Masa Gets a Taste for Green Jacket

It’s true that it takes a little longer to travel to Royal Lakeside Golf Club, but when you arrive and enter the magnificent clubhouse, then walk through to the vast and immaculate practice greens and practice bunkers, it makes the trip worthwhile, and you have yet to see the course.

The first hole is 490 yards in length with a slight dog-leg right and cut just for golfers. When you reach the Green you will find it true and with good speed, just made for putting.

The rest of the course and greens are as good as this first hole.

We usually expect high stableford scores here ( rightly or wrongly?) and today we did see that type of scoring.

The surprise packet was Nigel Harrison with 40 points and taking out “B” flight (15+) making this his best score for quite some time.

Colin Service has been wondering where his game went, but it was back today and he racked up a cool 36 points, for second place. Derek Phillips is running hot and cold lately and did well to get third spot with 35 points, while that man Gordon Laviolette was there again, even after a handicap reduction, scoring 33 points for fourth.

Speaking of hot, Masa Takano made another 41 points to win “A” flight (0-14) and don his second Green Jacket in 7 days. This top player is really is getting a taste for it.

Paul Smith, sporting an unusually high handicap, and consistent Chris Barker, were both right behind with 40 points each. Paul had 21 points on the run in to just edge into second. Connie Walsh quietly slipped into fourth with a nicely done 39 points.

Near pins: Paul Smith cleaned up taking hole numbers (3) (6) + (15), and Mark Oliver (12) the remaining pin.

“A” Flight (0-14)

1^st  Place – Masa Takano (8 ) -41 pts

2^nd Place – Paul Smith (5) -40 pts c/back

3^rd Place – Chris Barker (12) – 40 pts

4^th Place – Connie Walsh (14) – 39 pts

“B” Flight (15+)

1^st  Place – Nigel Harrison (22) – 40 pts

2^nd Place – Colin Service (16) – 36 pts c/back

3^rd Place – Derek Phillips (19) – 35 pts

4^th Place – Gordon Laviolette (23) – 33 pts

The honour of the best front nine ( non winners) went to Andy Kelleher with 19 points on c/back whilst the best back nine score was recorded by George Mueller (17 points c/back).

Andy Kelleher’s day didn’t finish there. He had paid his Green Fee, Caddie, Cart and t-hen when asked to produce the paperwork on the first tee, found he had lost ( mis-placed) them. Some panic, maybe have to pay again? But in charged Maurice Roberts calling for the owner of these vouchers. All ended well, but Andy deserved and received the “silly hat”

John Pearce made his final bow this trip re-uniting with his favourite “wig” for the lowest score of the day.