SIGS Matchplay Final...

So that's it then, the first piece of golfing silverware in the bag... The prestigious Smiths Industries Golf Society 'Nicholl Matchplay Trophy'.

Another really close match at Burford Golf Club, this time against 'The Fireman's Father'. I was ahead all the way round, although by no more than two holes, until the short par 3 15th... three shots to get out of a [deep] greenside bunker and we were all-square.

I then lost the 16th, one of the four holes where I had to give up a shot... one down, two to play, pressure on!

It seemed like neither of us wanted to get the ball in the hole on the 17th, but eventually I won the hole 6 strokes to 7... back to all-square.

And then cometh the hour, cometh the man!! An OK drive at the 360yd, par 4 final hole, left me with exactly 150yds to the centre of the green. Then the shot of the day... an arrow straight 6-iron to the heart of the green, about 10ft from the flag. Two putts was good enough to take the hole and the match.

And Now Some Good News...

I claimed my first podium finish in a golf tournament this morning... taking 3rd place (just 1 point behind 2nd!!) in the monthly Golf Matters competition at Witney Lakes Golf Club. :-)

I had to turn down the prize money and sponsorship offer from TaylorMade, as I don't want to give up my amatuer status!

Groundhog Day...

I am begining to know just how Phil Connors felt during his visit to Punxsutawney, PA, in 1993!!!

I have now been playing a Step 3 SnG (on Stars) every night since Feb 2nd!! I accumulate a few chips and then get cold decked in 3rd, 4th or 5th place... rinse, repeat... when will it all end??

In other news... I went to Asper's in Northampton last Saturday night, with Rich and got drawn in the seat next to him, ffs! I finished in 12th place, waaay out of the money. More details, more eloquently put, on Rich's blog - HERE.

Oh, and my knee is feeling a bit better and I've started hitting a few balls [gingerly!]. Thanks for all the 'get well soon' cards.

APAT UK Champs - Day 1 Chips...

Today I shall mostly be playing in the APAT UK Champs, at the Grosvenor Walsall, in a drug induced daze that will probably see me playing with gay abandon... chips everywhere! I probably should point out that the drugs are painkillers and anti-inflamatorys... see, I had a slight accident during a golf lesson yesterday and somehow dislocated something in my knee - Gee, dat smarts!!

If anyone is interested, you can keep track of my dwindling chip stack. I will try and update at the end of each level, until they're all gone or the Guinness and the painkillers get the better of me.