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