Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 19 at Bury St Edmunds

The Sandcastle Invitational

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 19 took place at Bury St Edmunds on Thursday. Tour rookie, Greg, came out for his second event of the year and was joined by 9 hole specialist, John, who was making a reappearance now his favourite 'best three front nines and best three back nines in July, August and September (BTFNABTBNIJAAS)' competition was underway. As the current holder of the winter tour nine hole courses championship he has a proven record in this type of event.

Balls were up in the air but due to recent controversy it was recorded and scrutinised by RNSG tour officials to make sure the groupings had been fairly selected.

Balls in the air being correctly performed for once

Once the players had received the thumbs up from the officials and had their balls returned then everyone set off for the first tee.

Bob and Chris went first and Bob was soon up to his old tricks with his all or nothing golf resulting in 4 pars and 2 blobs on the front 9 where he finished with an impressive 19 pts.

Bob teeing off on the 4th and a blob followed

Chris was more consistent but with too much tree and bunker action restricted her to 15 pts. After binning her old putter after her last round on Monday she got to try her new one for the very first time on the opening hole which seemed a very confident approach to her short game. Apparently 'It's just a putter, what difference can it make?' As it turned out, not a lot.

With a strong wind blowing the buzz around the media tent was that 30 points would be a good score today and as the wind got up the second group off certainly thought this would be the case. But surprisingly they all got off to a good start and each had 7 points after 4 holes.

Sadly John was first to start to suffer as 5 successive 1 point holes held him back to 12 points at the turn. However it was good to hear the return of muttering and effing and jeffing round the fairways and greens again, something the RNSG fans have been missing as John has been playing in Europe for much of the year.

John missing a birdie chance before giving himself a good (but unprintable) talking too

Greg was playing well tee to green but couldn't hole out any of those testing 4 foot putts that get your round going and he slipped down the leaderboard with 13 pts.

Greg exiting the bunker on the 6th fairway

Kevin had started the round duffing his ball 3 times down the first fairway so it was a surprise to everyone (especially himself) when he suddenly got going being helped by his putter that sunk several good ones. He shared the lead at halfway with Bob on 19 pts.

Kevin can't believe what a hash he made of this birdie putt on the second.

Chris started the back 9 slowly but then got going with 4 pars in 5 holes to get her score to 31 pts. At the start of the day this looked like being a good score but it would take Kevin and Bob to blow up for her to win, although history tells us this could easily happen.

Chris tees off on 18 but could only manage a single point

Meanwhile Greg was on a charge with 4 pars to start the back 9. By the time he got to the 18th tee he had 30 pts and a par would overtake Chris's score. Unfortunately his tee shot found the fairway bunker and after taking two to get out his chances were over as he finished on 30 points.

2 putts from Greg leads to a par on the 11th

John had a very similar back 9 to his front not making the most of his chances. He did get very excited on the 16th when he announced he had finally hit a straight drive, although it didn't last to the final two holes. However his attempt to win the BTFNABTBNIJAAS competition had not start well as he finished in last place on 26pts.

Bunker action from John on the 10th

In the front group Bob was playing solidly but then putted in from off the green for a birdie on the 14th. Everyone, especially Kevin, were very upset to find out later that it was a hole he had already birdied this year so didn't improve his eclectic (shame). However it was the hole that made all the difference as Kevin found the trees with his second on the same hole and could only get a single point.

Bobs second on 18 when after his ball had bounced out off a tree (yet again)

Bob went on to get 37 pts and Kevin 35 to finish first and second but the big £2.50 first prize sent Bob back to the top of the money list.

Final group stoking the putts that none of them made on the last hole

It's looking particularly close in all of the RNSG competitions and with just 8 rounds left to play there is no clear favourite in any of them.

Next week is the final major of the year the US PGA at Purdis Heath where it is rumoured that there could be a record entry! Golf Pig can't wait.