On Tuesday the Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 Open took place at Gorleston Golf club. Due to a clash with the rather less prestigious Dereham ladies open then only 5 players turns up for the start.
First off were Ian and John H. Founder member John had so far only managed 10 holes on the tour this year and had been away in Spain recovering from the experience so was hoping to get all the way round this time. Things couldn't have started better as he set off with a 3 point par befor slipping back into old habits with a blob on the next. This inconsistency continued over the front 9 as he reached 14 points so he was surprise when told that he was clear in 3rd place at half way.
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| Johns opening drive |
Ian was playing a bit more consistently although a blob on the long par 4 6th restricted him to 17 pts but it was still good enough for the lead.
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| Ian gets his round under way |
In the group behind Mike was the standout player as the whole group struggled over the front 9. By the 8th hole they had had 8 blobs and lost 6 balls between them. However Mike still managed 16 pts and second place at the turn.
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| Mike showing his bunker skills on the 4th which weren't good enough to avoid a blob |
Kevin had a woeful start despite hitting some good drives. His putting was particularly poor which he blamed on the greens not being as fast as his putting green at home as he scrapped just 10 pts and last place.
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| Kevin sinking one of his longest successful putts of the day |
In a carbon copy of the masters held at Hunstanton earlier this year Andrew went off like a train with a birdie par start accounting for over half his front 9 points. Then like at Hunstanton he had a blob fest with five of the little devils over the next 7 holes and only 11 points after 9.
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| Andrew chipping up to par the 2nd |
The back 9 continued much as the front with Ian and Mike both scoring on every hole. Ian even managed to get his ball down a rabbit hole in the bunker on the 16th to demonstrate his accuracy. He finished on 37 pts as the clear winner and this years golfer of the year in winning the Open. It was also a course record so not bad as he claimed to have never played the course before.
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| Ian retrieving his ball from a rabbits house on 16th |
Mike's back 9 highlight was sinking a down hill birdie putt on the short 17th contributing to his 33 pt second place. It also further increased his lead in the average stableford competition. The only downside was when his hat was caught up in post Brexit immigration issues as it was clearly not British and he didn't have the necessary paperwork.
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| Mike about to drive off on 13th |
The real interest was in who would win the £1.00 third place prize. It looked to safely be in Johns wallet as he was 5 points clear after 14 but then a serious of trips to the gorse bushes, long rough and bunkers (sometimes on every hole) meant he racked up 4 successive blobs and finished on 24 points.
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| Johns second attempt to keep ball in play on 16th |
Kevin and Andrew were still seeing who could cock up the most holes with a string of double and triple bogeys. After Andrew failed to score on 16 it was all square with two to play.
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| Andrew having bunker problems on 10th leading to 5th blob in 7 holes |
Kevin made sure of not taking the lead with another 3 putt on 17 before both players scrambled 2 pts on the last so were both on 24 pts as well so the Pound prize was split 3 ways. In the end golf pig would only give each player 30p as no one had change for a ten pence.
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| Kevin hitting good tee shot on 13 before cocking it up with his next shot |
Sadly it was probably Andrews last round on tour this year as he is off to do something called a job. Hopefully he will be back this time next year when this job thing finishes. Golf pig has especially enjoyed his contributions as there is no chance of him taking any end of season prize money from him.
After this round Mike has further consolidated his lead in the average stableford points, with Chris's choice of playing the Dereham open and Bib staying at home to get his plumbing fixed Kevin was the big loser dropping from 2nd to 5th place. Once again thanks to Andrew from keeping him falling to last.
The other main change was Ian taking the lead in the best front and back nine in July, August and September competioin although his 37 point total is sure to be beaten.
Next week the tour has its last major of the year with the US PGA at Purdis Heath. Ian could find himself at the top of the money list if he could do the double so it's all hotting up on the race to Sheringham.
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