The penultimate round of the 2009 season saw a return to the players’ favourite of Horlsey Lodge. The International Baker Cup was taking place the same weekend and even hardcore Hoenigmann declined a place, after originally declaring himself available after 2 all dayers and a drive up from the
Most of the action took place before even a ball was struck. Chubb, Meadows and Brown were already on the range an hour before tea off as the Tuckwells’ and Horsburgh Snr hit the bar. Daft was dealt a kick in the pills, looking forward to pushing over the finishing line with a round to spare, but received a call that the house had been burgled and headed back home with everybodies sympathies. Tuckwell, Brown, Chubb, Hefter and Horsburgh were later cleared of any wrong doings…
Tuckwell managed to avoid embarrassment having counted 12 players on the list and still having 12 with Daft having to leave and Potter not travelling! Least he’s not a teacher…
A beautiful mid October day, brought debutant, Pike, out in his shorts, which was too much for the neo-nazi Horsley starter. Introducing himself to Tuckwell for the first time, he opened up with a dead pan, “You’re not coming back here,” followed by a, “You’re not coming back here ever again!” Apparently the shorts were not to Adolf’s liking; despite protests that a quick visit to the car would produce some trousers! A full group ejection was by-passed but it was a good job he had his back turned for a couple of the tee shots!
Hall nearly lit the touch paper again, being undecided as to whether to play left or right handed and swinging with both clubs on the tee, but all 3 groups got away without further reprimand!
Chubb was buggied up due to having a squash match later, with Brown as a co-pilot. Meadows and A.T made up a quality looking, single figure, 4 ball - aiming to make the most of the scoring around the front 9. A.T and Chubb abstained the first whilst Brown and Meds safely parred. Chubb bounced back midway through the 9 with consecutive nett birdies to repair any early damage.
The Doc showed some good early running but tailed off with a quartet of 1 pointers to the turn. Meadows looked to be heading for the halfway lead before failing to notch on 9, leaving A.T to share the spoils with Chubb, to lead by 1, but historically lower than expected.
A.T, appearing to disagree with the par 5’s, started the back 9 similarly to the first as Meds recorded back to back blobs – which set the tone for both their back 9s - a nett birdie up 18 a pleasing finish for Meadows. Chubb mixed the highs with the lows, 2 nett birdies followed by 2 empty spaces but a further 3 pointer left ‘Big 4’ with a steady total.
The trio were instead to marvel at the Jay Brown show. Par-par-par-nett birdie was just the appetizer as the 510 yard par 5 14th was humbled with a drive - 6 iron to 5 foot. The eagle putt, with a shot, was holed, dead centre, for the Docs second 5 pointer of the year. The adrenalin was pumping and was followed up by a double, but 2 further nett birdie to close the nine resulted in a fantastic level par, 22 points (with a blob) total.
Hall, Hefter and family Horsburgh teed off with the starters good blessing. Hall was calling all the shots – fore left, fore right, hook, pull – it was no clearer if left handed or right handed was the way forward. 2 nett birdies in the last 3 holes of the front 9 some solace.
Horsburgh Snr, on seasons debut, comprised a very tidy 18 points containing 3 nett birdies to sit pretty. Horsburgh Jnr opened with a flurry of 3 pointers and would have expected to be in the box seat with 19 points after 9, even with a blob but Hefter had other ideas. The former Horsley 9 hole champ set off with a steely purpose amassing 21 points in 8 holes: 3 nett birdies and a nett eagle conducive to good scoring. Unfortunately it was still 21 points after 9 holes but a tremendous start nonetheless.
A 3-3-0-3 back 9 start for Hefter filtered back through the course and 30 points after 13 holes suggested something big on the cards to launch him back into contention for the Race to Cotgrave. Hall couldn’t quite find rhythm and harmony with his game but kept up the scoring and no thoughts of the TGS low. Horsburgh Snr opened the second half with a magnificent birdie and 4 points, a further net birdie was overshadowed with a smattering of 1s but a very solid mid 30s score on the return to the fold.
A minor wobble on 11 for Horsey Jnr, was nothing but a blip as he comfortably finished just under the handicap committees' radar with a points boosting 35. It was all down to Hefter, with thoughts of 40+, 6 points in the final 5 holes was not what the doctor ordered. The group win a positive, a shot off the handicap a negative!
Thacker just made it from football in time to team up with Tuckwell Jnr, Pike and Radford and found himself easily the lightest member of the quartet at 13 stone. All 4 got away, some further than others, but the tee remained in one piece and the starter wasn’t looking! Quick, go! Tuckwell was stuttering from the start 4 points over the first 4 holes – poor - Only a 50 foot putt across the slope on 7 leaving anything to write home about. Pike, unfazed by shortsgate, decided to circumnavigate the greens to get a true feel for them – part of the grand plan for a storming back 9!
Thacker hit a spectacular 2nd ball birdie with some sublime touch. A birdieless front 9 was just the aperitif for another storming finish. Radford found his swing after the first with back to back nett birdies – hitting the driver nicely off the tee and followed it with a further pair of 3s, one to concluded the 9 and with it steal the front 9 honours.
Tuckwell and Thacker both fired wildly right off the 10th and found themselves back on the 1st, for their 3rd shots. 1 point for the latter a disappointing start for the pair. Radford had a satisfying net birdie up 17 to leave promise for another day after a shaky mid round stretch.
Thacker decided enough was enough and hit 3 straight birdies from 13. The best, the 90° dog leg 15th – taking on the corner and converting after a tricky pitch. A bogey was followed by further pars and a top draw 2 under last 6 holes. Tuckwell, inspired, decided to cash in on the bumper points fest, birdie, par, birdie thorough 15 was finished off with 2 nett birdies to improve on his lowest score.
Pike, with his irons off the tee and raw, raw power, hit a trio of 3 pointers, the best at the par 3 12th – clubbing 3 less than his partners! A lull was followed by a truly bumper finish from the big man. With the greens well and truly measured, nett eagle and birdie was finished with for a excellent debut.
Countback was needed to separate a 4 way tie at the top, with three of the contenders sitting pretty with excess of 20 points. It was to be Brown (36: B9:22 B6:16) who was finally victorious, third time lucky after 2 previous countback reverses. Pike (36 B9:22 B6:13) could be well pleased with his debut efforts to finish 2nd ahead of Thacker (36 B9:21) Hefter (36 B9:15) missed out on what could have been but a great round but a good score nonetheless. Horsburgh Jnr (35) Tuckwell Jnr (33) and Chubb (32) all capitalised on Daft’s misfortune with Cotgrave Masters awaiting.
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