KANGAROO CUP Pairs Championship
Berkshire 2020
BERKSHIRE - 7th SEPTEMBER 2020
After the disappointment of cancelling the Hayling event in April due to Covid19 lockdown we were all pleased that the relaxation of restrictions enabled the September event to be held. Sadly a number of the usual players were unable to make this date with the added restriction of single use of buggies reducing the entries to 20 players. We welcomed 4 new players to the event, Jamie Salmon, Jason Pitchford, James Askew and Chris Edelsten.
The event kicked off on the Blue course with closest to the pin on the first shot of the day which was a challenging start, but didn’t stop 50% of the teams scoring a nett birdie for their 3 points with Simpson winning the closest to the pin. Maddison & Pitchford had a dream start with 13 points after the 4 better ball holes, followed up by the only 7 pointer of the morning on the Par 5 - 6th hole to turn with 37 points – Maddison shooting a gross 35 one under par. New boys Askew & Edelsten soon worked out the strategy of the scoring format and scored the best back 9 score with 34 points to add to the 30 points on the front to lie 2nd at lunch with 64 points. Maddison & Pitchford added 31 points on the back 9 holes to lead with an impressive 68 points at the halfway stage with all the other teams unable to break into the 60s. Past champion Bragg played solid golf shooting level par 71 to lie in 3rd place with partner Lumley on 59 points.
The lunchtime leaders playing together in the afternoon round, both scored nett Eagles on the Par 5 first for 4 points only matched by 3 times Champions Jackson & Naylor. Maddison birdied the Par 3 2nd to give his team the best of the afternoon 12 points after the Better ball 4 holes and feeling confident they had one hand on the trophy - but as we all know one bad bounce into the heather and your game can change. Maddison/Pitchford only scored 4 points over the next 3 holes to Askew/Edelsten 8 points while Davenport/Hanna banked 16 points on the same 3 holes which included 7 points on the 5th hole. Bragg & Lumley played par golf on the front 9 for 35 points which included 7 points on 8th hole. Davenport/Hanna scored 33 points to the lunch time leaders both only scoring 26 points – so with 9 holes to go it was game on!
Salmon Eagled the 13th for the only 5 pointer of the day. Davenport/Hanna banked another 7 points on the 17th to score 64 points to add to their morning 56 to finish on 120 points in 2nd place, one point ahead of Maddison/Pitchford who couldn’t find the form of their morning round with 51 points to give them 3rd place on 119 points. Hammond won the 18th closest to the pin. Bragg continued his good play with a birdie on the SI1 14th and joining partner Lumley with another birdie on the 15th to give them an afternoon score of 65 points - total of 124 points to win their 3rd title and Bragg retaining his 100% record in the Kangaroo Cup.
