The Outer Norwich Cup at Wensum Valley
Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 Round 3, The Outer Norwich Cup, took place on the Wensum Course at Wensum Valley on Tuesday. After last weeks rather dull affair at Diss there was no end of excitement and drama on this occassion.
The drama started with the shock announcement that current tour earnings leader, Jill, had pulled out due to a niggling back injury. Before the news of this had sunk it then there was another bombshell when tour veteran, Bob, had to withdraw as he needed to give his son a lift to London.
This meant the field was now down to five including three rookies (Jane, Robert and Jo) making their debut's on tour.
Last weeks tour winner, Chris, got things underway but after a tidy start reached the water filled section of the course depositing many balls into the ponds and rivers to have 4 successive blobs and only 7 points at halfway.
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| Another water hazard means another blob |
Playing partner Jo was performing solidly but the strong wind and length of the holes meant it was hard to register any pars but she still had a respectable 13 pts at the turn.
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| Jo's opening teeshot on the round Norfolk golf tour |
In the second group Kevin and Roberts were pleased to see the yellow tees were mainly on the ladies tee boxes which offered some defence (for them) against the strong winds.
Despite a number of good tee and approach shots, Jane was finding the greens a bit too bibbly bobbly taking rather too many putts and recording only 9 pts over the opening holes.
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Janes shot over the water at the 6th after an aggressive drive put her in a good position,
and an excellent par |
Roberts had got off to a good start with some very aggressive (or foolish) play paid off as he drove his ball to the waters edge on more than one occasion. However back to back blobs on holes 8 and 9 restricted him to 13 pts and a share of second place.
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| Robert's approach shot to the 1st and his first point of the day |
Kevin decided to hit everything left, for no obvious tactical reason, giving him a number of interesting shots but his putting kept him in each hole and was the only blob free player on the front 9 taking the lead on 16 pts.
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| A good approach putt from Kevin on the 4th. |
Unfortunately Jane's back nine didn't start well as she visited the trees off the tee for two more blobs. However things picked up on the 12th after sinking a long putt which incredibly was the first birdie registered on this years tour. With points scored on all the remaining holes she finished her tour debut on 20 pts. Jane then foolishly counted her putts up and proudly announced she had taken 44 of them today, which is a lot.
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| Got chip by Jane to 10th but won't mention what happened on the green |
Chris's back 9 was much improved and only a couple of visits to the tree's on 17 stopped her having the best 9 of the day as she finished on 22 pts but out of the prizes.
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| Chris putting on 17th but sadly not good enough and only blob on back nine |
Jo continued in much the same way as the front 9 scoring on every hole but again struggling to turn any holes into 3 points. A surprising 4 putt on the 12th was her best opportunity. However with 25 pts she claimed 50p winnings to put herself onto this seasons money list.
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| Jo's approach to the long 17th ending with another point |
It was clear the big prize was going to be fought out between Kevin and Robert and had nothing to do with the location of the tees but the high quality of their golf (and if you believe that...).
Out of the blue Kevin's putter deserted him as he took 10 putts over 3 early back 9 holes allowing Robert to take a 1 point lead as they walked off the 13th green.
Robert continued to play well scoring on every back 9 hole were as Kevin only had 6 pts after 7 of them. Despite a par on 17 Kevin remained 2 pts down as he stood on the par 5 18th tee.
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| Robert taps in for 2 pts on 11 |
Fortune was on Kevin's side as a good drive and 3wood left him on the edge of the green whereas Roberts excellent drive had found him in a bit of a rut in the rough meaning he needed 4 to get to the greenside. A good putt from Kevin secured his 4 point birdie before Robert fought off Mr Pressure to also get down in 2 and the round was tied on 29 pts.
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| Robert holds his nerve to sink putt to share the title |
It had been another exciting finish with only Golf Pig upset as with yet another shared prize meaning that he didn't have enough 5p's to hand out.
Next week the tour has it's first ever double header as event's move into Suffolk and the two courses at Stoke by Naylands.
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