Beds and Cambs Winter Pro Am
Yesterday the club hosted the Beds and Cambs winter Pro Am where 23 teams took part in a two tee start in a medal round for the Pro's and a team stableford for the amateurs. Sarah, Aaron and I all took part so bragging rights for the end of season were up for grabs. Sarah got a complaint in early as she was made to play some holes off the yellow tees, nothing to do with me, honest, but it’s incredible what a Costa for the organiser can buy you. Turns out this was not a problem as she pared the holes concerned so maybe next year we might have to stick her off the white discs. I had a dream team of Seb Vallance, Paul Golder and Martin Meacher. After watching them all blast it down the middle on the first, I tried to follow suit and hit a gentle cut round the corner, didn't quite go to plan as my second shot was to be taken from the ladies tee on the tenth. Ensuring complaint number two from Sarah as I punched one into the trees taking an adequate divot from her tee I managed to play a sand iron to two feet but lipped the putt for an improbable par. Thankfully the team were on hand to mop up my mistakes and we got off to a flyer. From there on in I played steady if unspectacular golf to go round in 74, pipping Aaron by one as he by the sounds of it lipped out his way round to a 75 and Sarah by a couple more. Apparently she won the sweep for being in the most bunkers possible on the back nine. As for my team, we had lots of birdies and nett eagles but unfortunately we gave too many back at the same time and finished on 80 points. Aaron's team managed 83 and Sarah's team also managed a credible 80 points but the winners on countback with 86 points were Lee Scarbrow's team from John O'Gaunt. At the end there is normally a board up so everyone knows where they stand and who’s in the prizes. Due to a freak car boot accident the normal organiser wasn't there so no one was any the wiser until the prize giving started. Incredibly Aaron and me were both in the top 5 and got in the money. If only I could get paid out every time I shot a 74 life would be easy. The winner was the only Pro to break par, Stuart Brown with a 67. Stuart has had a stellar season in the East Region and always seems to play well when he comes to Saffron Walden so it was no surprise to see him at the top of the leaderboard. I thought due to the be-nine conditions there might be some good scores out there. Yes it was cold and the ball wasn't travelling as far, maybe a few hidden pins sorted the assistants out from the pros but I thought the course played really well, greens were lovely and fairways were nice to hit from. After speaking to a few Pro's afterwards they were full of praise for the condition of the course and wished theirs could be like it at this time of year. Thanks to all those who took part from the club, to the green staff and the catering staff for their hard work on the day and also thanks to my team for their company and efforts to what could have been.
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