer:
- Hopkins and Graves are setting the standard
- The chasing pack is tightly bunched
- The Birdie race has a new twist
- And scores are climbing across the board
With plenty of golf still to play, the question is whether the leaders can maintain their pace… or whether the pack will reel them back in.
One thing is certain — if the next two months match the first, we’re in for a classic Widows season.