But, was it a lesson learned?
The forecasts earlier in the week suggested that it might have been a fairly miserable day today with rain, hail and cold winds in the offing. As the week progressed, the forecast progressively improved, and, as it turned out, we really only had a bit of a cold wind to contend with, although the sun did take its time to peek above the horizon and start to warm the cockles of the nineteen hearts that were out on the course. The early morning chatter centred on whether the handicapper had been too severe or had been too soft on last week’s winner. To quote David Walliams, The computer says No!
Somebody did suggest that ChrisJ should just go out and win it anyway. And, what do you know, he did just that. And, in fact, he won the medal by a fair margin with his 83 off the stick for a net score of 66. After the round, the discussion centred around how much he would (or should) be cut for next week. There were not too many blemishes on the card at all, although the front nine could have left a little to be desired. After that time to warm up, the back nine was almost a blitz, with just one small hiccup on the 17th and only five over par for the nine.
Jim carried on a treat about how he had been at the driving range during the week, and had been hitting them really well, and how he was struggling to get away a decent shot today. Admittedly, there were a few shots that were best described as forgettable, however he did put together enough good ones to score a spot in second place with his net score of 71. And, despite his shock a few weeks back to find that he was classified as a Senior, he seemed quite chuffed with his second first placing in that event today. Pepsi also used the front nine to get going and put in a much better showing on the back to get to share second place. Just think of it as an early birthday present, Peps, and the Birthday Birdie will check in with you later in the week.
Stef managed to find some strife on the first, either from a shot that was too good, or one that was too bad, depending on your point of view. But, he recovered well and was going OK until disaster struck again on the 8th leaving him with what he felt was a pretty shabby front nine. Two over the card on the back brought some respectability and a net of 72 for a share of third place. Harry struggled a bit with his short game on the front, and he had resigned himself to a place on the scrap-heap. However, the turn brought about a turn in fortune and he, too, managed to net 72 and the three points. Gordon was back on deck with his newly embroidered navel, and, despite a little tenderness, he was also able to share the spoils, although he was ruing a triple on the 17th that might have robbed him of even greater glory. Brendon could have won the medal if he had not ‘blown’ seven shots on the last two holes. The debatable point is whether a pair of ‘double pars’ could have been converted into ‘single pars’. Regardless of the outcome of that debate, he is still only eligible for the three points for third place.
Noodles was noted to be walking around a bit on the gingerly side which is probably not surprising after some minor surgery quite close to his ginger. He reckons standing up is better than sitting down at the moment. He managed to chip in for another birdie on the third and that helped him to his net score of 73, and it also contributed to the total of seven that we managed for the day. CJ almost took himself out of the game on the 17th as he tried to negotiate a shot across the penalty area by the green. The ball collected a tree pretty much dead centre, came straight back at him and passed so close that he felt the wind on his cheek. He regained his composure sufficiently to score a double on the hole and a net 73 for a share of 4th place. Speculation was rife during the week about the imminent return to form of Rob after his lesson early in the week. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and here we find Rob in the prize list right alongside brother CJ. And, this has nothing to do with the fact that he had ‘lost’ his card halfway through the front nine, only to find it in his pocket on the 10th. Targe filled the last podium spot on his own with his net of 74, and he was quite pleased to take the point on offer.
ChrisJ was the carrier of the NTP markers today, and he proceeded to make good use of them. His shot for the BallPin on the 12th remained unchallenged for the rest of the field. He wasn’t quite so accurate on the 15th for the ProPin, and it was left to Stef to lay claim to the money with a shot to 1.75m. Stef did suffer a few nervous moments when Whitey and Harry both challenged, but they couldn’t quite match it, and the money was his. ChrisJ went close to claiming a second ball on the 18th, but he was bumped out by Old Reliable, who collected yet another in his quest never to buy a ball again.
SOS was on fire and could see himself with the medal hanging around his neck – until the 8th – where some errant shots lead him to barely avoid double figures. Blighty also had some problems on the 8th with two balls heading OOB. He ‘saved’ the day by chipping in for an eight, but it did little to alleviate his ‘epic fall from grace’ as he so succinctly put it. Whitey also managed a double OOB, although his was on the 3rd, so his hopes of glory did not last as long as those of SOS. And, he didn’t manage to avoid the dreaded double figures.
Although Rob made it to the points table today, and we don’t want to lessen the impact of his lesson, his round was not without incident, and he managed a ‘double’ draughtie on the 17th although he only ‘paid’ it as one. CJ reckons we should keep a tally of draughties for the year and award a trophy for the most. Rob reckons the trophy should be a slab to compensate for the number that he buys. Whether such a trophy would encourage members to try harder (to make draughties or not to make draughties) is a matter for debate. Bob had his fair share of trouble today. He also draughted on the 8th to make it only halfway to the reds so a ‘double’ was not entirely out of the question, but was easily avoided. The buggy control continues to plague him as well, with a crash into the kerbing at the 10th and a capsize on the hill down from the 17th. The main casualty of the latter was his pack of fruit jubes and his composure.
Results for Saturday, 03 July 2021
1st Chris James (66) 2nd Jim Belevski (71) 2nd Andrew Petricola (71) 3rd Stefan Belevski (72) 3rd Harry Boughen (72) 3rd Gordon Hill (72) 3rd Brendon Mitchell (72) 4th Stephen Butterfield (73) 4th Chris Priems (73) 4th Robert Priems (73) 5th Targe Mifsud (74)
Seniors Results: 1st Jim Belevski (71) 2nd Gordon Hill (72) 2nd Harry Boughen (72) 3rd Chris Priems (73)
Nearest the Pin Results: ProPin – 15th Stefan Belevski BallPin No 1 – 12th Chris James BallPin No 2 – 18th Craig Cameron