Posted on behalf of Captain Loveless
Myself and everyone’s favourite club pro Matt Stock attended the PGA Golfplan Pro Captain Challenge at Kings Hill Golf Club on Monday 2nd September.
The main prize up for grabs was a place in the finals to be played in Turkey in November.
We got off to a cracking start with a birdie on the opening par 5 and by the turn we were 7 under including my first ever back to back birdies on the 7th and 8th holes birdies carding a 3 and a 2 (unfortunately I didn’t get shots on these holes otherwise it would have been back to back net eagles!). With Captains playing off ¾ handicap most heats around the UK had been won with 8 or 9 under so at 7 under on the turn we thought we were well on the way…
As we approached the 10th tee the first team was already in and the leading score in the club house was from Ashford at 12 under! That wiped the smiles off our faces and the challenge was on to score six under on the back…
We opened the first 3 holes on the back 9 with another birdie, par and net birdie to get to 9 under with 6 to play. Just 4 birdies/net birdies needed from 6 holes to get to the finals!
Good drives on 13 and 14 delivered pars but not the birdies needed to close the gap leaving three birdies needed out of 4 holes just to draw level. With no idea on how a count back situation would pan out the feeling was that it was now slipping away…and the sun was getting hotter and we were melting.
On 15 Matt fired a huge drive into the air that settled just short of the par 4 green. A chip and a putt delivered the next birdie – 10 under and two off the lead but only 3 holes to play.
The 16th hole beckoned and good drives all round.
My second shot dropped into the bunker short of the green…my shot from the bunker landed on the green 8’ from the pin. The putt wound its way to the pin caught the edge of the cup and lipped out…a simple tap in for a net par but no net birdie. Agony!
The last two holes were closed out with a par from Matt and a net par by myself …Handshakes all round with praise from our playing partners from Seckford GC for our highly commendable 10 under par and a good chance of 2nd place.
As we waited in the club house with beer and food Matt pointed out that only 2 other teams in the whole national event had managed to beat 10 under par.
Scores can be seen at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi13/event/pgagbi13419/contest/3/leaderboard.htm
I would also like to thank Matt for a thoroughly enjoyable day out.
Cheers Graham
2nd, a fantastic result. Well done both.
All the best pairs come second graham!!!!!