Match Report

2012 – CGA Championship – Pine Ridge, Camberley
http://www.pineridgegolf.co.uk
1st – Andy (23) 30 points (14 out, 16 back)
2nd – Dave (20) 30 points (14 out, 16 back)
3rd – Paul (16) 19 points (10 out, 9 back)
4th – Joe (25) 16 points (7 out, 9 back)

The first annual CGA Tour would draw to a close on a windy Autumn day at an excellent Pine Ridge Golf course. On the morning of the event 3 of the 4 players could still win the overall tour title and be the proud first owners of the green jacket. For Dave it was just a matter of pride, looking for his first event win (shades of pro-evo, 3 tournaments without a goal!). Little did we know what an eventful day was in store. The night before the event the players would meet for a pre-game Pizza at the local Chinese, the tour favourite Paul was clearly a little upset as the other 3 players tried to put him off his game. What Paul didn’t know is that Joe, Andy and Dave met at the driving range at 10am the next day for a little practice before the start of the days play, I wish I could see his face as he reads this. Club sandwiches all round, Paul arriving on central European time ala Rory Mcilroy and the event was ready to begin.

Joe took to the first tee as the previous tournament winner, a crowd of 5 at the starters hut. A huge swing and the practice from the morning clearly paid off as he sent the ball high and wild into the trees… the Championship was under way, at least until the second tee where the cast of the only way is Camberley were queuing up to take their shots. This was the story of the first few holes as Andy and Dave took a one shot lead over Paul and Joe was putting in some extra leg work zig zagging across the fairways. Fortunately play would speed up for the rest of the front nine, Joe struggled to find his tournament winning form, Paul striking the ball as clean as anyone just in the wrong direction (don’t let him tell you he has a Handicap disadvantage) and some surprising consistency from Dave and Andy, in fact if Andy had practiced his chipping in the morning he would have had a big lead at the half way hut.

Front nine completed, snickers all round and some calculations – this is where the fun started! Andy and Dave tied for the lead and Paul some shots back with a slight lead on Joe, between the four great minds we worked out that if Andy won the tournament Paul would have to come at least second to win the overall title, suddenly he needed his brother Dave to find some form and was wondering if he should have given him that short put for an extra point. The game continued, Andy playing some fine golf with a typical hole going as follows…big drive, hundred yards left to the green… chip…… chip……… chip….. one put for a 5. Tension was building as we reached the dog leg 15th. Dave had taken a one shot lead and was holding off some fierce competition from Smudge, Paul opened the gap on Joe. Dave tee’d off, way right oh no a door open for Andy. HANG ON, a tree, a mighty bounce and the ball finished on the opposite side of the fairway. It was now all about Andy and Dave, Andy wanting the point to tie the scores and get overall victory on countback, Dave desperate for a trophy and hoping to help his brother achieve the tour title.

Onto the 17th an easy looking par 3 but frightening in this tight situation. Dave up first, right edge of the green with a tricky downhill chip, Andy – centre of the green putting downhill, Paul – back of the green and finding some late form. Three balls surrounding the Pin, up steps Joe… you guessed it, trees off to the left as he dismissed the pro tip. Dave would play a poor chip and ended up on the edge of the green, door open for Andy. No, Door closed a great put from Dave for a par three. Andy also with a solid 2 puts for par. We all helped Joe find his ball.

Down the last Dave still holding a one shot lead and just what none of us wanted ahead. A Par 5. Andy and Dave followed each other shot for shot and 100 yards from the green both played solid chips under pressure, Dave on the fringe close to the pin and Andy hitting the right side of the green. No one really cared what Paul and Joe were doing at this point! Andy would play a fabulous put to get down in 2 and Dave would be left with a 5 yarder for the event and to make sure Paul won the tour title, it doesn’t get better than this. Shades of Martin Kaymer in the Ryder cup except Dave missed the put by at least two holes and Andy would celebrate like a cheerleader. In to the bar for a drink, plenty of abuse and Andy leaving as Championship and Tour winner! Later that week confusion over handicaps would show Paul could have actually been the true winner and Dave won the Championship, they also proved the meaning of the universe but decided to stick with the original results and the first annual CGA tour would come to an end. Roll on 2013…