Monday, December 8th.
Pattavia
Club Championship 1st round
1st Tony Robbins (29) Net 65
2nd Paul Smith (6) Net 69
3rd Uli Mueller (12) Net 69
4th Bil Richardson (21) Net 71
5th Keith Norman (17) Net 72
6th Alan Howard (21) Net 72
Near pins Kevin LaBar, Keith Norman, Tony Robbins, & Rob Folland.
The first round of the annual club championship was played at Pattavia where a field of twenty-seven participated. We had a few late cry- offs so a smaller than usual field on hand.On a course deteriorating in condition and a very strong wind blowing it was not ideal for quality golf. The fairways were bone dry, the greens were possibly in the worst condition we have seen, in need of mowing and slow compared to what we are used to at this course.
Despite the conditions scoring was good, particularly amongst the leaders. A reborn Tony Robbins led the way with a magnificent round of net sixty-five. This is someone that this course really suits, hitting a low ball and with the fairways so hard he got about as much distance as most and with his strength being his short game he capitalised to lead after the first round by four strokes, can he go all the way?
Paul Smith and Uli Mueller were placed second and third respectively on countback. Having endured a couple of rounds best forgotten, Bil Richardson got it all together today and took fourth place with net seventy-one, one ahead of Keith Norman and Alan Howard who fought out fifth and sixth on countback. All the near pins were taken going to Kevin LaBar, Keith Norman, Tony Robbins and a red faced Rob Folland who took the long seventeenth, his ball was never more than three feet off the ground and landed about halfway to the green only to run all the way up and onto the green not too far from the pin, as they say “it’s better to be lucky than good”.
A couple of notable events from the day, one golfer so frustrated with his game pulled up stumps after six holes and went home, having six putted one green, another had a full fourteen strokes on one hole, one person claimed better with a fifteen on one hole, and yet another would have pulled his hair out had he any after a most frustration day, the ups and downs of golf are a real challenge for your mental fortitude.
A break for a game at Mountain Shadow on Wednesday before competition resumes on Friday at Bangpra.
Wednesday, December 10th
Mountain Shadow.
1st Alan Howard (21) 35 points
2nd Paul Smith (5) 32 points
3rd Michael Brett (18) 31 points
4th Keith Norman (17) 30 points
5th Hubert Stiefenhofer (18) 29 points
Near pins Keith Norman, Paul Smith, & Greg Berry
The mid-week game was played at Mountain Shadow in very trying conditions, once again a very strong wind was blowing making an already difficult course even more so. Despite a late tee time we were lucky to get away on time as a big competition was also scheduled there and they graciously let us go first.
Despite looking a bit brown the course was in good condition with plenty of grass on the fairways and even paced greens. The low scores could not be blamed on the course, a very disappointing round for most with the bulk of the scores in the twenties, only four players managed to break thirty.
Alan Howard top scored with thirty-five points, he has been a model of consistency lately. Another who plays consistently, Paul Smith took second with thirty-two points, one ahead of Michael Brett in third. Keith Norman kept his hand in for Friday’s second round of the club championship with thirty points while Hubert Stiefenhofer rounded out the winners circle with twenty-nine points. Nobody was able to hit the seventeenth green leaving three near pins taken as listed.
Friday, December 12th
Bangpra
Club Championship 2nd round
1st Paul Smith (6) 36 points
2nd Uwe Jurgensen (24) 33 points
3rd Les Cobban (12) 33 points
4th Michael Brett (18) 32 points
5th Robby Watts (12) 32 points
Near pins Bil Richardson X 2, Les Cobban, & Michael Brett.
The second round of the annual club championships was played at Bangpra in overcast conditions. A big attrition rate from the first round with at least nine players not willing to compete for a variety of reasons, mostly because they were no longer in a position to win.
The course was in good condition and with no wind to speak of there were no excuses for low scores, nevertheless that’s precisely what we got, the bulk of the scores were very average.
As is usually when the chips are down and the whips are cracking the cream rises to the top. Playing consistent golf over the two days Paul Smith won the day with thirty-six points Second place went to Uwe Jurgensen with thirty-three points beating Les Cobban on countback. A countback also to settle the last two places on the winners list with Michael Brett taking it from Robby Watts despite a Barry Crocker with the putter. Bil Richardson was the star of the near pin’s competition taking two, and one each to Les Cobban and Michael Brett.
With a net sixty-nine on Monday and a net seventy-two today (a total of net one hundred and forty-one) Paul Smith was the clear winner of the club championship. Runner-up went to Uli Mueller who fought hard but couldn’t make up the difference finishing with a net one hundred and forty-six over the two days
Round 1 Club Championship winner Tony Robbins.
Alan Howard, winner at Mountain Shadow.
Tony Robbins presents the Club Champions trophy to Paul Smith.
