Wednesday 26 July 2017

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 18 at Stowmarket

The Stowmarket Saucer at Stowmarket

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 18 took place at Stowmarket on Tuesday.  It was a day that saw much change in the leaderboards and a new favourite appear for many of this years competitions.

The day once again started with controversy as it appeared that the balls in the air were rigged in order to produce the groupings. The RNSG take this sort of thing very seriously so the audit and corruption committee plan to urgently investigate and hope to report back sometime in 2023.

Kevin and Bob had not played Stowmarket before but fortunately were paired with Mike who had played it on a society day in about 1987 so was able to offer advice although none of it turned out to be true. Mike got things underway but although he played well tee to green he failed to get the hang of the greens and threw away many points on and around the putting surface. He had only 11 halfway points.
Mike finding his ball in the same bush all 3 players went in,
after Mike claimed he remembered the best line for the hole
Bob was finally back from injury but his enforced lay off meant he started of rustily and failed to make a par on the first 9 holes to record 12 pts.
Bob playing approach to 3rd hole
Kevin was having a bunker round going in several during the day but fortunately he had bought his hot putter this week and a number of single putts kept his round going with 16 pts at the turn.
Kevin gets up and down for a par on the 3rd
In the group behind Chris was struggling with toothache again and was unable to score well. After a slow start of 3 pts in the first 4 holes, she was more solid over the next ones and got up to 13.
Chris in Bunker on 2nd hole and 1 point
Both Jo and Robert were regular players at Stowmarket and it showed as Robert started with and opening par. Only a blob on the tricky 245 yard par 3 restricted his score to 15pts at halfway.
Roberts teeshot on 4th leading to his only front 9 blob
Meanwhile Jo had gone points crazy scoring 2 or 3 points on every opening hole and demonstrating that golf is an easy game if you avoid trees and sand. She had 21 points which was not only good for the best 3 front and back 9's competition but had her well placed to take the lead in the most points in a round comp as well.
Boring straight drive from Jo
Mike continued in much the same way as the front 9 although he felt he had been unlucky when his ball hit a 'fir cone' as he chipped out from under some big oak trees. It seemed unlikely seeing as oak trees only produce acorns but nevertheless his playing partners pretended to agree he had been very unfortunate (there, there). It wasn't until the 15th hole he finally got a 3 pointer but by then it was too late as he finished on 26 pts.
Mike driving off on 14 shortly after Kevin had driven his into the trees (again)
This was not the worst of the day as Robert attempted to set the most blobs in 9 holes recorded. He started well with 3 in the first 5 holes but could only manage one more in the final holes and couldn't break the current record of  5, that has done been on 3 previous occasions. It did restrict him to 25 points and a share of last place.
Robert putting for a final point on the 18th
Last weeks Open winner, Chris, also struggled and it wasn't until the 17th that she managed her only 3 point hole of the round. Sadly she followed it up with a blob and also had 25 pts at the end.
Jo and Chris trying to see where the mens tee was from the ladies.
Unfortunately it is not possible to see that far with the naked eye
Bob looked like he might also finish with a share of last place as he had 21 pts after 16 holes but on the 17th he finally hit a straight drive which led to a par par finish and 27 pts which got him the 3rd place 50p prize and confidence is now high for better things next week.
Bob playing out the rough, again
Kevin was having a lot of luck as he escaped from out the trees on several occasions to somehow muster 5 pars and 19 pts on the back 9. His 35 points was a good score but would it be enough to beat Jo.
Kevin once again finds a bunker, this time on the 11th
It didn't look that way as she started the back 9 the way she finished the first and was 4 under her handicap after 14. But after a dropped shot on 15 she found herself behind a hedge on the 16th and it looked like the wheels might be about to fall off. However she calmly selected a wedge before unexpectedly smashed the ball right through the hedge cleverly taking off just the right amount of pace to put the ball back on the green. With the danger averted she went on to reach 38 points.
Jo holing her winning putt
Not only did Jo win the £2.50 first prize but her score also took her to the top of the most points in a round list, while her blob free round means she tops that comp too (subject to playing the minimum 6 qualifying rounds).

Kevin's £1.00 second place takes him back to the top of the money list but with another big Field expected a Bury St Edmunds next week the leaderboards could all soon change again.   

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