17/08/2025
The first semi final of the Knockout Cup took place yesterday at the Stratford Park Golf Club. It involved Rob Howard, Nigel Seyer and Iain Gorrie.
It was a new course to all the players but one I do think would be good for an OAFs event. To say it was "hilly" was an understatement as it would have been useful to have been a mountain goat on certain holes.
Nevertheless the players soldiered on and by the ninth hole Rob and Nigel were tied on 16 points and Iain was trailing on 12 points. Quite remarkably Rob had also managed to score on each hole, something I can't recall happening for some time!
The second nine started with Iain immediately pulling back 2 points on the leaders and as each hole went by Nigel started to fall back leaving it to Rob to halt the Gorrie Steam Train.
Iain grabbed another point advantage and we then arrive at the 17th Hole - the course signature hole, or the hole from hell as I eventually called it. A 150 yard par 3, sounds simple doesn't it, until you put a bloody great lake in front of the green.... guess where Rob ended up? The hole eventually played out with Iain getting 3 points and Rob only 1 point putting Iain is the lead by 1 point for the first time in the game and with one hole left with a stroke index of 11 it meant Rob receives a shot however Iain didn't.
Iain thunders a drive down the fairway which finds itself in the trees, Robs drive is right and almost in some water but leaving a tricky second shot, Iain blasts his ball back onto the fairway and then gets his third shot onto the green my third shot also gets onto the green so we both have putts for par......
Come back next week for the thrilling conclusion.
No, couldn't let that happen! I putt first knowing a 3 point could win me the game. It misses by a whisker and the ball is sunk for 5 - 2 points. Iain goes for a par but also misses. His 5th shot goes in - 1 point. We are tied on 27 points each.
I've never been involved in a count back before but whoever invented it is a bastard because it gives the win to whoever has the best back nine which in this case was Iain with 15 against my 11.
So well done to Iain Gorrie for getting to his third Knockout Cup final. Will this be his first win?
We now await the semi final between Ken Parker, Baked Bean and Brian Large which we are assured is being organised to be played "soon"....
