HAYLING ISLAND - 25th APRIL 2023

When I sent the invitations out for this event back in early March, there had been very little rain since January and it was looking like we could be in for another drought this summer – it hasn’t stopped raining since!  

We were again treated to wonderful links golfing weather with Harnett & Simpson starting strongly with 11 points in the first 4 better ball holes with the pairings of Berry & Pimbley and Lancaster & Pritchard a point behind. The par 5 7th hole spread the field with scores varying from 1 point to 6 points for teams Espley & Maciver and Berry & Pimbley who lead after 9 holes with 29 points.  

The combination of gorse lined fairways with many of the holes into the breeze, scoring was tough on the back 9 holes with Lancaster & Pritchard adding the only 6 pointer on the par 5 14th to finish the morning on 50 points with Davenport & Hanna on 51 but lunchtime leaders on 52 points were the parings of Espley & Maciver and Berry & Pimbley.   

Espley & Maciver started the final 9 holes strongly with 10 points over the 4 better ball holes only to trip up on the par 3 5th where both scores started counting with 1 point which was a similar story for Davenport & Hanna. Lancaster & Pritchard were unable to find the form of the morning but finished the final hole with 2 nett birdies for 6 points. Berry and Pimbley took the lead with 4 holes to play but only 2 points the tough 6th where both scores count saw them drop to 3rd. Jones and Lumley’s lead was short lived only scoring 2 points on the 7th putting an end to their challenge. Espley & Maciver bounced back with 5 points on the par 4 6th followed by 6 points on the 7th to regain the lead and finished strongly with 5 points on the final hole to win by 1 point giving Espley’s his 3rd title partnering Maciver who increased his total titles to 9.