Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2015. Round 9 at Wensum Valley, Wensum course

Wednesday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2015 round 9 take place at Wensum Valley. A 6th player (John B) had joined the tour meaning a bumper field of 5 lined up to Tee off.

However before the round started there was early controversy. Over half the field had never played the Wesum course but those wiser players who had suggested that the round should be changed to the Valley course which was shorter. After much debate it was accepted that we should stick with plan A and continue to the Wensum course as planned.

Groupings were decided in the traditional balls in the air approach which meant the two John's (wiser players) went off first with much muttering and grumbling about the length of the course.

John B teeing off on massive par 4 1st

However both players got off to solid starts with John B scoring on every front 9 hole to end the first half with a respectable 16 points. Meanwhile John H was also scoring well until blobs on the watery 7th and 8th slowed his progress with 12 front 9 pts. However the group behind enjoyed the reassuring effing and jeffing that drifted across the course while he was playing them.

John H tee shot on 1st

In the group behind Bob got off to his usual slow start blobing the opening hole for the 3rd time this year and failing to par it for the 9th time. However he soon picked up and 3 pars which had him on 16pts after 9.

Bobs teeshot on tricky par 5 6th leading to a par and 3 points

Chris was playing solid if not spectacular golf and once again scored on every hole in the opening half moving on to 17 pts with ease.

Chris tee shot over pond on to green at 5th for a 3pt par

Surprisingly Kevin had found his A game which hadn't been seen in public for a very long time. In fact after 8 holes he was only 1 over par for the course. He then made the school boy error of telling everyone that he was only 1 over par for the course and went on to score only 2 pts in the next 3 holes. Still he had an impressive 22 pts after 9 and a 5 pt lead.

Kevin making par on 4th

The second 9 did not go so well for John B who found the extra 600 back 9 yards a struggle and managed to add only 8 more points for a total of 24 and out of the prizes.

John H faired better with 16 pts, unfortunately blobs on the 10th and 18th limited his progress. He was still happy to claim 30 pts in the bar after the round. Sadly 12 front 9 and 16 back 9 points only actually add up to 28 but nice try and no cigar.

The prizes were going to be sorted in the second group where Kevin's 5 point lead was soon gone as after 13 holes he had 27 pts as did Chris with Bob on 26 and 5 to play.

On the short 12th all 3 approach shots surrounded the pin and all players left with 3 pts (although Kevin made it clear he had to birdie it for his 3 pts)

All 3 approach shots surrounding flag on short 12th

 Once again Bob was first to crack and blobbed 3 of the last 5 for 30 pts and 50p added to his winnings for the season.

Bob approach to 12th leading to 3pts.

A blob from Chris on the 14th and a slow finish left her on 34 pts and £1.

Chris second shot to monster 10th hole for 2 pts

Kevin finished the strongest and ended on 37 pts for a rare sub handicap round and the £2.50 first prize.

Kevin's approach out of the rough on the par 5 16th and a 3 pt par

Chris still leads in 3 competitions but is unavailable for the next two fixtures so it could be all change. Next week the tour moves on to Richmond park

Kevin John Bob Chris Ian John B Prize  Prize money £9.25 £2.00 £9.75 £12.25 £6.75 £0.00  £  40.00 Average Stableford points 29.11 27.17 27.44 33.00 29.20 24.00  £    6.50 Most Stableford points 37 33 33 42 39 24  £    6.50 Eclectic -13 -4.5 -6.8 -9.5 -4.5 20.5  £    6.50                 July, August & Sept Best Front & Back              £    6.50                 Average Blobs per round 2.3 3.8 4.2 2.5 3.6 3.0 Cup Number Rounds 9 6 9 8 5 1   Prize fund contribution  £   10.00  £    6.00  £  10.00  £    8.00  £    6.00  £    1.00