Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 12 at Thorpeness

It was another exciting day of golf as Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 12 took place at Thorpeness today. It was also the start of this years best front and back nine in July, August and September comp, so it was a surprise that the field was reduced to just 4 players on the first tee.

All four players got off to a fast start with 5 pars between them on the first two holes. Then Kevin made an early bid for the 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' when he hooked his drive on the third deep undercover. This was followed by duffing an easy pitch into a bunker on the 4th from which the ball never reemerged meaning a second blob and after leaving his short game in the car he restricted his front 9 to just 11points.

Kevin putting for optimistic par from off the green on 5th. He missed

After his good start Ian then proceeded to combine some good shots with some rather bad ones visiting the woods and long rough on several occasions. This unfortunately led to a run of one point in the final four front 9  holes and he found himself trailing on 10 pts.

Ian making a good recovery from the side of a gorse bush on the 4th

Mike had got off to the slowest start but then picked things up getting the measure of the fast greens better than anyone else. The 9th was a particular highlight when his rather feeble attempt to win 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods', with a duck hooked teeshot, left him a gap through the trees to get the ball back in play before completing his par to finish on 16 pts at halfway.

A rather stiff approach chip to the 1st from Mike but he soon warmed up after this

Chris started particularly strongly with 4 pars in the opening 5 holes. A good drive on the third unfortunately caught a bunker which stopped her doing even better. She fell away over the next few holes but still had the lead on 17 pts.

Chris on the way to a blob on the 3rd after a bunker and lost ball.
Shame no photos of the 4 pars either side of this hole

Ian started the back 9 strongly with 10 pts from the first 4 holes. This run only came to an end when he hit the winning shot in the 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' competition with a second shot that went from one side of the fairway deep into the trees on the other side. One of the furthest into the woods seen on tour this year so a worthy winner. 

Kevin agreeing with Ian that he had just taken the lead on the
 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' comp earlier on the hole

Unfortunately this was followed up with another blob on the next before a par on 16 and good birdie on 17 put him in contention from the 50 p third place prize on 29 pts.

Ians Tee shot on the 13th

Kevin also started the back 9 well single putting the first 3 holes including a birdie on 11. It was solid if not spectacular after that and his 19 back nine points kept him one ahead of Ian to add 50p to his seasons winnings.

Kevin looking in disbelief that he had hit another poor drive this time on 15

By now Mike had the course tamed with his approach shots and putting of the highest order. He recorded 5 more pars and got 20 pts to have an excellent 36 at the end. But would it be enough for the win.

Mike putting for birdie on 10. He missed

Chris started the back 9 with bunker problems. First taking two to get out of one on 11 before creating a beach by the one on 12 as most of the sand was whacked out of the bunker before, many attempts later, the ball finally appeared.

The start of Chris's bunker problems on 11

Disappointingly instead of putting in an entry for 'who can hit the ball furthest into the woods' as she couldn't hit it far enough off line, she put in a very strong finish parring the last 3 holes. However it was not quite enough as it left her on 35 pts.

As Mike played his third round it qualified him for several competitions and he took the lead in both the average stableford points per round and least average blobs per round. The other tour players will be hoping he will be playing many more rounds so he can cock a few up like all the other players do.

All 4 players will be pleased with their back 9 scores they posted today in the best front and back 9 in July, August and September and hoping for better front 9s when the tour moves to Gorleston in two weeks time for the British open.