Dave Allaker and his team hosted the fourth stop on the BDGA tour on the weekend of 16th and 17th April, at the relatively local University of Essex course, in Colchester. Dave, TD Of The Year 2010, always puts on a fantastic event at the Uni and the added benefit of sponsorship from Gateway Discs meant players’ packs included a disc for everybody and a further 30 prizes up for grabs over the weekend. CDGC were determined to get their hands on these prizes and in total 12 Croydonites headed up the A12 to sample some of Essex’s finest.

After his victory in the Adv Ams at last year’s Essex event, CDGC’s Chairman was our lone representative in the Open division; tour stalwarts Jester Wilson and Bruce Webber unable to make it this year and recent winner Dan Ryan off celebrating his birthday. The Adv Ams formed the largest part of the field and CDGC were well-represented by “Ozzy” Dan Pommer, Ali Findley, Terry Tenger, Stew Gudgeon, Phil Wood and 2010 Int Am champ Tom Lowes. Vying for competition in the Int Ams was Mr and Master Bates – Paul and James, Neil Martin, Sam Stevens and “Hippy” Dan Hawkins.

The Essex course is a fairly open par 60, including a hole over the dreaded disc-eating lake, and is likely to be the same as, or least similar to, the course used in the British Open later in the year. The course is fairly long and with a few OB buildings and the aforementioned lake thrown in for good measure it’s fairly easy to drop shots - you have to work hard to get your birdies. In near perfect conditions the players set off and with a great representation from the Colchester players, almost every group had a “local” with them to provide with a little bit of local knowledge.

Without Jester and Bruce present, the Open division favourite was firmly in the sights of QP’s Derek Robins, though locals Paul Cooper and Ross Poole would be pushing to get amongst the top runners. Del didn’t disappoint and led after the morning’s round. Local boy Jamie McKay shot sub-par to lead the Adv Ams and chief sandbagger Chris Hughes lead the Int Ams. In general the Croydon boys were left a little disappointed after the first round, with things not quite going their way. Terry had shot solidly to be in 3rd in the Adv Ams, with Phil one shot behind; Ali, Dan, Stew and Tom in the chasing pack. Rich had a frustrating morning and found himself well down the order and dreaming of days being an Am. One CDGC’er who did enjoy his morning was James Bates who shot the lights out and was even ahead of some of the open players – naming no names (Rich Wood). Sam lead the Croydon Int Am effort by shooting well on his first round at Essex to be sitting in 2nd place after the first round. Cries of “Shine your shoes guv’nor?” and “Flat Caps!” were heard ringing across the course.

In the afternoon, refuelled and refreshed, CDGC took to the field and there were improvements all around. Del continued to lead the Open, though QP’s Jesse Denny and James Luton were chasing hard. Rich found some form and was on for his target not to finish DFL. Phil turned in his best round of the weekend at level par to go joint 3rd, level with Paul Stoddart, with Dan Eagle 2nd and Jamie still leading. In the Int Ams, James couldn’t quite hold his good form from the morning but Sam remained in 2nd place with another solid round.

After the 2nd round cards were in it was time for the famous Essex – “ring of fire”. No dear reader, this is not the after effects of a dodgy curry, but a putting game where everybody putts at the same time from a 10-metre ring around the bucket. Tom Lowes and Sam Stevens showed some “flat cap” power, nailing pressure putts to pick up a Gateway disc each. Terry Tenger also proved a dead-eye, hitting when all others missed to grab himself some plastic. More prizes would follow on the Sunday.

After a few cheap pints enjoyed in the students’ union, award-winning fish ‘n’ chips were collected from Wivenhoe (WivenHO!!) and everyone congregated in the Croydon ‘Taj Mahal’ in a nearby campsite. A low-key but sociable evening followed, with up to 20 people in the crammed into the ‘Taj’ - CDGC providing cover for all the waifs and strays from other clubs. Rumour has it Quarry Park are now looking to purchase their own ‘Taj.’ CDGC, as always, the trendsetters!

Sunday morning, and all players were on the lookout for Metcheck’s threat of 20mph+ winds, which never quite materialised; again the players were greeted with blue skies and little or no wind whatsoever. Rich, battling with Woody Harding, Sue Underwood and Essex’s Steve Kornmuller for DFL, played well enough but putted poorly and pulled in a 68, he wasn’t last and even earned an extra disc after winning CTP on the 9th hole with a drilled drive with his flexy buzz leaving himself 6 inches from the pin.

In the Adv Ams Jamie continued to dominate and shot another 59 to pull 6 shots ahead of Dan Eagle, who struggled with a final round 65. Sophie Southgate carded a second consecutive tight round to draw level with Dan. CDGC’s Phil was one shot further back and Paul Stoddart joined him in making up the group for the final. Dan Pommer shot a incredibly steady 59 and therefore shooting better than Rich for the weekend… always his goal!

Sam Stevens saved his best for last, making decent inroads on leader Chris Gill's 7 shot lead, in a round that included 3 birdies in the first 7 holes. Chris Hughes, clearly felt the pressure with his lead cut to 3 at one stage. He overcame the tense situation and finished 6 shots clear going in to the final. This clearly spurred on the other Int Ams with 'Baggy trousers' Garry O'Malley finishing the final round with a flourish in joint second spot with Sam. Neil Martin turned on the form to push his way into 4th spot and a place in the final. Local Essex boy “Juddy” grabbed the last final spot.

The finals at Essex are dominated by Jungle holes and tweaks to regular holes allow much opportunity for shots to be gained and thrown away. The Int Am final, conducted over 5 holes, proved relatively straight-forward for Chris Hughes, whose consistent performance kept him in the lead from start to finish. The rest of the group endured a much closer battle. Garry O’Malley left his baggy trousers behind, kicked off with a birdie and wrested second spot from Sam’s grasp, despite Tom’s noble efforts as caddy. Neil was only a shot further back in 4th and “Juddy” came 5th. With only 4 strokes separating 2nd and 5th all participants should be congratulated for a superb effort and some superb play. It is now anticipated that Chris will now move up for his next tournament (or suffer many calls of sandbagger!).

The Adv Am final was played over 9 holes and Dan Eagle was determined to catch Jamie. Jamie suffered from the outset, the pressure of a final seemed to be really getting to him, and after putting his drive on the 4th hole into the lake, Dan saw a chance to pounce. Phil even surprised a few by driving backhand over the lake, much against the advice of his caddy – Rich. Jamie did eventually pull himself together and cut out the errant shots, and when Dan managed to find the road with his drive across the valley, his challenge was all but over, Jamie clinging on for a win by one shot. Phil picked up 3rd and a prize disc for longest drive. Paul and Sophie both had poor finals by their standards and came in joint 4th.

For the first time in a very long time, CDGC had no presence in the Open final. James Luton put in a fantastic effort to push Del all the way, but experience triumphed over youth and once again Del was crowned as Essex champion. Chris O’Brien picked up third, Jesse Denny 4th and “working man’s man” Paul Cooper 5th.

So another win for Del and surely the tour title must be his once again. But who is going to finish the tour as top Croydonite? Dan Ryan, Jester and Bruce will continue this battle. The Am division is still wide open with different winners at each event, though CDGC’s Phil Wood will be among the top runners along with Ben “Superman” Foxall.

The next BDGA tour event is at Mull on 28th and 29th May, but before that we have the all-important Croydon Cup and the Summer League kicking off. See the forum for more information.

Till next time, cheers and chings.

CDGC.