Junior Day - from Jon Regan Five Lakes Junior Organiser
On a bright and blustery Thursday afternoon, we got the 5 Lakes Quickfire 9 Challenge underway, with 6 keen junior golfers.
After a decent warm-up on the range, the competitors, playing in 2 3-balls over the back 9 of the Links Course, got underway. With nearest the pin prizes up for grabs at all the par 3s, longest drive on the 12th hole and a Fastest Team Challenge Prize on the 17, there was plenty to play for.
The first group off, George Woodhead, George Monks and Daniel Hill, made a solid start, with Monks taking the longest drive prize on 12, with a great 235 yd drive down the left-hand side of the fairway. He allowed for the left to right wind and played a great tee shot.
The second group, Harry Regan, Arthur Clover and Charlie Regan were finding the conditions challenging, but great tee shots from Harry and Arthur on the 14th, saw 2 great pars.
The Par 3’s were proving very tricky, with strong winds and firm greens, making it all but impossible to stop the ball on the green. Arthur Clover was particularly unlucky at the 16th, a fantastic tee shot, pitched the green, but just rolled through to the back edge. A shoot-out was required, back on the 10th hole once the 9 was complete. More of that later……
To the 17th, the Fastest Team Hole Challenge, saw the 3 players from each group spread out along the hole, taking alternate shots until the ball was holed.
Woodhead, Monks and Hill laid down the marker. A long tee shot from Hill, pushed slightly, left Monk a short iron in which he just put through the back of the green. George Woodhead played a great chip to 2 feet, which left a very out of breath Dan Hill to knock in their par putt, which he managed successfully. Their time, 1 min 10 sec!!!
Regan, Clove and Regan up next, with Harry Regan playing a decent 200 yd tee shot down the left hand side of the fairway, leaving Arthur a good line in for his second. Unfortunately, a not so great 2nd shot, left the team under too much time pressure and they finished a worthy runner up 1 m 43 sec!!
Both Harry Regan and George Woodhead deserve a special mention for their birdies on the 18th. George chipping in from the back left of the green and Harry for finishing in real style, with a booming drive, wedge to 4 feet and rolling in the putt, with the gallery watching on!
We finished back on the 10th hole with a nearest the pin shoot out. The strong downwind was making it impossible for the players to keep the ball on the green, despite George W nearly holing one of his attempts! A decision was made for nearest the hole in 2, essentially a contest for chipping or putting. Despite good attempts from all players, George Monks rolled his putt from off the back of the green to 1 ft. A worthy winner!!
Prizes to the worthy
winners were handed out by the Captain, and the players headed off after having an enjoyable couple of hours on the course.