The Destiny of 2010

With 2 Rounds to play, the destiny of the TGS 2010 Claret Mug has been blown wide open.

With 4 scores to count, rounds on the board could be crucial.

J. Horsburgh - 139 points
Rounds of 43 - 33 - 32 - 31. No stranger to the final day shake up and a definite rider for the final 2 fixtures. With the weakest score fairly solid there may be little chance to make huge advances on his current points score especially off his new mark of 13.

R. Daft - 133 points
Rounds of 42 - 37 - 27 - 27. Another usually in the final 4 but yet to land the covetted Claret Mug. Now in the handicappers grasp off a mark of 8, but a definite in the final 2 rounds should see his lowest scores surpassed.

S. Tuckwell - 126 points
Rounds of 35 - 34- 30 - 27. Always there or thereabouts, due to playing in every round! but unable to post the big score due to the low handicappers mark. Confident of beating the 27 and 30 point mark but unlikely to do so by 13 to equally Horsey's current lead.

A. Pike - 119 points
Rounds of: 38 - 30 - 26 - 25. The 'ironman' cannot be written off, with the capability to score big and has done previously at both Horsley and Cotgrave. Plenty of shots to play with and 2010 Tour winner at Cotgrave already.

Waiting in the Wings...

M. Hoenigmann - 104 points (3 rounds)
Rounds of 35 - 35 - 34. In poll position before Sunday, but with only a final appearance at the climax at Cotgrave a score will be needed. A man who thrives on pressure and a definite most improved, this is well with within the grasp although there is no room for error.

Something a little bit special required, with attendance not guaranteed...

J. Brown - 95 points - 3 rounds of 38 - 30 - 27

A. Rotton - 92 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 31 - 29

N. Thacker 89 points - 3 rounds of 34 - 28 - 27

R. Chubb - 88 points - 3 rounds of 35 - 28 - 25

M. Hefter - 88 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 30 - 26

S. Harris - 88 points - 3 rounds of 32 - 29 - 27

Jay Makes it a 3 Horse Race

A first time visit to the surrounds of Oakmere Park saw a fivesome take full advantage of the low attendance, to post some large scores.

Tuckers and Meds hit the range an hour early keen to make sure the advantage was not lost and was joined by Daft. Horsey couldn't afford such liberties having hot-footed it from Chatsworth with caravan in tow before de-connecting and arriving straight on the tee.

Meds, Pike and Daft opened up with Meds straight into birdie-birdie-nett birdie form, despite being hit by Horsey's approach (2nd shot) to the first - and a par 5 nonetheless! Pike found no such fortune with difficulty on the baize attributing to a slow start.

Daft, determined not miss out, opened with 2 birdies in his first 4 holes to be sitting pretty. A high standard of consolidation meant a superb level par front 9 despite 2 balls lost - albeit from firing off the wrong tee and be reprimanded by a group of lady members - and 23 points.

Meadows kept in the hunt with a very respectable 20 points, whilst a final flurry left Pike 4 further back.

A further birdie nett eagle for Daft on 11 was backed up with 2 more nett birdies over the next 3 holes. 38 points after 16 led the decision to blow it and only be reduced 1 shot or go big and be cut 2. 3 points over the final 2 left Dafty on a very ominous 42 points yet single figures! Gross 77, 4 over par - you can't complain!

Meds opened with 6 points in the opening 2 holes after the turn and finished strongly after a mid 9 wobble for a handicap reducing 37 points. Pike started strongly, nearly getting back to level 2's, before finishing safely with a very respectable 30 points.

A 2 ball for Tuckers and Horsey was very relaxed, Horsey with his first outing since Cleeve Hill, in July, nearly opened with eagle after Meds' size 10's stopped an arrowed approach to the 1st. Birdie it was. It was nearly back to back as the birdie putt on 2 finished inches short. Further 3 points on 3 and 6 meant 17 points had already been accumulated. A couple of severe hills curtailed the scoring slightly but 21 points was very impressive. Tuckers started slopily, with 4 points after 3, mainly thanks to a lost ball, but parred in to finish 3 behind Horsey.

Tuckers once again paid the price with another errant drive and lost another ball on 11, but immediately responded firing into 2 feet, on 13, for a tap in birdie. A further birdie followed on 17, before a birdie effort on 18 narrowly missed, but with every cloud - 35 points and just below the radar!

Usually given some stick for his metronomic tap and run play, Horsey was finding some excellent distance, inspired by his recent gambling exploits, finding himself relishing the par 5s. Having negotiated 4 safely, 1 under par gross, there was one final one to navigate up 18. 3 immaculate shots, left himself 3 foot from the pin and smiles all round, until it was relayed that he had to sink that for the win. But with ball of steel he duly obliged to finish with a gross 81, 2 under for the par 5s - and a monstrous 43 points. This was all amongst the turmoil of finding his best white Pringle Knitwear in the bottom of the bag with the remnents of a 4 year old banana spread all over it.

Game on for the Final 2 Rounds

Horsley Lodge - 26th September - 1.30 tee off

Cotgrave Masters - 17th October - 1.00 tee off