Yesterday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016, Round 14, US PGA, take place at Purdis Heath. This was the final major of the year and the £5 first prize could go a long way in deciding who would be at the top of the money list as we enter the climax on the road to Sheringham.
Purdis Heath was making its first appeance on the tour and only one of today's field had ever played here before so as a result the bookies had installed John as a firm favourite for the title and his first major win. However as events got underway this looked like a mistake as John found bunkers, and there were a lot of them, on the first 3 holes to record only 2 pts. He then played some great golf and some not so great golf as pars and blobs were the order of the day and he finished the front 9 on 11 pts, and in last place, with the bookies feeling mighty relieved.
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| John failing to get out of one of many bunkers |
Following the success in winning his second major, the Open, at Gorleston last week Ian was the form player and he continued this into the start of this round with 3 pars in the opening 4 holes. He then opened up a big 4 point lead by securing a birdie on the short par 4 9th with an audacious downhill putt from off the green. He had 21 pts at half way (which when added to his 20 back 9 pts from last week gives him a big lead in the best front and back 9 in July, August and September competition).
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| Ian teeing off on first and an opening par |
Kevin was having a solid front 9 and even stayed calm when a good drive on the 7th took a huge kick off the fairway into deep rough leading to a blob. Despite moaning about it for some time his playing partners showed little sympathy as they got on with their own games. He finished the 9 strongly with 2 pars and second place on 17 pts.
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| Kevin attempting a long par putt which he didn't make |
It was good to see Bob back on tour after a months absence and with his plumbing back in working order. He played a very consistent front 9 and was only player to score on each hole. However a few wayward shots restricted him to 16 pts.
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| Bob playing out of the rough, again |
Johns back 9 continued much as the front with a mix of pars and blobs. As the only player who knew where most of the bunkers were he used this knowledge well to go in a number of them. He did slightly better on this 9 but finished on 24 pts and no prize.
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| John securing a par on the 10th |
Bob was staying in the hunt until his luck ran out and he blobbed the middle 3 holes restricting him to 12 further points and 28 overall for 3rd place.
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| Bob somehow found his ball and rescued 2 points on this hole |
Ian started to slip away as he too found a lot of sand making it difficult to record lots of points. He managed 14 for a total of 35 but would it be enough?
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| A good tee shot from Ian on 12 |
Kevin was on a charge with 13 pts (including a birdie on the 10th) in 5 holes but just as it looked like the title was his he duffed his next tee shot into a pond and allowed Ian back into the lead. However a solid finish snuck him back into the lead to secure his 4th major by 1 point with the big prize putting him clear at top of the money list.
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| Kevin hitting poor tee shot on 11 but scrambling 2 pts |
With just two months to go there is still much to play for with no obvious clear leaders in any competition as the tour moves on to Bury St Edmunds for the start of August's action.
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