Autumn Tour Round 5 at Hunstanton

The end of the RNSG Autumn Tour is nearing its climax and, with different winners from the first four events, the much-coveted title of 2020 Champion is there for almost all the tour members.

However, despite this, only a field of seven had entered the usually popular Hunstanton event, This was reduced on the morning to just six when Kevin had to withdraw due to ongoing effects from long-tail Covid; as we know with Kevin, this was not an easy decision but certainly the right one.

And so, on a reasonably mild, sunny but breezy day, two 3-balls were left to fight for the available 5 daily prizes, asking who would be the one left penniless? The players would find the course in brilliant condition but, with the wind, fast greens, numerous bunkers and some thick rough, it proved to be a challenge for everyone. With the incoming WHS rules coming in before the final event at Sheringham, this would be the last time that the FSS would need to be calculated, and the men were relieved that the ladies would only receive one additional shot.

Relieved men that they wouldn't have to worry about FSS again

The ladies went out first, with Jill, Jo and Chris all appreciating the proximity of the sea by wearing their lifejackets again, just in case! Each of them hit impressive opening drives and Jo made the early running with two opening pars, immediately improving her leading eclectic score on both.

Jo's excellent opening drive

 All three were steady through the front nine, with only two blobs between them, but points were hard to come by and the only 3-pointers came at the 2^nd hole for Jill and Jo. It was Chris, however, who proved to be the steadier, finding the speed of the greens sooner than anyone else, and lead the group with 16 points at the turn thanks to seven 2’s and just two 1’s, with Jo and Jill back on 13 and 12 respectively.

Chris was had a blob free front 9

The men followed and as is often the case, were more erratic. Robert and Andrew found bunkers on the first, though Robert did recover for a bogey and 2 points. Andrew failed to score and Vince, from the middle of the fairway, pulled his ball left and never saw it again. Robert played well, not surprising on the course at which he is a member and, despite some off-the-tee issues, scored a respectable 14 points.

Robert gets underway

Vince had a slow start but, in classic style, got on a run from the 6^th hole. An excellent putt for a 2-point double bogey, a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 7^th for a 3-point par, and a textbook 4-point par on the 8^th helped him to 12 points at the turn. 

Vince on way to opening blob

Andrew was inconsistent on and around the greens but had the three par-5’s to thank, with 3-point pars on each, helping to 15 points and 2^nd place overall.

Andrew also on the way to an opening blob

All players were pleased by the appearance of Kevin who, despite knowing all the scores at the turn, ignored the temptation to share. His observation of how players were struggling with the conditions only helped to confirm his decision to not play was the right one. The ladies, by now, were well into the back nine appearing (from afar) not to be struggling as much as the men and opening up quite a distance between the two groups - yardage wise that is, not points! In truth, they were also struggling to build on reasonable starts. On the 10^th hole, Jo failed to score. With less than a foot to putt out for 2-points, she failed to read the break and then did the same for the 1-pointer coming back! Only the difficult 200-plus yards par-3 14^th hole gave the ladies some 3-point opportunities, Jo taking hers with a par and Jill getting the field’s only birdie of the day. Jo struggled and, with two more blobs, could only score 9 points on the homeward nine for a total of 22.

Jo only managed a point a hole on the way in

Jill kept any more blobs off her card until the last, but with six 1-pointers, scored just 11 and 23 in total. Chris fought on valiantly but could not find a 3-pointer all day. Unfortunately, she could only score 12 coming in, but the overall score of 28 was going to prove a difficult challenge to the men who were still some way behind.

Jill getting one of her 11 1 pointers today

Despite channelling his inner Gary Player by dressing in all black, Robert was still being frustrated by his tee-shots. However, some great recoveries and excellent putting kept him in the hunt. Two perfect 4-woods got him to the back of the 13^th green and, two putts later, he had his second and last 3-pointer of the day.

Robert gets out the bunker on the 10th for a point

Vince also made a 3-point bogey on the same hole but, sadly, this was to be his only success on the back-nine. The headwind and a sore back were taking its toll and, with only 2 points in the last four holes, he finished with 11 points and 23 overall. 

Vince sensibly duffed his approach to 10 to leave him in a good position to secure his 2pts

Andrew was driving well but the rest of the game needed improvement. His only highlight on the back nine came on the par-3 14^th hole but, alas, the birdie putt just slid past, as many had for him in this round, and a disappointing 11 points left him on 26 for the day. 

Andrew putting on 10th but sadly not on the traditional green area saved for these shots

Robert was unfortunate to lose his ball on the par-5 15^th hole, but a strong finish on the last three holes helped him to another 14 points, and he was the only player to not score less on the back nine, finishing on 28 overall.

All of this meant that, on a low-scoring day, Chris and Robert (new winners again) shared first place.

Chris on her way to her first win of the season albeit a joint one

With Andrew in third and extending his lead in the overall championship. Jill and Vince tied for fourth, sadly leaving Jo without any reward for a hard day’s work. The results meant that Kevin, currently in second place overall, had lost little ground and was still in the hunt for the title. Following a review of the speed of play, it was clear that the men finished about a hole and a half behind the ladies, equating to about 400 yards. However, bearing in mind that the ladies’ course was some 367 yards shorter than the men’s, this was only to be expected.

The Tour moves on to the final event at Sheringham next month where, it is rumoured, 11 players have entered. The new WHS rules will be in place, so everyone will be curious to see what unfair handicap they have been allocated and what inflated one everyone else has been given! The championship trophy is almost in Andrew’s hands but, with big-money prizes available at the last event, several are lining up behind to trample over him should he stumble.