Round Norfolk summer golf round 20. The USPGA at Kings Lynn

US PGA

Round Norfolk summer golf round 20, The USPGA, took place at Kings Lynn on Wednesday. After last weeks high scoring points fiesta at Ufford Park today was a bit of a damp squib with point scoring at a premium.

It was the first rainy round on tour this year and it seemed to have a big impact on points scoring. Ballester and Moore had obviously realised the conditions would be tricky so opted to stay away in order to protect their leads in the various RNSG competitions.

With Tracey needing to leave early and Robert and Jo in a buggy there was only one place left in the first grouping with the balls in the air selecting Jill to be that player.

It was only Jills 3rd round on tour this year and the other two hadn't gone that well so it was like she had never been away as her opening tee shot ended up in the trees for a first hole blob. However things soon improved as she reached halfway with 13 pts and on course to produce her best 2018 RNSG round.

Robert was hoping to make up ground on David in the average blobs and points comp and when he started with 9 points on the opening 4 holes then things were looking good. It is a well known golfing fact that if things are going well never change anything, especially your clothing, so what on earth must he have been thinking when he decided to put on his waterproofs! This basic school boy error lead to him racking up 6 blobs over the remaining 14 holes thus falling well down the average blobs leaderboard. He did manage 27 points which was good enough for 3rd place and leaves him still in with a chance on the average points comp.

Robert in trouble on the 5th after putting on his waterproofs

Tracey was having an unusual round for her. Her normal modus operandi is to have 9 or so very good holes in a row at some point in the round surrounded by 9 or so very bad ones. However today she spread her good and bad holes out evenly across the round with only 4 blobs in her 24 points.

The unmistakable swing of Tracey on the first

Final member of the group Jo, was by far the most consistent player of anyone today as standing on the 14th tee she was yet to have a blob and joint leader on the course. She then realised what fun she was missing out on so to make up for lost time failed to score any points on the next 4 holes and finished on 24 points and out the prizes.

Jo in bunker action

Kevin got group 2 underway and was hoping to do well after having a lesson the day before in order to help straighten out his sliced tee shots. Going for a 3 rescue safety strategy he didn't slice his opening shot but hooked it nearly on to the main road (that was a waste of money then). After a second blob on the next hole, things got better until he unnecessarily reached for his driver on the 9th to hit a trademark slice into the woods. 5 shots and several trees later the ball was still in there. So he abandoned the ball and had a sandwich instead.

Kevin hits a surprisingly straight tee shot to the 5th for a par

Still in the running with 4 to play aback to back blobs left him on 26 points in 4th place.

As the rain did not stop throughout the round it was not ideal conditions for sun loving John H. He was not helped as he struggled to get out of a soggy bunker on the first.

John struggles in bunker on the first

As the air turned blue he continued to struggle with only 3 points after 6 holes. This total was doubled on the 7th as it looked like he was getting back on track. But after hitting a good teeshot on the 9th he saw it bounce to the left and said 'if that goes in the bunker i'm going home'. It did and as a man of his word he abandoned the round.

Chris's last visit to Kings Lynn not gone well in ladies county championship as after 36 holes of medal she found herself 49 shots off the lead (although she knew where she had thrown the 49 shots away). Things didn't start well today either with only 3 points from first 4 holes. She had just got going only to start the back 9 with just 2 points from first 4 before again recovering but 23 pts were not enough to be in contention.

Chris takes two to get out this bunker

Bob played well over first 6 holes with 13 points but then started to join the others in the trees. However he was scrambling well and still in a good position on 16th tee as Kevin told him he had won but his sneaky minds game had worked as Bob duffed his teeshot along ground into the nearby ferns as he managed just 2 points over the last 3 holes for 28 in total.

Bob hits a good rescue on the 13th

Up ahead Jill had been having a decent back 9 and the 5 for 1 she got on the 18th also meant she finished on 28 points for a share of first place.

Jill putting for crucial point on the last

As it was the US PGA there can only be one overall winner and for the second time Jill won a major on countback.

Next week a small field returns to Norwich when the tour hits Sprowston Manor.