CGS Essex Golf Cup: Close call but Scogings and Coates bring cup home for Oasis Christian Fellowship ~ Christian Golf Society | Church Golf | National Church Golf Cup in partnership with CVM

CGS Essex Golf Cup: Close call but Scogings and Coates bring cup home for Oasis Christian Fellowship

This year’s running of the Christian Golf Society’s Essex Golf Cup proved to be the closest competition in its five year history.  Moreover the impressive quality of the golf by all the teams made for a very memorable day with good scoring being the order of the day.

Three Rivers Golf & Country Club on Saturday 9th July 2011  was the setting again for this annual event pitting teams from churches in an 18 hole Stableford match.  It was good to welcome back familiar friends who have supported this event on many occasions, along with new faces too, all of whom had their eye on the first prize of a weekend trip to the National Final at Berkshire’s Donnington Grove.

It was Roger Culliford and Stuart Chandler, representing Earls Hall Baptist Church who set the early pace, with Roger in particular scoring heavily over the front nine.  Four net birdies, supported by Stuart with a net birdie of his own gave the pair a lead at the halfway stage with 22 points.

However despite this impressive points haul, the quality of the play meant that they only had a slender lead at the halfway stage.

No fewer that three of the challenging teams were only a point behind at the halfway mark. Roger Whipp and Gary McCullam (St Chads, Chadwell Heath) amassed 21 points, thanks largely to the excellent play of their 8-handicapper Gary who was striking the ball very well around a course that was unfamiliar to him.  Their team gelled well with Roger ensuring their score kept improving whenever Gary was slightly awry.

Dan Dobson and Lewis Fraser (Kingdom Faith, London) were also well in the hunt at the halfway stage with Dan belying his modest handicap.  His contribution – including a net eagle at the 360 yard par 4 seventh, also had them on 21 points after nine holes.

Emphasising the tightness at the top of the leaderboard, Dave Scogings and David Coates (representing Oasis Christian Fellowship, Benfleet) also collected 21 points.  This pair worked very well together, dovetailing nicely through the opening holes, which included 4 points when David birdied (net eagled) the short par-3 ninth.

Mick Neill and Barry Hagland (also representing Oasis Christian Fellowship) were also to keep with touching distance with a total of 20 points which included 4 net birdies between them.  The rest of the field – whilst playing good golf – were being left behind somewhat.  This included the current National champions Cliff Britcher and Ron Crosby (Eynsford Community Church) who were languishing in eighth place.

The second nine begins with three gentle par 4s and the leading teams took advantage shooting net birdies and in the case of Lewis Fraser a net eagle at the tenth.  In fact as much as Dan contributed to their team in the front nine, so Lewis awakened on the second half shooting a personal 20 points in the teams total of 21 points.  Their final total of 42 would have been enough to win many a competition, however on a day of scoring as was being witnessed, it was only good enough for third spot.

Roger Culliford and Stuart Chandler and Dave Scogings and David Coates were now taking the match away from their fellow competitors.

Roger and Stuart were the first group to finish and Roger and Stuart’s efforts to secure this title for Earls Hall Baptist Church for the first time were awe-inspiring.  Their total of 21 points for the inward-nine included three net birdies and a four-pointer for Roger at the uphill par-5 14th.  Their overall total of 43 points would need some extra special effort of be overtaken. 

Whilst Roger and Stuart were knocking it around competently, Dave Scoging was helping Oasis Christian Fellowship to amass a very competitive total, personally contributing to his team’s score on the last 7 holes.  This included four points for a birdie two at the 104 yard 15th and a superb par – net birdie – at the imposing finishing hole.

The excitement of the day continued as both teams finished on 43 points.  It was only Dave and David’s one point advantage on the homeward nine holes that enabled them to win the competition on countback.

2 comments :

Anonymous said...

Brilliant photos excellent write up and great day had by all

CGS said...

Thanks for the encouragement. We're glad you had a great day. CGS

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