Round Norfolk summer golf round 24 at Newmarket

The Suffolk Stakes

Round Norfolk summer golf round 24 took place at Newmarket on Thursday. It was Newmarkets first time hosting an RNSG event and they gave the 4 players who turned up a warm welcome as they bid to stay on the rota for next year. Despite the weather forecast showing that a dull damp day was in store it turned out to be a fabulous warm sunny one with the players quickly regretting their clothing choices.

Kevin was first out the stalls and off to a flyer with 10 points after 4 holes and despite getting stuck in a fairway bunker for most of the 5th he went on to take the halfway lead on 19 pts.

Kevin started strongly 

John 'did I mention I got a hole in one' Butler was next off but quickly fell off the pace as he had some short putting issues resulting in 6 1 pointers on the front 9 and only 10 points in total.

John trys to hit through a gap in the trees. After some leaf action it did pop out.

Chris and Bob were settling into the pack ready for a sprint to the line later on. Unfortunately Chris did have a stumble on the 8th. After playing golf pinball in the trees she eventually hit her ball into the long rough near to where John went. John marched up to his ball and hit a glorious shot over the trees on to the green. When Chris approached her ball she realised it wasn't hers so accused John of playing the wrong ball. Gutted, John played that one instead but this time crashed it into the trees and slumped off after it. Meanwhile Chris placed a new ball in the rough from where John had hit her ball and played her shot. (Hope you are keeping up).

When they eventually got to the green they discovered that John had played his ball correctly after all and the other one had coincidentally been the same type so it was in fact Chris who had played the wrong ball and her original ball was still missing in action. By the time everyone had worked out how many shots and penalties had been taken Kevin and Bob had lost the will to live (like anyone reading this probably) but in conclusion we gave Chris a blob and John 1 point and moved on.

Chris a long way off on the ladies first tee, which was the case on a number of holes on the course

Bob spent a lot of the round in bunkers but despite some bunker tips from John managed to get out of each one very nicely. Both Chris and Bob had 17 points at half way.

When of many bunkers Bob exited today

John continued on the back 9 in much the same as the front. He didn't manage a par all day but only had one blob (less than all the other players) and out of the prizes. He is however well placed in the average blobs competition.

Another attempt to chip out of the trees, which was a bit too successful
 as it found the rough on the other side of the fairway

Chris, Bob and Kevin were soon bunched up and after 14 holes all had 27 points.

Kevin was first to pull away and had a 2 point lead with two to play. With the bit between his teeth he was favourite to win but then blew up and only got 1 point in the final two holes to finish on 34.

Kevin misses a birdie opportunity on the par 3 12th

Chris was a faller on the 17th getting a blob. However she remounted to have a 6 foot putt on the 18th which would have put her in a photo finish on 34 points but unfortunately she missed to finish on 33 pts (shame).

Chris putting on 13th for birdie (she missed)

Meanwhile Bob had come up on the rails collecting 5 points on the final two holes to finish on 36 and a clear winner.

Bob drives across the gallops whilst John admires the views

With only 3 rounds left things are tightening up in this years RNSG trophies..

The average competitions are David's to lose but he is due to play two more times this year and a slip up could still let in a number of players.
Bobs 2nd win in a row means he is now only £4.25 behind Vince on the money list with £10 still to be played for. Chris is the only other player that can catch Vince.
Bob and Kevin are also closing in on Vince in the best front and back 9's comp but some good rounds could let in some more players.
With Kevin's handicap returning to 13 he retains less than a shots lead over Vince, with Tracey still in the running too.

Next week the tour moves to the West Suffolk which is another first time course for the RNSG tour.