RNSG TOUR ROUND 3, MARCHES ON TO THETFORD – 20 MAY 2021
The allure of playing Thetford on a grey windy day saw an almost full turnout of regular tour members. With a field of 11 for the USPGA Major event, just Tim Sims was missing for the day. No doubt after his recent fine form he thought he’d give others a chance!
Bob Spanner was defending his 2014 course record of 37 points, and Kevin Frazer was the last course winner here back in 2018. Jo Barnard having won the first major of the year at Hunstanton was hoping to advance her Grand Slam claims and join the golfing greats.
Thetford’s course rating of 131 for the men and 134 for the ladies meant lots of extra shots for the field, but that reflected that this is the toughest course on the tour so far by some way.
3 hardy souls opted for shorts, 8 others went for an assorted attire all of which ended up hidden under various water proofs later in the round. The much sought after Best Turned Out Player Award was therefore rolled over to the next event, so the blog writer for that can risk offending the many.
Kevin’s new randomiser app determined the groups putting Tracey, Jo and Chris out first, ahead of Group 2s Kevin, Vince, Greg and Andrew, with Bob, Jill, Robert and John in Group 3. John Butler continues to break the Bawburgh dominance by flying the flag for Eaton. Being your clubs representative at a Tour Major is a big responsibility so lets see how John measured up to the challenge.
The first hole saw 2 birdie 2s for 4 points for Robert and Chris, with par 3s for 3 points for Tracey and John. John stood tall and proud for Eaton, but this proved the only 3 pointer of his round. The Eaton flag was lowered to half mast. John’s wife appreciated the wooden spoon as an additional kitchen utensil. Tracey did manage a couple more 3 pointers and a fine “ 4 for 4” on stroke index 4 but her 27 points did not trouble the winners rostrum. Given this was Tracey’s first round since lockdown it’s a decent effort on a tough course on a tough day. The tour expects more in weeks to come…
Tracey make a welcome return to the tour
On hole 2 the first group ladies supported each other with community 7s for no points each and it was Vince sporting his 24 handicap on the RNSG tour for the first time who was the only one to claim a 3 pointer. Vince’s round would go on to include 2 x 4 pointers and 3 x 3 pointers, alas these 5 holes made up 17 points of Vince’s 27 total. Vince has made a bid for a new record – negative yardage of -82 after neatly finding the centre of a few trees in succession to reverse backwards down a hole. We will say no more.
Vince missing a putt on the way to a 7 on the 8th
As the front 9 unwound Kevin had left his randomiser in play
mode as he combined a mix of slices, tops and “mole rapers”, with some truly
world class play. Of particular note was a fairway wood from 190 yards to 1
yard from the pin. Alas Kevin’s total of 29 points saw him finish in the bottom
half – just.
 |
| One of the many bits of trouble ended in today |
The front 9 was notable for an impressive 9 green keepers filling fairway divots, and a small monk-jack deer scurrying around helping Vince look for one of his balls in the woods. Wildlife was rather hidden today, some suggested they were in fear of a wild one from Kevin, although the first cuckoo of the year braved it out and was heard later in the day.
Kevin spent much of the round checking out the wild life
Chris had a solid if not spectacular round
Meantime it was Greg who took the meaningless half way
honours reeling off 6 straight pars for 21 points. Straight driving, rescue
woods to the front of the greens and a chip and a putt had been Greg’s recipe
for success.
Greg pondering after his teeshot on the first found sand. But there was much better to come
In a topsy turvy turnaround Robert won the also meaningless 2nd half honours with an impressive 19 points. 3 x 3 pointers and no blobs was a fine effort as the wind blew harder and the rain came down.
 |
| Robert holes an excellent putt |
Jo with 18 points proved the Barnards like it wild and wet - but that’s their own business, and Chris with 17 points of fine played spoiled by one blob made up the back 9 top 3 – for which there is no prize, just praise.
Jo in a rare bit of trouble
Jill and Bob’s form dissolved in the rain with 11 points and 12 points respectively. Bob’s 2 points in the last 5 holes moved him from 3 under handicap with 5 to play to 5 over and is up there with the “major” collapses of Greg Norman and Jordan Speith.
Bob stuck in the heather on the 16th as his round disintegrated
In group 2 things went rapidly off the boil. Andrew mustered 15 points with no 3 pointers and failed to cure his regular first putt woes of being 6+ feet past the pin. Jill is asked to remove one weatabix from the breakfast bowl to help his game in future.
Andrew had his A game on the tee but D or E game on the greens
Greg meanwhile mimicked Bob with a late collapse getting just 2 points in the last 3 holes to move from 4 under handicap with 3 to play to level. A good effort on a tough course. On the last hole Greg had a 20 foot putt to tie Bobs long standing course record and left it 2 inches short.
Greg in a rare bit of trouble on the 10th where he visited the edge of the woods (on either side of the course) three times before a chip and putt secured an unexpected par
And so it came to pass that Greg hung on for 36 points to claim his first major win and join Jo, who was 2nd on 33 points, on the major winners list for the year so far. Robert and Andrew tied for 3rd on 32 points, still a decent effort in the conditions.
Next stop for the tour is the much loved Felixtowe Ferry
where with a slope index of 130 and damp conditions likely to continue another
tough test lies ahead.
No comments:
Post a Comment