30 Jul 2009 - National Champions 2008 return to retain West Midlands Cup

The 24th July 2009 saw the West Midlands Christian Golf Cup take place at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club.

The days started with soup and sanwiches followed by 18 holes of golf with an official starter for each golfer. The starter being the President of the Club. The evening consisted of a 3 course meal followed by prizes and a short talk by John Dadd organiser of the West Midlands Golf Cup.
 

Nine pairs took part with the standard being remarkably high given the severity of the course, the wind and the 15 minute downpour when we were playing the back 9 which included a couple of rumbles of thunder!

The course is particularly difficult even off the yellow tees because Sutton Coldfield Golf Club is hosting the English Amateur Open next year and it is being prepared with that tournament in mind. The rough is particularly severe and if you even missed that the gorse was painful and the heather thick.
 
The winners are the same as last year  Phil Yates and Keith Watts who scored 45 points (Walsall Christian Fellowship.). Second place went to George Patterson and Paul Evans representing Banners Gate Community Church (A) with 44 points whilst third place went to myself and Steve Maiden with 43 points Banners Gate Community Church (C).

After 9 holes Phil and Keith had a clear lead with 24 points with myself and Steve on 22 points and 3 other pairs on 21 points whilst 2 more pairs were a point further back on 20 points. 
 
Phil and Keith should have been caught on the 18th as George Patterson 3 putted the 18th green when a 2 putt would have meant he and his partner would have won on countback. Shades of Tom Watson at the Open!
 
Nearest the pin on the short 2nd was won by Charles Brookfield whilst the longest drive on the 10th was won by his partner John McEwan.

ENDS