Photo L to R Lewis Daniel, Robert Barnard (President), Harry Brister

The first County Championship of 2021 was played at Royal Norwich last weekend.  The golfers arrived to a frost delay but the sun soon sorted that and the whole field of 150 golfers, successfully completed all 36 holes in the County Foursomes.

Leaders after 18 holes were the pairs of Jamie Beeby & Ryan Thordgood and James Smart & Paul Reade, both on 36 points. Five pairs were in close pursuit on 35 points, so there was all to play for in the afternoon round.

In general, the scores improved in the afternoon, as players got to grips with the trick greens.

Early leaders in the Clubhouse were Royal Norwich pair Bruce McQuade and Joe Robinson, with a very fine 36 points to add to their morning score of 35, giving them an aggregate score of 71 points.

Another pair who wanted to improve on their morning score of 35 points were the Bawburgh pair of Harry Brister and Lewis Daniels. They teed off the 10^th hole in the afternoon and after a slow start, they finished their front nine with birdies on the iconic 17^th and then the 18^th.  They then moved to the 1^st tee and things got even better, with yet another birdie. They closed the round out with yet another birdie on the 7^th hole to finish their back nine with an incredible 22 points.

Their afternoon round was 39 points, giving them an unassailable aggregate score of 74 points and the outright lead by three points.

It was not to be beaten so the results were as follows:

1^st Harry Brister & Lewis Daniels - 35 / 39 = 74 points

2^nd Bruce McQuade & Joe Robinson - 35 / 36 = 71 points

3^rd Adam Saunders & Ben Philips - 32 / 36 = 68 points

4^th David Thomas & Tom Clements - 32 /
36 = 68 points

5^th Gary Haze & John Gorman - 30 / 37 = 67 points

6^th Nick Abbs & Simon Youd - 32 / 35 = 67 points

7^th Josh Halliday & Joshua Craske - 33 / 34 = 67 points

8^th Jamie Beeby & Ryan Thordgood - 36 / 31 = 67 points

Our thanks to Royal Norwich for making their course available for the event, so early in the golfing year and to all the county officials and referees who made the day run like clockwork.

Special mention to the strong field of players who kept slow play to a minimum, allowing the 36 hole event to finish in daylight.

The next event is the Coronation Salvers at Middleton Hall on Sunday 30^th May.

Robert
Barnard

NCGU
President