Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 22 at Thetford

The South Norfolk Swindle at Thetford

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 22 took place at Thetford on Tuesday. A strong field of 7 had entered on what was a nice warm late summer's day. After a couple of goes the balls eventually came down in groupings that everyone (except Bob) was happy with.

Kevin got things underway on the short par 3 first by pushing his ball out wide into the heather, a chip that hit the greenside oak meant he started with a blob. However things soon picked up and despite a lost ball on the 5th he had got to 17 pts after 9.

Kevin teeshot on second set him up for a par

Tracey started very strongly with a number of chips and long putts coming within an inch or so of birdies. Only bunker trouble on the 5th and 9th stopped her from having more than the 19 pts at half way which also saw her in a clear lead.

Tracey getting out the bunker on 9 for a point

Robert was only just returning from injury but there was no sign of any problems as he elegantly hit the first green. Sadly 3 putts later he only had the 2 points but his trouble really started on the next tee when he duffed his driving iron into the heather. Unfortunately this pattern was repeated on many holes as Robert explored the a lot of the woods and trees that Thetford has to offer. His short game however was excellent and he did well to have 12 pts at the turn.

Roberts Gallery of his tree rich round

In the group behind Bob was struggling to cope with his all female partners. Partly because of the long walk to catch them up on their tee box and partly because he would rather talk about football and his plumbing than knitting and kittens. This meant he had to focus on his golf, which he did very well racking up 18 pts. Some adjustment was needed to his card as the marker had used the ladies pars and stroke indexes but it got sorted in the end.

Bob tees off on the second

Chris also started strongly with 3 pars in the first 4 holes but she then let it slip and faded back to 17pts.

Chris putting on the 9th for a point

Jill was again playing consistently but finding too many bunkers to score well. For the 13th time this year she also failed to par the 4th hole (maybe next time). She had 14 at the turn.

Jill tees off on the third
but the extra distance compared with the mens tee meant she ended with a blob

Jo seemed to be suffering a dramatic loss of form in the least blobs competition. After only having 4 blobs in her previous 4 rounds she had 4 in her opening 8 holes. This not only put her in last place after 9, with 11 pts, but opened the door for others to catch her in the blobs comp.

Chip by Jo on the 10th after she had given herself a talking too (probably)

She clearly gave herself a talking to on the 10th tee as her form returned with a run of pars and no more blobs. Only a poor bunker shot after going through the green on 18 restricted her back 9 score as she added another 19 pts to finish on 30 and what turned out to be a share of 3rd place and 25p prize money.

Jill and Chris were also in the hunt for 3rd place as they came down the last but more bunkers and a 3 putt respectively meant they both finished on 29 and out of the prizes,.

Chris's opening putt of 3 on 18

Things improved for Robert once he got his driver back out and he had a better back 9 but his total of 26 pts left him in last place.

Robert with a par putt on 13, sadly he missed and failed to get a par all round.
He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't got a par in a round but you memory does start to go when you get older.

Bob couldn't get going on the back 9 with a run of double bogey, par, double bogey, par, double bogey stopping him from getting any momentum but his 14 back 9 points was still enough to add £1 for second place to his years winnings as he finished on 32 pts.

Bob putting on 12 for one of his 4 back 9 doubles

Tracey started the back 9 strongly with an opening par but 3 blobs in 5 holes put the brakes on. She did get a round of applause from the galleries on 18 for her bunker shot which enabled her to secure a vital point and share 3rd place with Jo. Her 25p was her first ever winnings on tour.

Tracey's 2nd on the 13th. Her 3rd found a gorse bush
 and after getting a prickle up her bum she retired from the hole with a blob.
(Warning please read this caption carefully)

With the other challengers fading away Kevin kept his nerve to cruise home on 36 pts. Sadly (for him) his birdie on 13 didn't improve his eclectic leaving Bob still in the lead but his £2.50 winning closed the gap on the money list a little meaning Bob couldn't celebrate that title yet.

Kevin bravely playing out of a nettle patch on the 12th. It was worth it for a point

With Jo's blob slip up then there are now no clear favourites in any of the RNSG season long competitions so it's still all to play for when the tour returns in two weeks time at Woodbridge.