Buttress Bangs in the Birdies

The largest sporting event of the day, behind West Brom v Villa and some other golfing event across the pond, saw a fabulous 15 revisit Horsley Lodge for the second time of the year; the first being interrupted by the most splendid thunderstorm imaginable. This time no mistake from the forecasters, with a magnificent afternoon drenched in belated summer sunshine.

Frame was eager to be off first as “Sal’s about ready to drop” and was accompanied by partners in crime, Buttress and Daft. The formers going through the usual handicap rigmarole of not having enough shots, ‘I was off 15 when I started… 19? 19? You’re having a laugh’ before being sent firmly on their way.

Daft was looking for a change of fortune with a new putter, unfortunately hadn’t bargained on it being part of a borrowed set of clubs as some urchin had rifled through the garage. Still, every cloud, the Bentley, Rolex, laptop, Ming vase and Monet were all on the insurance claim.

All tied through 4 before Frame chucked in the customary abstainers, Daft consolidated as Buttress stepped up a gear but the latter duo couldn’t be separated at the turn, with a creditable 18 point half way mark.

It was all about one man after the turn, who was hot, hot, hot. 19 points through the first 6 holes and 2 under gross with 2 to play was a phenomenal effort. With the signature stroke 1, 17th, and tough 18th to finish, 2 bogeys were a superb effort, level par and back in 25 points… ‘I shouldn’t be off 13…come on…13 never.’ You’re right about that Butty!

A great nett eagle on 15 helped Daft to his best score for sometime as Frame finished strongly and may be entitled to a shot back next outing!

The sight of Frame and co still in the bar despite finishing sometime earlier implied that child number 2 hadn’t been born, although when questioned, ‘I don’t know, I turned the phone off up the first’ was the joking retort…

The TGS top 4 found themselves grouped together, Marriot and Meadows joined by Tuckwell Jnr and a tremendously sock & t-shirt colour co-ordinated Hall, literally 45 minutes after landing at East Mids after a weekend away with the good lady, top work fella!

Wrap your head around this one… Hall banished all memories of last years round to forget, with a third of his 2007 points accumulated on hole 1, two thirds by the third and the total equaled on 6!

Tuckwell was slack round the greens with the putter not fully functioning, blame the tools. In contrast, Marriot was circumnavigating the fairways but rock solid on the baize and with plenty of shots in the bag composed a solid opening 9.

Meadows, off his lowest mark to date and iron off every tee, carried on from his Melton form and was 2 over through 7 with a procession of 3 pointers, water on 8, par on 9 concluded a group equaling 19 point haul to leave him tied with Marriot.

Two no scores for Marriot gifted the initiative to Meadows who then handed it back with a double hole meltdown and loss of swing. Hall was accumulating nicely with Tuckwell not quite being at the races, twice finding the water on 17 not helping and 40 putts not good enough.

Hall was ‘Matthewed’ on 16 as Tuckwell slipped into teacher mode; Hall not expecting that kind of talking to until getting home. Hall, attempting to carry a 6 iron 170 yards over the water from the rough, was told in no uncertain terms to ‘step away from the ball and put down your weapon!’ After a lengthy stand off a wedge was reluctantly accepted, 2 points better off and not one bit of water in sight!

Meadows regained composure as Marriot limped down the stretch, but still good enough for the group spoils and an indent into Meadows’ 3 point lead.

Dean and Horsburgh Snr, who arrived via Warwickshire courtesy of the sat nav, were paired with comedy duo of Dessaur and Jenkinson. After assertive and bullish pre-season claims of sweeping all before him Horsburgh, hampered by injury, started tentatively but found some 2 point rythym and a couple of nett birdies. Dessaur was the only other man to register further 3 pointers, as concerns for his fitness arose for the more arduous back 9. Jenkinson couldn’t get it going neither could Dean who found himself one behind the pacesetters of Dessaur and Horsburgh at the turn.

Things became more satisfying for Jenkinson with a strong finish as it became 9 holes too far for Dessaur. Dean held a 1 shot lead over Horsburgh and 3 over Jenkinson approaching the last, but back to back blobs let in Horsburgh for a morale boosting quartet victory.

Another man back from the wilderness, Hefter, current Horsley 9 Hole Challenge holder, Hoenigmann, Radford and Horsburgh Jnr brought up the rear, the latter keen to make up for a below par showing at Melton. Horsburgh Jnr was once again struggling, maybe the pressure of being the first double TGS winner causing difficulties.

Hoenigmann had a subdued yet solid start,: lost balls proving troublesome. Radford marked a fine return to the fray with a belting nett eagle up the first and finished the 9 with a solid 17 points.

It was left to Hefter to roar off the starting line unfortunately forgetting it was a marathon not a sprint and 18 holes comprised a full round and the pay out, not 9. 4 over par through 8 and 23 points, ruined by a solitary 2 pointer on 5, amidst a sea of 3’s, rubbish! Was sensational ,and the days 9 hole champion again…

It didn’t get any better for Horsburgh, the usual consistency lacking nor for Hoenigmann. Hefter’s 32 points with 4 to play was looking promising. 32 points after 18 a touch disappointing, and allowing Radford to power through. A solitary point on the 18th good enough for the big man to notch the group win on count back and fire his best round to date.

Buttress (43) proved unstoppable with a massive 9 point maiden tour victory helped by a superb back 9 effort. Marriot (34) made some in roads into Meadows’ tournament lead as Radford (32:B9 15) took third form Daft (32:B9 13) Hefter (32:B9 9).

A cracking afternoon at a cracking course.

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