I’ve played Wychwood Park many times over the past 6 years in various events such as Europro Tour, PGA North region and The Players Tour. It’s a course that’s never really suited my eye and one where I’ve always found it tough to get a good score going.
My only good score goes back to The Players Tour in 2009 when I won, shooting a second round 65 (-7) but that really was a one off!!
This year the course was in the best condition I’ve ever seen, it played a lot softer, the greens were slow but very true.
I was lucky enough to be asked to play the pro-am on the Tuesday prior to the event, which I’ve always enjoyed doing. Especially when you get a great team to play with! Alan, Alan and Bill were great fun and I was chuffed that they hung on for 2nd place in the pro-am!
I personally shot 68 (-4) which really did boost my confidence from the work I’ve put in over the past 2 weeks, it’s been a while since I posted a score like that and to win the pro section by three shots was a real bonus!!
The event started on Wednesday and a decent draw always helps, playing with Chris Kelly is always fun and Danny Wardrop is a solid player too. I played ok throughout the round but two doubles never helps and to start with one is pretty poor!
My opening tee shot was so bad!! Bad concentration and a bad swing resulted in going 50 yards right into the trees! Ouch!
I played solid in round two, again giving myself some good chances but bogeying the 9th, my 18th, to think I’d missed the cut by one was a nasty feeling!
In the end I sneaked the cut and a 7.38am tee time for round three meant a 4.45am alarm clock!
In round three I really felt I had the chance to post a good score, three under through 9 holes and cruising! I played some good stuff but two bad shots on 15 & 16 cost me to drop three shots and finish the round level par and T36th for the tournament.
Overall I can take a lot from the week, my game is on the right track and putting my old Nike 3 wood (coach’s 3 wood actually) back in the bag could have been the best decision of the year! It’s class, and so versatile!
I now have another week at home to practise with a pro-am at Sandburn on Thursday before I fly off for two weeks to Russia and Kazakhstan for The Challenge Tour.
That will hopefully make an interesting Blog with some great photos!!
Speak after then
Chris