Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 24 Grand Finale at Sheringham

The Race to Sheringham Grand Finale at Sheringham

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 reached it's grand finale with the 24th round of the summer at Sheringham. A record field of 10 had turned out all hoping to claim the big £5 first prize while four of the players were hoping to win one of the 6 season titles on offer. These four (Jo, Bob, Kevin and Mike) were put in the final group of the day as the balls went up in the air for the last time this year.

Jill, David and Ian were first off. There were three big challenges to be tackled in this group. Could Jill finally par a 4th hole, could David avoid being the only player on tour to keep a blob on his eclectic card and could Ian get back home in time for Wednesday night swimming.

As they tee'd off David, making a welcome return after an injury hit season, clearly meant business with an opening birdie, which was the first of 7 birdies the players recorded on the day (a new RNSG tour record, probably). He continued to score well over the first 9 and had 18 points. The back 9 was less good as he finished with 3 blobs meaning he had blobbed the 17th hole on every occassion this year. His 30 pts just kept him out the prizes

David gets the days business underway

Ian also had a good start with his birdie happening on the 4th. However he was one of many who struggled on the par 3 8th, when the course first turned back into the wind, and the blob there restricted him to 15pts. The back 9 was similar with another blob and like everyone, a struggle over the closing holes. He got 28 pts but more importantly made it back for swimming.

Ian tees off on the first

Jill only had one thing on her mind as she approached the 4th tee. When she sunk her par putt her cheering and weird celebratory dance bought the course to a standstill as her bemused playing partners wondered how a par could bring so much joy. She also had a solid opening and 16 pts. Lots of bunkers didn't help her scoring but the rest of her game was good and she was another just out the prizes on 30 pts.

Jill Tees off in front of the clubhouse

The next group saw Chris, Tracy and Sandie join up. Their only hope for glory was to try and claim the most points in a round prize but with a stiff wind they never threatened the 42 points required. Tracey was nursing a sore bum muscle which restricted her.

With a sore bum muscle her playing partners made sure Tracey
had to bend down to mark her ball as often as possible 

After a solid start 3 blobs restricted her to 11 points on the front and with a 3 blob close she finished on 20 points and out of the prizes. Her 25p winnings this year were just enough for her to keep her tour card and no need to go to RNSG qualifying school.

Tracey teeing off by the sea

Sandie was also struggling but linked well with Tracey as they played blob better ball between them managing to record 0 points on 11 separate holes. Sandie clearly likes the seaside as she insisted on going into most of the bunkers but a couple of pars round the turn got her score up to 23.

Sandie gets her back 9 under way on the 10th

Chris had an excellent start for the first 7 holes being 3 under handicap but two blobs soon followed finding her back on 16 pts. She started the back 9 well but again when she turned into the wind for the last 4 holes points dried up but 31 pts was still the leader sheltering behind the wall by the side of the 18th green as she waited for the final group to appear.

Chris tees off on 6th after her birdie on the 5th

The final group set off with Jo leading 4 comps and Bob 2 but Kevin and Mike were hoping to wrestle some of them away.

Mike needed to get one less blob than Jo but instead went birdie mad with 3 in the first 9 holes. However he blobbed the 8th and ended on 18. His back 9 had too many 3 putts and included another blob as, like all the players, he struggled with the wind on the way home. His 30 pts was the third person with that score and just out of the prizes on the day and his two blobs meant he couldn't catch Jo.

Mike chipping across the green before eventually getting a point on the 6th

Bob was not having his best day. At one point pushing his teeshot on to the coast path alongside the third hole. However before the players could reach the ball a passing dog walker chucked his ball back into play. The match referee agreed that he still needed to take a penalty as he went on to blob the hole. One of 5 in his total of 24. Although he only got 24 points there was better news for him later in the round.

Bob plays his next shot after it had been chucked back in play by an old lady.

As the only person who understands the RNSG competition rules then Kevin knew he had 3 chances to claim a prize today needing 20 pts on front 9, a birdie and overall win to claim them all. With his game face on the mission looked accomplished with 21 pts and a birdie on the front 9. However things started to unwind on the back 9 as scoring became trickier. 

Kevin sinks a crucial birdie putt on the 4th

Jo was playing her normal solid game and although she had now given up the best 3 front and back 9's title she wasn't going to let the blob title go and having had none in the first 17 holes meant she had that title.

Jo tees off on the signature 5th hole

Coming on to the 16th Bob needed a birdie to claim the eclectic title and with his only good hole of the day sunk a long putt for it with Kevin the first to happily congratulate him on taking the title, not.

Bob's winning birdie putt on 16

As they stood on the last tee todays winner and the money list were still to be decided. Jo and Kevin both had 31 pts so whoever got the most points would win today and if it was Kevin the £5 prize would give him a 50p lead on the money list.

Bad drives from both players added to the tension but it was Kevin who recovered best to get 1 point while Jo racked up her only blob of the day to share second place with Chris.

Kevin's third on 18 was good enough to secure him the point he needed

The players then retired to the clubhouse for the prize giving. So who won what:

Money List Kevin

Average Stableford points Jo

Eclectic Bob

Lowest Average Blobs Jo

Highest points in a round Jo

Best 3 front and back 9's in July, August and September Kevin

Golf Pig reluctantly handed out the winnings (mainly to Jo) and the season was complete

It has been a very successful RNSG with15 different players on tour and 24 rounds completed. Looking forward to seeing everyone again when the RNSG summer tour starts again next April

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017. Round 23 at Bungay

The South Norfolk North Suffolk Classic at Bungay

Round Norfolk Golf Tour summer comp 2017 round 23 took place at Bungay on Tuesday. It was the last round before the grand finale as the RNSG tour races to Sheringham next week. For stats fans there is a round up of who can win what at the end of the post. But first how did we get there?

A good field of 6 turned up for today's event. Balls in the air selected the pairings before Robert and Jo asked if they could go out in first group due to urgent restraurant action happening later in the day. Balls in the air groupings were abandoned and it became a free for all to choose the groupings. With RNSG tour officials in tears in the car park, Robert, Jo and Tracey marched purposefully off to the first tee.

Due to recent cancellations then it would now only be 5 rounds (a quarter of rounds played by the player who plays the most rounds) required to qualify for the average stableford and blobs competitions meaning Robert could now win the Average stableford points if he could get about 58 pts today (he didn't). But he did put together his best 9 this year as he scored 17 pts on the front 9 including a birdie on the 7th.

Robert makes his Birdie on the 7th.

However Jo was in a strong position in several of this years competitions and clearly meant business as she started off with a par and followed it with two more before a blob on the long 8th restricted her to 19 pts but was still enough for the half way lead.

Jo failing to make par for once on the 4th

Latest tour recruit Tracey also started with a good par but despite some solid play couldn't find another one in the front 9 ending on 14 pts.

Tracey not holding back with her opening drive

Meanwhile in the group behind Bob and Kevin were keen to match each other as only 0.01 currently separated them in the Average stableford competition (in 2nd and 3rd place behind Jo). However it was quickly advantage Bob as Kevin had a golfing breakdown over the opening holes as he only managed 3 pts in the first 5 holes accompanied by the requisite huffing. puffing and stomping. Things improved slightly as he scraped up to 11 after 9.

Kevin getting out of the 5th bunker he had found in first 6 holes.

Bob took advantage by scoring on every front 9 hole but didn't make the most of his opportunity to finish Kevin off as his putter deserted him as he missed everything from 3 foot out. He had 16 pts at the turn.

Despite it not looking like this Bob hit an excellent shot out rough on the 3rd.

Whilst this was going on Chris was quietly going about her work and after a slow start really got going finishing the front 9 with an excellent par and 17 pts for a share of second place.

Chris teeing off on the 5th

As with the front 9 Tracey set off with an opening par and followed up with a blob free 9. However the 4 one point holes kept her score down to 30 pts which wasn't enough for the prizes today.

Tracey's approach to the last

Robert short game was going well but his longer game was not so hot as he failed to reach the Ladies tee on the 11th. He did however, sign off his first year on tour with a finishing birdie and the 33pts he scored gave him 3rd place and added 50p to his seasons winnings. The £2.25 total earnings means he will easily get to keep his tour card for next year.

As it was Ladies day Robert decided to forgo the traditional punishment
for not reach the ladies tee with his drive off the 11th

Chris was now in full flow with five 3 point holes on the back 9 and the only blob free round of the day with nothing worse than a bogey. She was excited to see her score of 38 equal the highest score on tour this year. Bob became worried working out what to do as there was only one trophy available (he needn't have worried).

A poor chip followed by an excellent putt saves a point on the short 14th

Bob and Kevin had lost interest in todays competition as they locked antlers trying to keep up with each other. Kevin knew if he waited long enough Bob was sure to blow up but after the 15th Bob had a healthy 7 point lead and it looked like Kevin was out the running.

One of Bob's many putts on the 10th after Chris had chipped in for her par

However Bob rarely lets people down and failed to score on the next two holes while Kevin managed a pair of pars to close that gap to 1.

A finishing birdie for Kevin meant he finished on 31 to Bobs 30 and now held a 0.02 lead over him going into next week.

However it was all a complete waste of time as Jo had gone points crazy up ahead. Cleverly avoiding any club selection suggestions from Robert she popped in 4 pars and also chipped in for a birdie on the 14th as well. 

Jo's approach to 18 and another par

It was clear something was up when Jo insisted on waiting in the car park for the second group to finish rather than dashing off to their now not so urgent restaurant appointment. Not only had she crushed Chris's hopes of a RNSG prize this year but also took away her Bungay course record of 40 points set in 2015. She also spoiled Bob and Kevins chances in the average pts comp as well, but none of them were bitter as they sulked off for a post round cup of tea.

With the Race to Sheringham climaxing next week here is a summary of who can win what and how

Money list: Bob has a big lead but Kevin could catch him if he wins next weeks round and Bob isn't placed.

Average Stableford points: Todays round put Jo in a massive lead with Kevin, Bob or Mike needing to beat her by about 15 points next week, which seems unlikely.

Most points in a round: Any of next weeks players could still win with a 42 point round. (or tie with 41pts which would give Bob a shared trophy nightmare). But Jo looks a clear favourite.

Eclectic: Is between Kevin and Bob. Kevin needs to get at least one birdie and then one more than Bob on the day.

Lowest average Blobs: Another two horse race between Jo and Mike. Jo wins if she has a blob free round. But if not Mike will win if he gets one blob less than Jo.

Best 3 front and back 9's: Jo has a 3 point lead but Kevin has an outside chance but would need at least 20 points on the front 9 

But of course the big question is can Jill finally par a 4th hole at the 14th time of asking.

As only Jo, Kevin, Bob and Mike can now win anything then RNSG committee has decided that they will tee off last next week. But as it is double money comp there is a big £5 first prize available to keep all 10 entrants interested.