PGA Weekly Reports

Report: Friday 19/12/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Big Paul deservedly took the pre-Xmas cash with a solid performance from his faithful 3 iron. Will 2009 see the return of any woods in his bag? Perhaps Santa knows the answer!

Dom suffered a double mystery missing ball up both the 8th and 9th - saving himself for Saturday's comp???

Thanks for another great golfing year everyone. We have had our awesome Platinum tour to Barnbougle Dunes, the Classic at Kooindah Waters and another tough and well battled out tour up the coasat at Magina. Thank you to everyone who's has contributed to the continued organisation of PGA events and we can look forward to the new year with The Gong in March.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 05/12/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Another PGA record shattered!

The back 9 at Wakehurst was subjected to an intense mauling by the Chairman who opened up with Birdie and proceeded to score a further 4 pars. The Doors will record a Stroke day 41 off the stick, NTP and 4 under ‘cap. Boom.

I hope Andy isn't late paying!


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 28/11/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Just Paul & I out for stroll around the back nine. Paul had 13 points thru the last 6 holes, winning form in anyone's book. But was pipped by the chairman who sunk a birdie putt on 16th to wrestle the lead. Like a rabied dog, frothing at the mouth with the scent of victory I wasn't going to let a determined late challenge take the cash-o-la.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 21/11/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

I’m going to buy a lotto ticket after that round. With a birdie on 6th followed by an approach to the 7th that bounced into the hole. Sweet!


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 14/11/2008

Written by: Paul Easten

On another great morning for golf, Dom made a wise decision to duck out this morning as Andy and myself put on a fine display. There was nothing to separate us from the first shot until the 7th as we matched each other hole for hole, point for point, both sitting on 12 points after 6 holes. On the 7th, Andy's 2nd to the green took a bad bounce out of bounds to open the door for me, which I gratefully accepted, taking a 2 point lead. I made the extra shot for me count on the 8th to open up a 3 point advantage going into the last. With the pressure off, I sent a sweet tee shot down the Tiger line as Andy played his straight down the middle. His 2nd to the green left him with a guaranteed par and 3 points which put the pressure back on as I discovered I'd found the bunker. Scrambling out and then finding the slope at the back of the green, it was looking like a putt off was on the cards. Andy duly took his par and I managed to save a point and take the big bucks.
Chris texted in to see if his 42 point total at the Pambula Comp (which the bandit won!) qualified!


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 31/10/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

The flies are back.

Smashed it!

D


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 24/10/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

After our 3 day celebration of everything glorious about the PGA and golf, it was back to business at the Wake. Someone forgot to tell the weatherman that we were back from Tassie and he sent us out in biting cold. Beanies, jackets and gloves – where was summer? A tight cluster of balls at the first dogleg suggested we are getting the hang of this course – playing from the very front tees.

2 holes later the field was scattered far and wide. Our Platinum champion showed impressive form with birdie on 7th and charged home with 9points over the last 3 holes. Andy aimed for double figures but fell agonizingly short but has got a new putter. Paul was just pleased he could tell Charlotte that he wasn’t fourth this week and finished with a Par. I scored a cap buster and $30 bucks.

So with only 6 months till the tour, foci turns to the Saturday night and a BIG drink up to say a fond farewell to Bill. See you at the Opera Bar – just don’t let Marty near the Baileys.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 03/10/2008

Written by: Andrew Hill

Four pairs of hairy white legs, sticking out of shorts that have seen little action for the past 6 months, strode confidently onto the first tee. Dom drove his tee shot almost 34 metres and Chris shanked his into the water on his way to an opening 11. Paul and I weren't much better. God help us at Barnbougle!

Paul and I were all square at the end and had a putt off on the 18th...

For the boys who handed over all their cash to me and are broke for the long weekend, here is a Banana Bread recipe that you can use for an inexpensive treat.


Ingredients
110g butter, soft
200g caster sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
285g (2 level cups) self- raising flour
4 ripe bananas, mashed

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a 13cm by 25cm loaf tin and dust with flour.
Meanwhile cream the butter and sugar together until light in colour. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Fold in the flour and mashed banana alternately. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.

Spoon the mixture into the tin and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. If the top of the bread gets too dark cover it with foil and continue to bake.

Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes and turn out onto a wire rack to continue to cool.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 26/09/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Dom maintained his recent run of form with another Birdie on the 6th. Putting from 1m after an impressive approach. Pauley is more concerned about getting a stroke back before the tour , I'm sure he'll be out there over the next two weeks! With all the talk on the tour, now only 3 weeks away, it was time for the chairman to break the drought.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 19/09/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

The Chairman had a quiet word with me about my rambling apple story last week, said it wasn’t funny enough and I should try to be more descriptive about the weather, number of shots taken per hole, how quick the greens were running etc. but I am the King with all the money, a diamond mine in South Australia and a handicap smaller than a Gerbil’s nut sack. Millions of pars today, 3 for me plus a couple of birds left me 3 over off the stick, Hillsong pushed for some coin but could only manage a weak par to finish..thses days that just ain’t good enough!

D


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 12/09/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

Does anyone ever read these?

When I got home from golf this morning some scruffy old geezer who said he was a farmer walked up my drive and sold me a box of apples and a box of mandarins for a hungey. He said if I keep them in the shade they will last for three months. I recon there is 50 apples and 50 mandarins in each box which means Booker , Paul and Andy each discounted my investment by 5 apples and 5 mandarins. Sweet.

D


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 05/09/2008

Written by: Paul Easten

The fair weather golfers that Andy was expecting still didn't show, then again Andy didn't either (after all there were some clouds on the horizon).There were reported sightings of him seen leaving a tanning salon!
So to the first we headed with opening pars for me and Chrissy. Being stroke Friday no-one could afford to slip up, so all three of us duly found the water on the third! Dom followed his 8 with a mighty 10 on the fourth to end any hopes of breakfast on the boys. Chris played his usual tidy game with a slight lead until he found the trees and not his ball on the eighth. This gave Dom a slight hope, asking Chris to put another couple in there. With Chris carding a 9 my opportunity opened up and I made sure with a par on the ninth. Four pars, NTP and a cap busting round of 2 under sets me up perfectly for 'The Chairmans Invitational' at Kooindah Waters tomorrow. 40 bucks the richer, I'm off to raise my offer on a house!!


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 15/08/2008

Written by: Andrew Hill

The worm has turned. Warm sun greeted us on the first tee rather than the stark cold winter darkness we have endured for the last few months. A steady stream of fair weather PGA golfers is expected to join the morning throngs as Spring kicks in and the tour looms.

My balls were glowing this morning, as if by magic.

Wipes and pars abounded. Chris, Dom and Paul fought it out for second place. It was pathetic.

Thanks for the funds boys, Fiji Bitter has never tasted so sweeeeeeeeeeeet.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 01/08/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

I kissed a girl and I liked it…

Booker was laying into it early but fell apart offering is ball up twice to every bunker on the 4th, a couple of O.A.B’s on the 5th and he declared himself G.A.Y.

Mr Price applied the pressure despite his poor quality golf outfit aimed at the low income 16 to 24 year old Cape Towner. By the ninth he thought he had a chance but I crushed his self esteem and bank balance by sinking a cool birdie putt.

It was warm and light by 6.15am this morning, only 12 weeks away from our Tasmanian extravaganza, time to shape up, sharpen your mind and learn to win.

Another $40 bucks in my Clacutta bucket.

…taste of her cherry chap stick.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 18/07/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Andy got into gear for the Freeman cup by wiping the first 3 holes. Clearly he found the humiliation of wearing a Pink cap too much and spent the early holes scurrying around in the bushes. Dom showed some delicate touches and with 4 pars should have done better. However a good week on the course golf continued for the Chairman, who after winning the IBM golf day at Terrey Hills kept it steady to take out the Friday pot.

A reminder to all that the Freeman Cup is Sat 26th July at Kooindah Waters.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 11/07/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

As a true Scotsman Big Alan turns up in mid winter completely under dressed for the occasion. Not to be deterred by a wind chill of 1C he picks a ball from his sporran and strokes it down the fairway. Times have changed since Al last joined us – we used to play in daylight – so with fingers turning blue we all did well to score on the first.

The bitter wind was our excuse for all wiping the 2nd, but I can’t make any excuses for Dom trying the old “I didn’t know you got an extra stroke on that hole” trick!

Pars were a premium and anything close to the green in regulation impressive. Dom tried gamely to hang in there with a par on the 8th giving him hope. But like a good catholic priest his chances of coming from behind were spoilt by a messy attempt to enter the final green through the backdoor.

With the odds of a win stacked firmly in my favour I took aim at the Korean ladies rudely putting on our green and sent them scurrying back to where they belonged.

Thanks for the game fellas and bring on the Freeman Cup.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 04/07/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Not the best of Friday's for Wellsy, who unloaded half a dozen ProV1's into various ponds, bushes, scrub and OOB's before proceeding back into the proshop to start haggling about the price of balls. "They weren't that expensive in my day".... on top of that he had the indignity of having to hand over a twenty to the chairman after getting battered 3&2 in matchplay.


Direct link to this report

Report: Friday 27/06/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Wellsy was back from Thailand and was surprisingly knowledgable on the Euro-man with ladyboy scene. Pauley and I tried to concentrate on the golf but clearly the mid-winter break had done the "old fossil" some good and he displayed some nice touches around the greens allowing him to recoup a twenty.

Should be noted that Paul sunk a massive 25 footer on the 13th for a birdie and had another ripper one-put on eleven. But the golfing gods got their revenge!!!

Hit them straight


Direct link to this report

Report: Friday 20/06/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

In an attempt to make golf more attractive to working men Andy suggested that we only play 7 holes. So off the back we went in the dark muttering about fluro balls. Clearly focused by the newly shorten version of the great game, Andy was quickly into full swing and was the only scorer on the 10th.

Andy marched onwards to a mid winter victory and looked to have the game bagged after par'ing the par3 13th. Paul was taking his time getting into gear and was possibly more interested in getting home to watch Euro2008.

Andy's wayward approach to 15th opened the window and I didn't need a second invitation to haul back 3 points, a pair of bogey's on 16 meant we were all tied up after 7holes. The old fart playing behind embarrassed himself after giving us some lip earlier he barely managed to reach the water hazard and after fishing for his ball decided not to mess with the PGA's finest. Pauley by now was ready to rumble!!

Now we had a 2 hole "play-off" but it was all over after 17, Andy licking his wounds and running off down 18 without hitting a shot.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 23/05/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

Sitting here on my throne like a muscled up version of David Beckam, I can but reflect on my less fortunate playing partners, Booker like a lame kitten sniffing his way around a parless, wipe tainted round, Pauley limping across the finish like a middle aged fun runner and Andy finishing strong but still mentally fragile following his wife’s rejection of her mother’s day present.

As for me, another flawless cap buster.

On a final note (if you are still reading) I have been forced into a position that makes me both uncomfortable and sad. An outstanding Platinum deposit remains, despite continuous polite requests and sympathetic time extension the situation has remained unchanged. In order not compromise the individual beyond their own self guilt I have decided not to name them publically however I could not resist the temptation to keep you guessing with this cunning riddle…..

He is Scottish and his name rhymes with Alan Bennet,

See ya losers

Dom


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 16/05/2008

Written by: Chris Booker


The King was radiating confidence in the pre-dawn darkness. However a pair of early botty wipes revealed he is a mere mortal. Three pars late in the game indicate Dom’s swing was in good shape, once there was enough light to see the ball.

Pauley got off to a flyer, played a solid a round and on other weeks would have taken the cash. But the absence of any pars tells the story here.

Martyn was solid, talked a good game and provided enjoyable company for me. Recovering from an early setback I got a hatrick of 3 pointers and birdied 7th before finishing poorly up 9th. Nervously clutching the card, it was all smiles in the back group and when Andy sunk a par on the final green he thought he done enough to take 40 on offer.

A putt-off sorted out the destination of this weeks cash and will be invested into a crate of Pure Blondes for tomorrow's BBQ.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 09/05/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

More wipes than a Kleenex test lab and slower than a que for castration this round confirmed my position in history as the Ultimate King of the PGA.

DW.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 02/05/2008

Written by: Paul Easten

A cold morning wasn't enough to keep the men away, as a total of 5 saw us having to draw for groups. Andy, Dom and myself in group 1, placed 3 perfect tee shots before suggesting that the stake be 20 bucks for todays stroke event. Chris and Martyn were up for it and both followed with equally good tee shots.
It just wasn't happening for Dom today without a par, but Andy showed us yet again why it won't be long before he lifts a trophy with some good solid golf, chipping in for par on the 9th. An opening par and 4 on the bounce between the 5th and 8th put me in the driving seat. Chris and the Longmax were pinging balls at us from all over to suggest they were in the hunt. However, with 5 pars, NTP and a cap busting round of 5 under, the honours were mine along with 80 Big Ones.
Chris and Dom, unaccustomed to getting their hands in their pockets on a Friday morning (or Friday night I hear!) were sent scurrying to their cars to raid the ashtrays and down the backs of seats to scrape together enough shrapnel to sink the Manly Ferry!!
Cheers lads


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 25/04/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

ANZAC pre-dawn finds Mr Hill preparing for a morning raid. With the coordinates dialled in for the back nine it's a bit worring when the early shots start missing the target. After 12 days of rain a few soaky lies are expected and we use this excuse to console ourselves for erratic play.
Pars were at a premium until the Chairman managed to roll one in on the 16th. Andy immediately pulled out his big weapon and fired a ripper down the 17th to pull a shot back. A quick tally up showed AH would need his best swing down the 18th and he didn't disappoint with two majestic woods to the fringe. Staring a crushing defeat in the eyes I dropped a bomb of a wedge into the pin and tucked it away to take the game.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 18/04/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells


Buoyed by his countryman’s success in the Master Any Hillsong went for the green off the 1stTee, but being born in same country does not make up for lack of talent, very thin legs and no talent and he end up in the bush….however his day will come.

Pauly birded the first, parred the second and scored a couple of other pars on route to a handy round, despite wiping the 8th he was sitting on 18 points by the 9th.

Booker found trouble on the 9th when some middle-aged blonde number started playing Ting Tong tricks with his well driven ball; he chastised her and asked her to replace his ball once she had cleaned it thoroughly.

So on the 9th we had Paul on 18pts, Andy on 18pts, me on 17pts and Booker happily sniffing his ball but with some lame score.

I am the only one who can putt, so while the other mongs three putted I slotted a sweet 4 footer in one.

I won they lost and 3 handicaps went down.

Dom


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 11/04/2008

Written by: Andrew Hill

Waiting in the cold on the 10th tee the passing greenkeeper sniggered at our shorts and said ‘you’re brave’. Not as brave as Marty’s hot-pants, I thought.

Play got underway without further humiliation and we were soon into our stride, spaying balls randomly around the course. Paul picked up the NTP on the 13th and a few pars were made on the par threes. We had a chat with the Butcher from Balgowlah on the 16th tee (I thought he was French but it turns out he’s a scouser), who told us that Man U were in control the whole game.

Chris parred the 17th and then initiated a conversation about how putting and whacking off were so similar… Paul and I agreed out of politeness.

Then Chris was almost killed by a stray drive on the 18th, not a word of warning from the perpetrator (who looked French to me, from a distance).

Paul wanted to go for a beer after the game – he obviously doesn’t have much planned for the rest of the day.

[Bruce and Katie, good luck for the Ironman on Sunday.]


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 28/03/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

Hello Goobers

Just raised my Magina enterprise value by smashing 3 pars and a bird for a solid if somewhat protected 20 large.

Wendel showed a bit of form after playing ping pong with Ting Tong on the Asia tour for the past 3 weeks and Pauley was showing the odd touch of magic after a week of horse riding on Fraser Island, said his ar5e was a bit sore which got Wendel all excited reminiscing about truncheon love in pad pong.

All right fellas, looks like I am up for another tour win, the trophy is polished (and in one piece), my going out cords are ironed and I have committed to my life coach to stay off the V&O’s.

I’ll see a few of you at the Waratahs tonight the rest of you monkeys had better hit the range early.

The tour is upon us.

D


Direct link to this report

Report: Friday 21/03/2008

Written by: Martyn Lomax

Everyone played shit, I played slightly less shit.

The bad weather was probably good practice for the tour, forecast looks like Magenta could be wet and windy.

I'm in the zone, bring it on!


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 14/03/2008

Written by: Martyn Lomax

4 months off really does your game a lot of good. With no practice I came back to the Wake with the classic long iron style. However pulling 21 points out of the bag could prove costly at Magenta.

The regular PGAers were out, Dom, Chris and Paul all with solid games. Lots of pars, and only 5 botty wipes between us. The standard of play was great, anyone would think a tour was coming up.

We all got pars on the 6th, even me from off the green.

4 months until I play next, I'll look forward to taking your $10 sometime during July.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 07/03/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Stroke Friday welcomed back Andy Hill, who displayed a great swing as he muscled his way back into contention for the Magenta tour in a 3 weeks. With 2 pars and the NTP, Andy stamped down his mark upon return from an injury ravaged season. Big Pauley aka Matt Dunning peeled off his house clothes and showed the lads the steady long iron draw which is becoming his trademark. Paul opened up his card with an easy Par. These 2 are making themselves contenders for the prestigious tour trophy.

Usually stroke Friday delivers high scores but today 11 pars were recorded. Dom pushed hard on the final hole. With 4 pars already recorded he found some green side trouble and was only pipped for the cash by the Chairman tapping in his 4th par, to take a slender 1 stroke win. With $30 and a 'cap buster I’m looking forward to a few ales and a tasty pub lunch.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game



Report: Friday 29/02/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

Nine hours of rain does nothing to dampen Dom’s enthusiasm, nor the Baltic conditions that required us to rug up. For February the weather is a joke. Let’s hope for improvements in time for the Magenta tour. Seven wipes, bunkers resembling water hazards & a bucket of balls lost between us. Hopefully this says more for the conditions that our golfing prowess.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 22/02/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

The muscle men of the PGA squared up for a best of British dog fight around the Wake. With the moon casting the only light on the first tee a fully ripped D Wells, blazed the trail down the first fairway. An impressive drive on nearly 50m bought back memories of the pre-dawn raids at royal Chatswood.

Pauley showed us how it was done drawing his opening salvo to the corner. Game on. By the 2nd the first rays of sunlight were blamed for Dom’s lost ball, Paul and I temporarily blinded trying to track down this monster drive – but gone it was. With the game slipping away so early Dom turned conversation from golf to his preferred morning tickle – Mosman wives, then broaching unchartered ground on suggestions of a topless calendar for the website. This got Pauley’s heart racing and soon testosterone fuelled shots were raining down on the greens.

All to play for up the 9th, Wellsy had a birdie putt opportunity that slipped passed by but he took consolation in finishing strong with a 3pointer for 14. Paul sunk his bogey putt (17) leaving me with needing to sink a hairy cross green putt for the game, $20 and a played to ‘cap round. Boom - game over.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 08/02/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

It never rains on a Friday morning and today was no exception.

My investment in lessons is paying off, with 1 million shots attributed to me in today’s Stroke Friday where as Booker, who has shunned professional help had 1 million and 1 shots.

We actually tied and had a putt-off on the 9th, I sunk a 35ft down hiller to send Booker limping off to the locker rooms mumbling about coding errors and HTML scripts.

I now have $10 to spend on Andy Hill’s birthday present and am looking forward to his Vicars & Tarts 40th party tonight.

Dom

PS. Magenta – Research indicates this is a tough course where to be a contender you will need to draw down on every handicap shot available. If you have any aspirations of winning the next tour now is the time to get out and play some golf…


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 25/01/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

The first week of inflationary driven raised stakes was clearly enough to cause those cash conscious PGA members to stay in bed. Pauley was notably absent and is still trying to negotiate with his missus for the extra $5 pocket money which he hands over most weeks. Andy’s extended absence is now looking particularly suspicious of handicap protection with the tour only 2 months and his noted desire to auction himself on Ebay with a cap below 20. Big Al was crook so it was left to Booker and Wellsy the seasoned campaigners to battle it out.

Michelle Wie was back and the sight of Korean skirt raised the early tempo with a couple of pars for the Chairman. Dom was soon back in contention as 2 botty wipes from Booker pegged back early good work but inexplicably Dom started missing his bread and butter putts. Another par on the 9th was enough to win the cash, but it’s not about the money – that just pays for the golf balls I lost.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 18/01/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

A blustery morning didn’t put the big Scotsman off and with grey skies he seemed quite at home. Big Al played attacking golf on the opening holes and scored some handy early points. Then the wheels came off and Big Al made his weekly contribution to the bush. Playing some nice long irons and in this form it won’t be long till the big man is challenging for the weekly cash. Nothing much occurred after this, except a motion has been tabled to increase the weekly stake to $10. All those in favour say aye…….

See you Saturday for the bi-annual AGM, beers, banter, tour updates etc.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 11/01/2008

Written by: Dominic Wells

Pauley looked a bit flustered this morning and was covered in talcum powder (something to do with a dirty weekends and spending the night trying to squeeze his considerable frame into a size 8 latex nurses outfit).

Obviously Booker was there and Big Al wondered up with minutes to spare.

A benign start was followed by some intriguing events; I surged with four successive pars (not that surprising) but it was Al’s reaction that raised a few eyebrows; with consistency in mind he wiped six holes in a row! With the year of golf a distant memory the tactic seemed to be only to play shots from the tee – once both attempted shots were confirmed ‘out of bounds’ the Big Man was free to wonder up the fairway to the next tee and repeat the process…Apparently 2008 is the year of running!?

While this was going on Chrissy was bemoaning the physical effects of having to work for living and spazed a fair few, while nurse Paul (I have a mental picture of a heterosexual version of the ‘Only Gay in the Village’) was cruising along nicely.

The wash up was that I won with a cap buster, Pauley was a shot behind with a cap buster, booker was inconspicuous and Big Al is still out there…

FOR SALE
1 x set of Callaway Xps Irons, one careful owner (hardly used) – open to sensible offers but would consider swapping for pair of Nike Pump runners (size 15’s).

Dom


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game

Report: Friday 04/01/2008

Written by: Chris Booker

A meager turnout for the opening PGA event of 2008 as only Paul and Chris rocked up on the 10th. The opening hole of stroke Friday proved costly to the eventual scores but it was Paul who found his early round rhythm and took out a significant lead. However the window was thrown open by a lost ball down 12th and Chris responded with a tidy par and kept the pressure on as Paul lost another up the 14th.

The 16th proved tricky and the doors were level after Paul got up and down from the difficult 17th high-side bunker. The obliging greenkeepers drove over to Paul’s assistance on the 18th, cutting down an interfering bush but his chip was short and the chairman didn’t need another opportunity to grab the notes to start the year.


Direct link to this report | View scores from this game