SGA Tour – Tour Championship 2018

Sociable Golf Association (SGA)

Season Finale ends with a Bang!

Once again, we planned our season ending Tour Championship event on recommendation from our friends at MG. Heading over the Warwickshire border for a two-day weekend, with overnighter, to Whitefields Golf Club.

With our very own Race To Whitefields season long points system, the two day event provides the opportunity for members to decide on either a drunken evening or early to bed in preparation for the chance to secure our third and final major of the season.

Following a fantastic trip to Cleobury Mortimer last year, the boys were up for the challenge and with the sun shining and a very warm welcome from all the staff at Whitefields, we were excited at the prospect of another close finish, little did we know!

Phil Wing (above R) stood on the first tee in defence of his title, knowing that lack of golf during this season due to work and family commitments, could prove to be his downfall.  Other notables included in form Andrew Allsopp, Ben Abbotts and Jayson Fitzpatrick.  With our lowest handicapper, Karl Harris (2) not attending, Boom Boom’s book provided no clear favourite with odds spread evenly across the field.

With first day groups drawn, competitors aim to secure a second day final grouping, thus having the advantage of viewing the leader-boards throughout the final day’s play.  Ben Abbotts secured first place with 37 points, with Boom Boom Tunstall 36 and Phil Wing 34.  All three headed to the bar knowing the Sunday would see the last tee time.

For any of our society friends considering Whitefields, we would recommend a visit. The facilities, course and staff were excellent and all at great value for money.

The Sunday morning provided another beautiful day and enjoying a great breakfast we all headed of the first tee. Nerves were apparent with the leaders gagging to get going, but knowing they had to wait for their tee time.  Would Boom Boom live up to his nickname and hit driver off every tee or play a more considered game!  A wide drive on the first was the answer both Ben & Phil expected who secured gross par’s to set the day up nicely.

During the day the leader-board ebbed and flowed with Ben & Boom battling it out.  Phil lost the pace and Trevor Anderson muscled his way into the top 3.  Heading to the 17th tee and a complete surprise to the leaders, Paul Wilson had shot the lights out and was leading the championship.  Paul had come from behind at Cleobury to lose out by a single point!.  Unsettling Boom Boom, his drive hooked out of bounds, twice!! With Ben & Phil closing the gap.

Stood on the 18th tee and a short 324 yard par 4, Boom Boom needed a 3 pointer to land his first Tour Championship and took out his wayward driver to the dismay of Ben & Phil, who had already hit hybrids to perfect positions.  Yes, you’ve guessed it…. a wayward drive to the right (this time!) and Boom Boom was lucky to have swing amongst the trees.  In true style, he cleared the trouble before him and was once again back in play. A 12-foot putt for the win lipped and the rest is history.  Paul (Pic R), known as the Silent Assassin went one better than 2017 and took the title on count-back!  Boom Boom’s driver was last seen on EBAY…

 

 

 

Season events

In addition to the planned and quite often an organisers nightmare, we run several season long events including our Order Of Merit, the coveted Match Play Championship and other events as follows:

The Order Of Merit is a 10 event rolling ranking event that captures the previous season’s Tour Championship and the full season ahead.  The calculation although complicated is simple in terms of understanding, play your best at every event ensuring your average score is as high as possible.  Throwing an event or even a club, will see you penalised in the long run in and in some cases, could lead losing the number 1 spot by a single putt or chip in! And yes its happened.

The Matchplay Championship is a knockout event with the draw made at the first event of the season.  The final pairing are provided with caddies and a special day out.

Betterball Championship and Skins League are additional events that utilise the monthly events scoring to calculate the league tables or knockout rounds.  Members’ just rock up and the committee do the rest and if the lads ever read the website, they should know if they’ve took home a trophy at the season end.

There are obviously many, many fond and enjoyable memories from the last 22 years and in most cases we have improved our personal handicaps. We continue to raise money for great causes; our fund-raising exceeds £5,000 including a memorable six a side football competition a few years back.

We continue to organise and enjoy Society life and many friendships have been built through our membership. We look forward to the next twenty years.

SGA Tour – Sociable Golf Association – Established 1997
Website: www.sgatournews.com
Email: sgatournews@hotmail.co.uk
Contact: Phil Wing 07486 900843 (Work – 07917 098299)

Founder Members – Phil Wing & Alan Smith

 

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