RNSG Round 5. Swaffham

 Swaffham Salver

On a murky day the RNSG tour moved on to Swaffham. Due to injury, holidays and other engagements then a small field of only 5 made it to the start line today, so plenty of prize money potential.

The randomiser was in mischiefs mood as the first 3 presses all came up with group 2, so much to her disappointment Chris had to tee off with Kevin in group 1.

Kevin seemed to have also used the randomiser to pick his tee shot. The 3 options being in the trees, along the ground or good. It came up good for his opening tee shot but for the rest of the round that choice was hardly selected again. However his putter seemed to be on fire needing to be only used 11 times in the opening 9 holes. Chris was appalled, especially when a tee shot on the 200 yrd 6th barely got 6 inches off the ground but finished 15 foot from the flag and with the putt sunk she stropped off to the next hole as Kevin somehow finished the front 9 on 17 pts.

Kevin showing off his new bright trousers (which were the only colour in his size on Amazon)

However Chris was playing proper golf hitting fairways and greens and putting well so had a good 19 pts at half way.

A tricky looking shot on the 4th which did indeed prove to be tricky as it didn't go very far

The group behind were also having a mixed bag. Vince started with an opening par and although his driving wasn't at its best still had 16 points at the turn.

Not one of Vince best drives as I think it was a practice swing

Tracey also was solid enough but had 7 6's in the first 10 holes which kept her scoring down. On the back 9 things started to fade until a birdie on the last got her up to a respectable 28 pts but no prizes.

For Bob it was very much a game of two halves us he had 3 blobs out of the first 4 holes and just 2 points. Things didn't improve much as he had just 10 points after 9. But then he remembered it was the first of July and on the RNSG summer tour that means its the start of the 3 best front and back 9's in July, August and September competition. Inspired but this he roared into action with 3 3pointers on the first 4 back 9 holes on his way to 19 back 9 points. However his total of 29 didn't get him a prize.

Bob gets his round underway with an excellent blob

Kevin continued to have problems with his drive as his next 5 drives were all topped along the ground but at least not in the trees. However this made scoring difficult as he finished on 31 points and third place. However his two birdies consolidated his lead at the top of the eclectic.

Disappointment as a good put just swerves past the hole at the last minute

It was to prove to be a two horse race for the first prize. While Chris was going along steadily Vince was on a charge as he parred both the back 9 par 5's. After 16 holes it was 34 to 33 in Chris's favour and anyone's game. But then Chris made a monumental school girl error as she examined her score card and forecasted her final total and impact on her handicap.

There was only ever going to be one outcome as she duffed her tee shot along the ground into the nearest gorse bush for her only blob of the day.

One of many tee shots that didn't go in a gorse bush

Vince got a solid two points on 17 to take the lead. However roles were reversed on the last as Chris produced a fine par while Vince got into trouble to scramble a 7 for 1 and Chris had won 37 to 36.

So another top tussle on tour but without much impact on the overall money list as the Barnards still hold a big lead. However it's off to Thorpness for the British Open in a fortnight and with a small field expected, and double prize money, things could quickly change.