A cool afternoon greeted the full field of 30 couples for the penultimate 18 hole mixed event for 2024 on Sunday July 21 – an American Foursomes Stroke event where both players tee off and then play one another’s ball and then chose which ball to use from then on. Handicap 3/8ths of combined.
The sponsors of the day were Jill and Tony Morgan and on behalf of all the players thank you for your continued support.
In an extremely closely run affair, the victors were the 2020 Women’s Club Champion Ali Baker and Captain Campbell Thomson. The runners up were Vanessa and Bill Stephen half a stroke behind with another former Women’s Club Champion Grace Young (1999 and 2001) and Frank Chen three quarters of a stroke behind the winners.
Whilst there were probably others couples who can suggest that maybe with a bit of luck and a favoring breeze, they could have finished with a podium finish we will concentrate on the fortunes of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists.
Firstly, the Bronze Medalists Grace and Frank (16.125 H’Cap) who starting from the first hole ran up a double bogey. Not the perfect start, however they recovered from that and played consistently over the next 13 holes but were still only around square. A great finish over the concluding 4 holes which they played square with the card saw them leap frog into Bronze with a score of 68.875.
Then, the Silver Medalists Bill and Vanessa (9.375 H’Cap) who started their journey from the 3rd hole and completed the 18 holes with 2 nines of 39 for a gross of 78 and net of 68.625 – a very commendable score. Would they rue their only double bogey on their final hole, the 2nd? Time would tell.
Finally, the Gold Medalists Ali and Campbell (10.875 H’Cap) who, like the Bronze Medalists, ran up a double bogey on their first hole, the sixth. Things did not get much better and after their first 4 holes they had used up all their handicap for their first nine.
But like true champions they rallied and 2 birdies on the next two holes followed by 4 pars saw them well and truly back in the hunt. Things came a little unstuck on the 17th, a triple bogey, but to finish with they had an amazing 6 straight pars and a nett score of 68.125 and deserved Gold Medalists.
So, the top 6 placegetters (all finishing under par) were-;
Ali Baker and Campbell Thomson (10.875 H’Cap) 68.125
Vanessa and Bill Stephen (9.375 H’Cap) 68.625
Grace Young and Frank Chen (16.125 H’Cap) 68.625
Chris and Stewart Wharton (11.625 H’Cap) 69.375
Grace Furness and Phil Mackay (1.875 H’Cap) 70.125
Veni Tang and Gary Hing (111.25 H’Cap) 70.75
So well done to the Gold Medalists Ali Baker and Campbell Thomson on a well-deserved Victory.
A special thankyou again to Jill and Tony Morgan who continue to support the mixed events and in particular sponsor this particular day – and not forgetting the club staff who always make for an enjoyable day.
The final Mixed event on this year’s calendar is the Dalkeith Cup (Mixed Combined Stableford) Sponsored by Krystyna Knottnerus and Tony Cowan on Sunday September 29.
Editor’s Note – It was great to see a Junior Girl in the field and hopefully in the future more girls will become involved. 13-year-old Marianna Lukianenko (19 H’Cap) teamed with Marty Morris to finish a creditable 10th with 74.25. Well done.
From Greg Fitzhardinge
