Anglesey Tour 2022

BUNGS Tour 2022 - Anglesey and Harlech

23rd to 26th July 2022

Write-up by Graham Thorpe, many thanks for doing this once again Graham.

The rising costs of Touring had hindered us finding a suitable venue at our previous locations around the British Isles and after accepting we had to dig a little deeper in our pockets we arrived at our new venue of Anglesey & Harlech a few weeks later than usual in the year. 

An increase in numbers saw 31 members and one guest arrive at the Hotel in Caernarfon early evening before venturing out to the local Chinese and Indian Restaurents. Now as you all are aware we have several doctors and retired doctors in our group who obviously can switch off when not on duty. An incident with John Haley on one of the tables in the Chinese went unnoticed on the second table as he appeared to be choking and (lost for words) at one point in the evening.

Thankfully he survived and was able to take his place the following day on the first tee.

The  teams lined up as above with several new debutants, Chris Dewes , Steve Gibbons, Khal Qureshi and Bob Stretton lined up for the Captain's team to make their debuts. Steve Dewey , Steve Hendy, and guest Russell Haley were the debutants for the Challengers Team.

Sunday 24th July 2022 - morning
Bull BayGolf Club - 8 holes
8 x greensomes matches

All the players drove to the North of Anglesey to the Bull Bay Golf Club in sunny but breezy conditions ( a mere 25 mph).

As the first groups drove off up the hill many balls were seen heading for the gorse and rubbish on the right hand side of the first fairway.

On paper the two teams looked well matched, but the Captain's Team had a disastrous morning recording only two half points!

Session Score - Captain's Team - 1 / Challenger's Team - 7

 

Sunday 25th July 2022 - afternoon
Bull Bay Golf Club - 18 holes
8 x fourball-betterball matches

During lunch the wind increased dramatically before we prepared for our fourballs.  Winds were now 40 mph but at times were gusting from 45-50 mph.  The Captain's team had problems with Bob Stretton losing both his hearing aids on the morning round.  Tim Thacker teed up on the 1st tee without his golf shoes before his afternoon round. The team were cracking up already!

Session Score - Captain's Team - 2 / Challenger's Team - 6

Cumulative Match Score - Captain's Team - 3 / Challenger's Team - 13

The conditions were were energy sapping and many balls were laid to rest never to be seen again in the rough.

Steve Harris lost his cap in the process of driving off the tee. The wind took it and deposited in a residents garden. Nearby green staff rescued it for him.

Khal also on a tee hardly hit one tee shot which did not go past the yellow tee markers!

Leading players after Day 1 from each team

Captain's Team

No player with a 100% record after day 1.  

Challenger's Team

Nine  players have  a 100% record,  Won 2 from 2.
Captain Ian Ronson  Kevin Morris; Steve Dewey; John Haley, Mark Johnson, Steve Lloyd, Karl Hughes Adam Thompson,and Adrian Marchant.

 

Monday 25th July 2022 - morning
Holyhead Golf Club - 18 holes
8 x foursomes matches

The Captain and vice Captain had a great deal to think about on that first evening and shook up the pairings and order for the team to regenerate a better performance.

The wind had died down and we all assembled on a sunny day at HolyHead golf club.

The Captain's Team were hoping for a quick start to recover the contest. The opposite happened the first two pairings lost.  The third pairing from the Captain's team arrived at the first hole unaware of the format. With balls flying everywhere the 1st hole was halved in 9.  As we know Steve Gibbons is a driving instructor for cars but not for golf buggies ! Trying to reverse from the second tee down a narrow path the back wheels came off the side of the path and nearly toppled over. Loud shouts from the opposition saw Steve stop and even "Whispering Bob" heard the cries as he waited on the end of the path. No disaster, and the Captain's team won the hole too. The Challengers hit back achieving 2 up after 6 holes. Steve Raji hit a great 5 iron on the 9th to put the Challengers 3 up.The Captain's team were finding plenty of rough. Mark Johnson had a great chip on the 13th from a bunker for a 2, which they went 4 up. A par on the 14th won the match 5 & 4 for the Challengers.

The Captain and Vice Captain were paired together in the morning round and got absolutely stuffed! They only won 1 hole which was the 9th, and couldn't live with opponents Steve Dewey and Darren Penny eventually losing 7& 6.

The last four matches saw two more losses for the Captain's team and two halved matches to gain only 1 point fom the morning round.

Session Score - Captain's Team - 1 / Challenger's Team - 7

Cumulative Match Score - Captain's Team - 4 / Challenger's Team - 20

Over some delicious sandwiches at lunch time the Captain was getting frustrated with his own form and the form of his team. A herculian effort was needed in the afternoon to avoid a defeat before any singles commenced.

Monday 25th July 2022 - afternoon
Holyhead Golf Club - 18 holes
8 x fourball-betterball matches

The Captain and Vice Captain have to lead from the front and Vice Captain Thorpe opened up on the 1st hole with an Eagle 2, over a mound, watched by his opponents and several supporters on the 2nd Tee whose loud cheers and holla's were heard back at the 1st Tee. The Captain's team then halved the next two holes,but lost four more and finished 1 down by the 9th. Three more holes and the Challengers were coasting 3 up after 12. Then what happened next was amazing the Captain's team won the next 5 holes and won the match 2 &1.(Just like we used to play together Phil !)

Craig Vale took on the course from many difficult angles. At the first hole he decided to play from the 8th fairway. At the 5th he approached from the 3rd fairway and then returned to the 8th fairway to play the 9th. James his partner used a canadian goose to stop his ball entering the water on the 7th and finished with a par 4. The Challengers remained calm with all the goings on and finished the match on the 15th with a 4 & 3 win.

Session Score - Captain's Team - 3 / Captain's Team - 5

Cumulative Match Score - Challenger's Team - 7 / Challenger's Team - 25

 

Leading players after Day 2 from each team

Captain's Team

Leading player is Tim Thacker with 2.5 pts from 4.

Challenger's Team

Five players have  a 100% record, Won 4 from 4
Captain Ian Ronson, Steve Dewey, John Haley, Mark Johnson and Adam Thompson.

 

The Challengers Team had won the cup in two days, with still 16 single matches to play.

A rout was imminent as the draw for the Singles took place after Dinner.

 

Tuesday 26th July 2022
Royal St. David's Golf Club - 18 holes
16 x singles matches

The two Captain's and vice Captain's were the first four contestants to drive off on a mild morning with little wind for the challenge of Royal St David's. Both matches were close with the Challengers taking both matches although Darren Penny was sweating over his put on the 18th after being 2 up with three holes to play, and at all square his opponent did his best to upset Darren with a little banter but with no avail, he sunk his putt with "nerves of steel"!  The Challengers then continued their winning onslaught with success for Kevin Morris over John Shaw ,and Steve Dewey over Steve Harris who had to retire.

The Captain's team were sinking fast looking for hero's to stem the tide and then it happened suddenly the scores improved. Craig Vale, won 1 up, Bob Stretton halved with John Haley,then we had five straight winners.

Owen Strudwick won 3 & 1;  Chris Dewes won 6 & 5; James Shipman won 2 up; Tim Thacker won 3 & 1 and Steve Gibbons won 5 & 4. Where were you guys all weekend?

The final matches, some were halved and others lost with the Challengers winning again on the day.

Session Score - Captain's Team - 7 / Challenger's Team - 9

Final Match Score - Captain's Team - 14 / Challenger's Team - 34

 

Leading players after Day 3 from each team

Captain's Team

Leading player is Tim Thacker with 3.5 pts from 5.
Chris Dewes scored 2.5 from 5.
They were the only two players with 50% or better records.

Challenger's Team

Two players have  a 100% record, Won 5 from 5:
Captain Ian Ronson who led his team from the front. and; Steve Dewey on his first Tour.

Three players recorded unbeaten records 4.5 pts from 5 matches:
Adrian Marchant , John Haley and Adam Thompson, great performance.

 

Both Captains thanked all the participants for their efforts and points and another very enjoyable tour was concluded after the presentation.

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Current BUNGS tour win percentages

(After the 2022 Anglesey Tour)

See bungs-tour-win-percentages.html for the current tour win percentages.