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