Alan Bond wins the Freddie Jones Foundation Trophy on Captains Day – 4 clear shots ahead of defending champion Peter Cudmore.
On the hottest day of the year so far, a stiff breeze gave the 21 players at this event some relief from the heat – but not from the rough or bunkers. Before the round I asked the pro what the greens were like – his response was fast down the hills but slower up them – Unbelievably so it proved he was a genius!!!
The greens were pretty small and undulating and fast when putting on them. We had 21 players with a warm welcome to Simon Briggs and Phil Taylor making their debut at this event. The average stableford score for this event was 31.95 which is the highest average so far which surprised me. Alan Bond having had a recent lesson played very well winning by a margin of four – the person who gave him a lesson was another genius as he has moved from zero to hero in over his two appearances this year. John Miller’ back 9 is worthy of note which was played in just 3 over par (24 points) – shame he was slow off the blocks on the front nine. Also worthy of note was Rod Lunn having back-to-back birdies on the 14th & 15thholes.
A big thank you to Captain Mr Mark Hughes who organised the weather and the prizes for the day with a number coming from his personal collection of good wine in his extensive cellar. Thanks Mark very much appreciated and thanks for a great society day on this new course to many.
The overall Freddie Jones Trophy Result was as follows: –
Freddie Jones Foundation Trophy
This event was played off full society handicaps with all players “putting out” this being a silverware event: –
| Place | Player | Score |
| Winner | Alan Bond | 42 |
| Second | Peter Cudmore | 38 |
| Third | John Miller Chis Buck | 36 (B9CB 24)36(B9CB 20) |
Alan Bond receives the Freddie Jones trophy from Captain Mark Hughes
A bunch of players winning something or other
Team Competition
We had a fun game of Chimps (Trees) Camels (Sand) & Dolphins (Water). This raised lots of questions such as does a bush count as a tree? What if I lost count of my ball hitting trees in the middle of a wood etc to the …………………What the bleeding hell is the Captain talking about? Has the Captain been on the gin already? Anyway, Nigel Burnett must have understood as he walked away with lovely magnum of wine for winning the most complicated team event I can remember. Don’t ask me who came second or third, but someone said this was tied between Alan Bigley and Chris Buck – no idea myself – it might be that you second name had to begin with a “B” to have a chance in this competition!!
Nigel Burnett walks away with a prize no-one understood!!
Nearest the Pin (8th Hole 136 yards).
A cracking shot to 4 feet from Chris Buck on tricky green won this specialist event.
Nearest The Pin in Two (18th Hole 271 yards).
As Del Boy would say the “crème de menthe” of specialist holes is the nearest the pin in two. Micky Mann hit a “pot pourri” of a shot to within 4½ feet to win this specialist event.
Birdies
Just five birdies were achieved on the day as follows: –
| Player | Hole | Score | Yards & Stroke index |
| Alan Bond | 8th | 2 on the par 3 | 136 yds SI 17 |
| Peter Cudmore | 14th | 3 on the par 4 | 335 yds SI 2 |
| Rod Lunn | 14th | 3 on the par 4 | 335 yds SI 2 |
| Rod Lunn | 15th | 3 on the par 4 | 357 yds SI 8 |
| Alan Bigley | 12th | 3 on the par 4 | 357 yds SI 8 |
The societies next event is scheduled for Friday 15th July at a society favourite Cooden Beach for both the Society Strokeplay and Stableford Shields. This will be a popular event so do get the date in your diary and let’s hope for some more great weather.
