Natterjack 9’s Round 8 Results and Round up.

28^th & 29^th January 2023 Back 9

Our ‘Joey’ Jumps for Joy.

1^st Richard ‘Joey’ Roberts 24 points

2^nd Dave Warren 23 points

3^rd Joel Barker 22 points [on count-back]

We all know that it can get pretty cold at Silecroft and Tuesday was a typical example of a harsh biting wind; so while Craig the brickie did what he does best, constructing the new building, a few of our volunteers were stood around in the bitter howling gale ‘helping’ and having the craic. When I arrived to give our winner the good tidings he was among those ‘assisting’ but upon hearing the news of his victory our Joey gave a little jump for joy and then played it cool, despite having had the kind of 9 holes we all dream about on Saturday. His hybrid shot off the 12^th for example, hit the flag, dropped to a few feet away and the putt went in. You could hit a thousand balls off the 12^th and never hit the flag so that was a rare event; the 4 points and 3 balls for a 2 was well deserved. There were pars on 14 & 15 and then a birdie on 16 brought about by a fine drive, a wedge in and a 10 foot putt. Home in 37 shots! Off 17! 24 points! Great stuff!

Dave Warren experienced both extremes of golf in one weekend and having had a disaster on Saturday, manned up and came back on Sunday to give it another go. Talk about courage rewarded. Five three pointers off the bounce helped give him a blistering start and he was another to birdie the 16^th  for another.  Playing off 14, he was home in 36 for an exceptional round of 23points.

Joel Barker and Connor Smith had a really close contest, playing together on Saturday both off 10. It started in ordinary fashion, Joel bogeying the 10^th, Connor taking an early lead by parring it. 11, 12 & 13 were well matched and then Joel gave up another point with a bogey on 14 to Connor’s par. But then it was Connor’s turn to give a point with a bogey on the 15^th an so it stayed, Connor 1 point in front until the last.  Joel’s excellent par on 18 brought him back level on points and Connor’s bogey was more costly than normal as it meant Joel had sneaked it at the last by virtue of count-back. Good pals, good golf, 22points apiece.

There were two players on 21 points, Davey Boyce and Stephen Butterfield.  Boycee played twice and had his better round on Saturday, starting well and finishing strongly,4,4,4 while Stephen played with Ken Noakes on Sunday where Ken recorded 17 points. Stephen’s 21 points came despite a slip on 11 and by virtue of very consistent iron play after that, especially into the last. He’s currently playing off 17.7 but will be soon be cutting shots come summer if he keeps this up. It’s good to have Vernon and Martin back on the course after injuries. Martin had 19 points on Saturday, while Vernon had an outstanding par on 15 on the same day and then on Sunday they were fortunate to be joined by Gunger who was heard to say. ‘Roll on Carlisle next Sunday’. His 17 points on Saturday came despite a blank on 11. Alan Holmes and son AJ played both days, Alan’s highlight coming with a 3 pointer on the 10^th on Sunday while AJ showed great consistency to post 19 points on the Saturday and 18 on the Sunday when he birdied the 14^th. As the weather has foreshortened the Natterjack season so scores like AJ’s gain greater significance in the Order of Merit. Talking of which, leader Chris Davey turned out Sunday and added a 19 pointer to his Order of Merit credentials. Peter warren and Simmy played both days too. Peter’s Saturday round of 19 topped their charts and another 18 points on Sunday has given him some hope for the Order of Merit prizes too. Simmy’s best effort came on Sunday when he carded 16 points with two blanks. Joe Shaw and Ryan Carter played together on Saturday and had contrasting fortunes. Both started slowly, Ryan improved in the middle three holes and Joe finished the stronger. Pete Fry had pars on each of the par 3’s in his 16 points and Ank Robinson, who has yet to find his best form, watched on as Dave Warren burned the course up. Ank’s time will come. Good to also have Brad back and he and regular partner Joan had the worst of that Saturday drizzle. All went well until slips at 12 cost them dear but each managed to pick their game up and come home stronger.    

Next Natterjacks February 11^th & 12^th Front 9