Greville Grinds Out Glorious Golf in Gusty Gales

 

Analytics 

 

Another breezy 'neze today after similar conditions last week. Hopefully we see an improvement in the weather over the next few weeks. This was the highest average score of the season, narrowly beating last weeks average with the average score today being 90.47. The winning score was the 2nd highest of the season too. 

 

Now I'm not putting it solely down to the higher tee but it may be a factor....the 3rd WAS NOT the hardest hole today, merely 3rd at 1.55 over it's par of 5. The 13th was the hardest hole on the course with no birdies and only 9 pars recorded there and it playing at 1.83 over par. The 6th played second hardest at 1.73 over it's par.

 

9 & 16 were the 2 easiest holes on the course, both had eagles, Michael Hart Jnr at 9 and Eddie Byrne at 16. There was also an eagle for Andy Duncan at 18, rounding off an interesting card. lots of pars which was good today and an 11 at 3, not so good. 

 

Scratch Medal

 

I frequently comment on Michael Hart Jnr's consistency and how often he's in the top 3, well today he managed to come out on top, only just right enough beating Stuart Dickson on the BIH by 1 shot. Stuart won this medal last year too, so clearly likes the beginning of July. Michael's birdie versus Stuart's bogey at 17 helping him edge top spot. Andrew Buttar followed up his excellent round last week with a more than respectable 73 today. 

 

First Class Medal 

 

Well, he's clearly a better stroke play golfer than a match play golfer if our pairs partnership is anything to go by (or maybe I'm the problem) but I'm delighted that Michael Gribben secured the First Class medal today with an excellent net 69, gross 76. A new driver in the bag clearly offsetting his early years of fatherhood. A really solid back 9 of 36 doing the damage after a mid round wobble which included a snowman at 8! He also had the trauma of watching Andy Duncan play the 3rd. 

 

Craig Shaw was the one to miss out on the BIH to Michael, his front 9 being the stronger half with 3 gross birdies at 3, 4 and 9. More on Craig later. Gary Easdon was the only other player to shoot net under par and secures 3rd spot. 

 

Second Class Medal 

 

Veteran Member Jim McNeil was one of only 2 players who broke par nett in 2nd Class and secured a 1 shot victory over Arran Sudding. Jim played the par 3s in level par, 2 pars, a bogey at 7 and a birdie at 4 to offset that. A strong finish after a couple of iffy holes at 12 and 13, no disgrace there though as both were playing tough. Like Jim, Arran made 6 at 12 and suffered at the 3rd but played some really steady stuff apart from that for nett 70. A similar story for George Morrison who led for part of the day, some very steady scoring on display from George with halves of 41 and 42 for nett level and third spot.

 

Third Class Medal 

 

I've said this before of 1 or 2 3rd Class medal winners but I was really pleased to see Andrew Greville's name on top, not only of 3rd Class but the overall nett scoring today. Andrew's only taken the game up in the last couple of years and struggled at points last year but is slowly but surely coming down (despite dad Peter's advice I'm sure) and today was Andrew's best competitive score of the 22 he's submitted and breaking 100 for only the 3rd time, some day to do it! You can see the highlights on the graphic above. 

 

Fellow Andrew (Gillespie) matched the nett 68 and the card is again very consistent stuff given the conditions, nothing more than a 6 (although there was more than Andy would like on the front 9) playing off 23 is superb playing today and in the end only lost out due to Andrew G's birdie at the last, which was some bounce back after making triple at 17. 3 players tied on nett +3, Russell Guthrie taking the (not) sizeable sweep money for 3rd. 

 

FerEx

 

Zero change in the top 4 after today, all staying as they were although those in 2nd, 3rd and 4th made up ground on early season leader Clark Hill. I played with Simon Leonard today and he's unfortunate not to have more than the 96 he accrued today after playing very well. Craig Shaw had his 2nd top 5 finish today and gained 100 points. Anand Poddar had his 2nd worst finish of the season (32nd) hardly a disgrace so lbit of ground on Craig and Simon. 

 

George Morrison moves from 9th to 5th with his best placed finish so far this season. Michael Gribben's 3rd place moves him up 14 from 20th to 6th. Last years winner Jim Coleman moves menacingly into the top 10 after another consistent FerEx placing. Andrew Greville's win catapults him 168 places from 228th to 60th. Captain Tommy Kelly occupies that precious 30th spot.