Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016. Round 17 at Barnham Broom Valley course

Wednesday saw Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2016 round 17 take place at Barnham Broom Valley course. The day started with controversy when the 5 players balls were sent into the air but no clear groupings emerged. After much discussion and video playbacks the officials ruled that a rethrow would be required which this time was successful. Bob and Ian were placed in the first group and headed off to the opening tee.

Ian getting the competition underway on the first

Ian started with a solid teeshot before the hole petered out ending in a point. The excitement of playing his first round off a new handicap of 17 seemed to be effecting his play as a couple of blobs and a single par restricted him to 14 pts on the front 9.

Bob was confused on the first hole as he appeared to think it was a par 12 only to discover his 12 shots didn't qualify him for any points. He soon put this disappointment behind him as he followed up with a birdie and par. The birdie took him to the top of the eclectic leader board. Progress then slowed and a blob on number 8, when he found the river kept him to 16 pts at half way and a 3 way share of the lead.

Bobs approach to hole 6

Meanwhile there was more pre round drama in the group behind when on the way to the first tee Mike rammed his trolley into the back of Sandies leg causing both a yelp and some skin breakage. Sandie was making a welcome return to the tour but may have been affected by the trolley incident as she failed to score over the first two holes. She seemed to have recovered her composure over the next three holes before spotting that Mike had marched on ahead of her as she prepared for her shot. Spotting her chance for revenge she smacked her ball at Mike but only managed to hit his bag. However this was a start of 3 more blobs and only 9 points at half way.

Sandie putting for a point on 2nd hole, she missed

As usual Mike had started strongly before surprisingly slipping up with a few mishits and 3 successive one point holes put him on 16 pts.

Mikes approach to the 1st leading to a par

Kevin had been playing poorly recently and seemed most interested in winning today's most balls in the water comp going on the 2nd and 7th however some good recovery play kept him up with the leaders on 16 as well. 

Kevins teeshot on 5

As the back 9 started any comeback from Ian soon disappeared as he only got 3 points in the first 4 holes and despite a solid finish it wasn't going to be his day as he finished out of the money with 27 pts.

Bob was being a bit inconsistent on the back 9 with 2 blobs and 4 pars as he came down the last and found him facing a short down hill putt for another par which he sadly fluffed to finish on 32 pts.

Sandie was now focusing on setting a new tour record of most blobs in one round, currently standing at 7, and she left nothing to chance by securing 4 more blobs and a new record of 9 for the round. On the 9 holes she could be bothered to score points on she managed 20.

Sandie on the way to a record breaking number of blobs

Mike started the back 9 badly when he tried to hit his second shot on the 10th hole through a tree trunk just in front of him with the ball bouncing away never to be seen again and letting Kevin into a 2 point lead.

Great shot from Mike onto the green and the long 11th leading to a par

The gap remained until on the par 5 13th  Kevin once again found the river from the tee. His second ball was in a bunker after 5 shots only, for the second week running, Kevin holed the bunker shot for 2 pts. Mike played the hole properly for a 2 pt par but the injustice of it all impacted his game and he fell away to finish on 29 and 3rd place.

Kevin made sure the most balls in the river prize was his with a 4th entry on 17 but again scrambled a point meaning he needed a par on the last for an unexpected win. He soon found himself with the same downhill putt as Bob but this time it was a successful effort for a win as he stretched his lead at top of the earnings list.

Kevin chips close on 15 to secure his par

Next week it is off to Ufford Park where even more water can be found. Will anyone be able to go in on more than 4 occasions, will anyone hit it further into the woods than Bob has done this year and can anyone get 10 blobs in a round. All this plus chances to close the gaps in the season competitions will make it a fascinating day.