Men’s Competition Result:
OCRA Millennium Trophy
A stormy weekend at Ramsey meant conditions for golf were challenging to say the least. Most players opted for potential morning rain rather than an afternoon’s gale force wind in the Millennium Trophy, Ramsey’s first “major” of the year, sponsored by OCRA.
With only 4 players better than par there was a dog fight to get points on the board. Robbie Moore went out with two birdies on the 2nd and 6th and looked in contention at the turn but a series of bogey’s from the 12th through to the 17th and ending with no points on the 18th left him with 36 points and that “it could have been” feeling. Buoyed by a mid-week Club Day success, Martin Webb played a steady opening 9 and a birdie on the 13th gave him a chance but the conditions were tricky and with bogey after bogey following him all the way to the bar meant 36 points was all he could muster. Also on 36 points were Malcolm Callow and Jamie Garrett. Both struggled on the way home with the 16th and 17th seeing them both drop shots but Jamie’s birdie on the 11th giving him the superior back 9 score over Malcolm.
The pick of the afternoon group saw Brian Kelly in very windy conditions shoot a battling 33 points and a birdie on the 13th. By contrast 2013 winner, big hitting Stephen Barbour, was blown off the course at the 9th and decided the football was a better option!
The top of the leader board saw a return to form, well almost, for Paul Routledge. His hit and miss round of 37 points was all or nothing but an opening birdie always provides optimism. With the dark clouds quickly gathering over him, Paul recorded no points on the 2nd, 5th and 10th. Despite that he managed to dig in and score where in mattered on the back 9. He will be disappointed that a bogey on the 14th and 17th probably lost him a name on the Honours board.
Graham Garrett and in-form Lee Earnshaw fought it out for 2nd and 3rd place with both posting an excellent 38 points. Graham had a no pointer on the 11th but recovered with a birdie 3 on the 13th giving him the edge over Lee who dropped a shot on the same hole. Lee’s depression continued on the 15th and 16th as he struggled to get points on his card in the closing holes. As ever the closing holes are key at Ramsey and Graham Garrett dropped shots on the 16th and 17th and losing it on the back 9 with Lee managing two last gasp pars to take 2nd place. A very commendable 39 points and a place on the OCRA Millennium Honours board went to Basil Beilich. He managed to just play a steady round, using his shots where it was needed to keep a score going. With 17 points on the front 9, Basil upped the pace with 5 pars on the back 9 and posted an impressive score to win the OCRA Millennium by a whisker. Hopefully, the weather will be a little kinder next Sunday for the much loved Colin Aldridge Memorial Open competition.
