Stuart Syme Storms to Stunning Tuesday Triumph
New member Stuart Syme playing in his first midweek medal at Fereneze managed to edge out Captain Tommy Kelly by 1 shot with a superb nett 66. Stuart's thrown himself into his membership and played a number of rounds to get a handicap representative of his form at his new course but this score is his best yet, clearly the hard baked fairways and greens are suiting him better than his previous home at Mearns Castle...which surely now is also running and fast!
Solid stuff from Stuart with nothing less than nett bogey recorded and the highlight being a par net eagle at 8.
Tommy started like a train with 3 birdies in the opening 4 holes, including 2 x 2s (very profitable today) a further birdie at 18 and a couple of bogeys at 6 and 10 added up to a gross 70 and nett 67. That's Tommy's best counting score at Fereneze since September 2023...what is it with the captaincy at Fereneze? It seems to equal better golf if the last few incumbents are anything to go by....there you go....improve your golf....become Captain!
Third place went to Michael Hart (those Harts love a top 3 finish). An excellent back 9 of level par 35 added to the front 9 of 40 gave Michael 75 nett 68.
4 players were tied on 2 under:
- John McBurney improved his back 9 by 13 shots versus his front 9...there's proof you should stick at it!
- Craig Coleman rediscovered some of last seasons form today it seems with a level par 71 which included 5 birdies, I can see the debrief with dad Jim now..."5 birdies and still not under par". Nice to see Craig posting a score!
- Another new member Josh McCurry had a solid round of 80 which included a birdie at the last. Fair play to Josh having just gained a handicap in the last month and getting out and competing! The makings of a proper Fereneze member right there!
- And someone who needs no introduction, Simon Leonard completed the quartet on 2 under, no birdies in a 76 that had 13 pars and 5 bogies.
There's no real need to talk about the gross winner to be honest so let's move on.....Oh Ok then....the best Gross score and taking the maximum Order of Merit points is Club Champion Richie Elrick who shot a 67 hot on the heels of a general play 65 on Sunday. The measure of good golf, in my eyes anyway, is more about how few bogies someone is having versus how many birdies they are making so (say it quietly) I'm impressed it was a blemish free 14 pars and 4 birdies for 67.
Order of Merits
Nett
Still early days as it's the 2nd event but Ian Graham (courtesy of his 20 "turning up" points) edges ahead of Stuart Syme who catapults straight into 2nd on his medal debut. Tommy Kelly goes to 4th tucked behind Brian Johnston again courtesy of the 20 participation points.
Gross
Tommy Kelly jumps to tied 3rd in the Gross OOM too. Richie Elrick jumps to tied first with Callum Macaulay with David Miller alongside Tommy in tied 3rd.
Participation and Analysis
We had another 83 members take part today, that matches the amount from Tuesday Medal 1 and represents an 8% increase on the same event last year.
- Hole number 12 was the easiest hole on the course giving up 6 birdies.
- The first hole was the 2nd easiest only 4 players recording a 7 or more at that hole.
- The 3rd and 6th were the 2 most difficult, the 3rd playing only 0.03 of a shot harder than 6.
- The 8th and 17th had the most birdies (8)
- 15 had the most bogeys (43)
- There were 8 2's in total (4 in each division) paying £11.75 each in Division 1 and £9 each in Division 2.
And Finally
I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning this...Chris Healy, one of my great friends from way back in my childhood growing up together in Auchenback re-joined us this year having been away from golf for some time after having a very good junior career at Fereneze. Anyway as you know I keep an eye on the leaderboard and I was delighted to see Chris up there around the turn, checked his scorecard out...41 gross, 2 under nett, par at 10, net 3...3 under through 10....smashing....well up until that point. 3 10s and an 8 on the way in ruined all the good work but the good news is there's something to work with there.
If it's any consolation at the county event on Sunday one of the scratch golfers had 2 9s and a 10 on his card...it can happen to anyone!