2014 Champion of Champions Woodhall Spa

Ominous Ogarro obliterates opposition!

Origins, genesis and beginnings are often clouded by supposition and devoid of substance or corroboration. Take the phrase ‘flash in the pan’ for example. Depending on your disposition for the dramatic or the dreary there are two very distinct claims which equally attest to being the birth place of this commonly commandeered colloquialism. The first takes us back to 1896 Yukon Alaska where countless prospectors would tirelessly toil in the perilous mines of Klondike with hopes pinned on uncovering that ‘flash in the pan’ which could literally cement a future laden with gold. The second far less glamorous abridgment takes us back to the early 17th century and the days of flintlock firearms where any attempt to fire your musket without igniting the main charge would ultimately result in a ‘flash in the pan’. Irrespective of your school of thought, the term could in no way be attributed to the events which unfolded at the season opening Champion of Champions held at the home of English golf, Woodhall Spa. The walk would be walked and the talk would be talked – and all would herald the emergence of a true Champion of Champions.

Anticipation was fever pitch. Basking on the warm glow of a successful first year, Lady Captain Jackie Harbour officially announced through her Captains address the ambitious 2014 schedule of events along with a pledge that the committee would not to rest on laurels – the aspiration is to surpass and exceed on every level, to attain new levels of excellence and expand in every direction.  In this instance however, the direction took the participants to Lincolnshire and the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa – one of the finest woodland courses in the world, ranked 25 in World Golf Magazine’s World Top 100 Golf Courses. Located on the outskirts of the leafy Edwardian town of Woodhall Spa the famous Hotchkin Course would prove a veritable golfing leveller with tight unyielding fairways and bunkers twinned with devilish depth and precariously placed to punish the profligate. Distinguishing the good, the bad and the ugly would be all too easy.

The advice from those in the know was simple – layup, play for the heart of the green, treat a par like a birdie, don’t go at it.  Without question the majority of golfers are avid listeners who absorb advice and recommendation with equal relish, the first tee however is akin to an avaricious Bermuda Triangle eager to devour and derail a place where chests are puffed and caution disappears like salt in a sand storm. Nerves and anxiety are unwelcome, uninvited guests in the theatre of strokeplay – according to Lee Trevino, nowhere to run or hide.

Ultimately, there can be little substitution for class. And as events unfolded the testament which suggested that the course set up would lend itself to victory for a low handicap golfer would come to pass with unequivocal alacrity. In form reigning order of merit winner Mark Cato, armed with the knowledge of a previous day practice round, returned a more than respectable 83 despite an unpalatable 7 at the par four first. Equip with a handicap of 27 the secretly fancied underdog Jackie Harbour might have found better use for the 11 sixes on her card at the T20 cricket tournament currently taking place in the Caribbean, note to Chris Gayle. Welcome returnee Del Mandleson fared little better. Arguably, better usage of the two half centuries he recorded on the front and back nine could have been found in similar fashion to Harbour. Questions surrounding Chris Thomas and his association with archaeology were finally laid to rest when he was caught unceremoniously attempting to resurrect artefacts from Tutankhamn’ Tomb via fairway bunkers on the par 4 third and the par 3 twelfth. ACGA stalwart Frank Skinner re-enacted the days of his partying youth by once again visiting the 100 club, his effort which appeared to lack soul or rhythm being described as more than a little funky.

But amongst the melee of mediocrity, there was evidence of brilliance and sterling golf which undermined the difficulty of the course. Fellow 5 handicap golfers Richard ‘Course Record’ Payne and Roger ‘The Artful Dodger’ Goddard both ended their well constructed rounds shooting 78 gross with Goddard prevailing in third place on count back.  And what of committee member and strokelay supremo Cassius Browne who against the odds sought to complete a highly improbable but equally record breaking 4th Champion of Champions victory. Admirably, he can probably cite crucial double bogys on the par 4 second and the par 3 twelfth as denying him Champion of Champions immortality. Finishing second however should redress any disappointment for what was a supreme effort. There can be no questioning the manner in which Malcolm Ogarro orchestrated this imperious victory. Impressive from the get-go, Ogarro set about his task with the same aggression and appetite normally reserved for his hearty breakfast. Indeed, birdie at the par 4 first, followed by an eagle at the par 4 second AND a birdie at the par 4 fourth would set the tone for a round which would linger long in the memories of his tormented playing partners. Despite his excavation exploits Chris Thomas showed his class by commenting on the “stand out brilliance” of a majestic round of golf. England representative and scratch golfer Tyrone Carter (79) who showed class of his own by pushing Ogarro all the way could only marvel at the way his adversary held his nerve as punch and counter punch were thrown with no quarter asked or given. In the end, there would be no denying Ogarro in his quest to create a little history of his own by completing a grand slam of trophies – Order of Merit, Birdie Champion, Singles Champion and now Champion of Champions. The only one in the field to shoot handicap, Ogarro recorded a highly impressive 70 nett from a handicap of seven and took the title by 3 shots from the strokeplay specialist Cass Browne.

 Unreserved congratulations to the incomparable Malcolm Ogarro who has surly set the tone for a season which has all the hallmarking of being one of the most keenly contested, fiercely fought contests in the history of the ACGA. The stage is set, the battle lines have been drawn, the gauntlet has been well and truly cast, only the fittest will survive and adorn silverware – the question is, is you game long haul or long gone? Only time will tell.