SIGS Matchplay Semi-Final...

It was a game of two and a bit halves, at Burford Golf Club, playing against 'The Brief'.

I got off to an awful start, quickly going 3 down after 3 holes, before steadying the ship with a half at the 4th and a win at the 5th. I pulled one more back amongst a run of halved holes, to finish the front nine just 1 down.

-1, -2, -3, -3, -2, -2, -2, -1, -1

We also halved 10 and 11, I then went on a bit of heater, winning 4 in a row. Stood on the 16th tee I was 3 up with 3 to play and feeling confident... Doh! Big mistake!

-1, -1, AS, +1, +2, +3, +2, +1, AS

And so, back to the 1st tee for 'sudden death' extra holes. The end came, rather un-ceremoniously, at the 130 yd, par 3, second. My opponent scuffed his tee shot under a tree, left his second shot under there and then put his third into a greenside bunker... Meanwhile I had chipped my second shot onto the green, but a good twenty feet from the flag... he then hit his 4th shot out of the bunker, clear over the green and into a hedge... hole conceded and I am now into my first ever matchplay final.

I'm not sure if the other semi has been played yet... it is between 'The Stepfather' and 'The Fireman's Father', both of whom play of 28, so I will be in the unusual position of having to give 4 shots to my opponent.

It's A Small World...

but I wouldn't want to paint it!

I played my first ever round of golf at Burford this morning, with two other members of the Smiths Golf Society and very pleasant it was too.

Whilst chatting to one of them over a shandy in the bar, the conversation came round to poker, via holidays & Las Vegas. I tried to convince him that it's not all about luck and that there is a large ammount of skill involved, but he wouldn't have it.

He told me, "My stepson plays a lot of poker, he tells me that he outplays them all at the Three Pigeons, on a Sunday, but they all just get so lucky."

His name was Colin.

Fantasy WSOP & Last Longer...

With just 27 left in the ME, all 'Mob' team members have had their day at the 2010 WSOP. The final scores are -

Alan 56
Paul 48
Rich 24
Teresa 21

And so, by the power vested in me as keeper of the official scoring spreadsheet, I do hereby declare myself as the winner of said 'Fanstasy WSOP' competition.

As for the last longer bet, with none of the picks making the money, it is my belief that, according to the rules agreed upon last year, the result is a 'No Contest'.

I also managed to hold onto joint second place in the blonde forum fantasy WSOP, which returned $87.50.

So, all in all, not a bad series for me... if you disregard the $2500 in tournament buy-ins which showed exactly $0.00 return!!

Fantasy WSOP Provisional Result...

A cursory glance through the ME day 5 seating list appears to confirm my beleif that JP Kelly is the only 'Mob' team player left in the competition... the scores are currently -

Alan 56
Paul 48
Rich 24
Teresa 21

I am also lying T2 in the blonde forum comp. I can win it if JP makes the Nov9 and will finish 3rd if Jason Mercier or Eric Baldwin get there.

The Open 2010...

I have unregistered from the two APAT WCOAP tournaments that I had entered, due to lack of enthusiasm and a preference to play in golf comp on the Monday. This meant that £150 was returned to my Betfair account... I have withdrawn £100, but re-invested £50 in The Open.

The winner of this year's event will come from one of these 5 (£10 on each)...

Camilo Villegas @ 110
KJ Choi @ 120
Edoardo Molinari @ 120
Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 170
Thongchai Jaidee @ 360

Apologies...

for not keeping things updated. Just lost the will to write for a while. I've started on some updates on the rest of the Vegas trip and stuff.

Watch this space... although none of it very interesting! You have been warned.