Congratulations to Mark who takes the predictions win at his first attempt. After losing Justin Rose to the cut four of Mark's selections were in the top six. It will come as no surprise to find out that Simon was second!
Final scores, numbers match the selections below...
Ben F - 97, 1, 97, 116, 15, 15 = 341
Ben W - 97, 1, 15, 32, 116, 140 = 401
Brian - 1, 21, 32, 15, 32, 116 = 217
Kevin - 97, 1, 32, 15, 73, 116 = 334
Mark - 97, 1, 2, 3, 32, 6 = 141
Matthew - 97, 26, 32, 73, 85, 32 = 345
Paul - 97, 3, 2, 15, 156, 26 = 299
Simon - 97, 1, 58, 15, 9, 6 = 186
After the cut update...
Brian was the only one of us not to pick Justin Rose (97 points) but there were plenty of others missing the cut too. Luke Donald (97), Thorbjorn Olesen (116), Rickie Fowler (116), Matteo Manassero (140), Billy Horschel (116), Bill Haas (85), Nicolas Colsaerts (85) will all play no part this weekend.
Louis Ooisthuizen withdrew eight holes into the tournament scoring me the maximum 156.
With no selection from Bruce we'll have a new champion. First update will be after the cut.
Ben F - Rose, Mickelson, Donald, Olesen, Kuchar, Bradley (25 players under par)
Ben W - Rose, Mickelson, Schwartzel, D.Johnson, Fowler, Mannassero (42)
Brian - Mickelson, Garcia, Day, Kuchar, B.Watson, Horschel (11)
Kevin - Rose, Mickelson, Day, Kuchar, Bjorn, Haas (8)
Mark - Rose, Mickelson, Stenson, Poulter, Kaymer, Z.Johnson (28)
Matthew - Rose, Els, Day, Bjorn, Colsaerts, Lowry (6)
Paul - Rose, Westwood, Stenson, Kuchar, Oosthuizen, Dufner (12)
Simon - Rose, Mickelson, McDowell, Kuchar, Mahan, Z. Johnson (20)
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
The Dorset - "27 holes of championship golf at its very best"
There are three nine hole courses here, Woodland, Parkland and Lakeland. Our 18 was to be the Woodland section followed by Lakeland.
We were besieged by flies on this section of the course. It was humid, that might have had something to do with it. I digress, the 25th is a short par four but tight, missing the fairway here will probably result in a lost ball here. The defending champ will confirm that! (Although not for the first time this weekend Paul lost one about 90 degrees right of the teebox.)
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| Spot the defending champ! |
The 27th brings you back towards your starting point and opens up again making life a bit easier.
On to the Lakeland nine then. The first should be straightforward but there is trouble if you stray left as Paul and Kevin did. The second was our first par 5 of the day and presents scoring opportunities if you can stay out of the drink.
There were a couple of holes where we did pause to try to work out where we were heading. The third and the ninth were the culprits. The par 3 fourth cost Simon as he picked his club for the yellow yardage when the tee was practically on the whites. The long par 5 sixth stretched us and Simon's chances reduced again here when he leaked a shot into the water on the right.
This was another good course and had some 'elephant's graveyard' greens to contend with too. The scores reflect that we caught it on a still, warm day. It's not one where I'd fancy getting blown off track.
We were back in 2014 for the same 18 but it wasn't in anything like the same condition. The course had taken a lot of rain so fairways weren't as trimmed as they might have been and a couple of the greens had standing water on them. Shame. This course did for Simon's chances again as he only amassed 26 points. He'll be glad to see the back of it.
Best scores
38 points - Ben W (off 9) 2013
38 points - Matthew (off 14) 2013
36 points - Kevin (off 10) 2014
35 points - Kevin (off 9) 201
Monday, 24 June 2013
Weymouth - "one of the friendliest private members golf clubs in the south"
The Saturday course of the 2013 Tour, Weymouth was a tough test for most of us. OK, the wind was blowing pretty hard all round but this is very up and down and there are plenty of trees to get in your way if you're off line.
Apparently Weymouth Golf Club was set up by people disillusioned by the set up at Came Down. The course was opened in 1909 but during the second world war much of it was converted for food crops. It was restored to 18 holes in 1953 and is a 5,754 yard par 70.
Paul and Matthew fell foul of the out of bounds on the left of the first (Bassett), but the first really memorable hole is the par 3 fifth. There's an elevated tee and trees on either side narrow the target. Matthew overshot here and nearly hit Brian waiting on the sixth tee! Another great par three is the eighth, uphill and protected by bunkers this is another one that will punish an errant tee shot.
There's a tough long dogleg par four in the shape of the twelfth (perhaps the longer holes are a bit less interesting) but you do get respite at the fourteenth with a short, downhill par four. Matthew practically drove the green here but with his provisional ball. That's followed by a short but well-protected par 3 (I wonder why I remember the short holes better!)
The last three holes all present their own challenges. The sixteenth is a longish par 5 with a stream ready to catch errant second shots from the shorter hitters (I speak from experience), the 17th has a hedge you need to clear with your drive (again, not one for the high handicappers) and the final hole is one for only the brave or foolhardy to try to cut the dogleg.
It's a tough course and was made all the tougher by the wind. I'd have another crack at this, but on a nice day!
And we did get that nice day in 2014, very warm with a much lighter breeze this time. Make no mistake though, this is a hard course that makes you work for everything so hats off to James for his course record 37 (17 better than last year!). Kevin did improve on his 25 points from last year but not by enough to deny Ben W the title.
Best scores
37 points - James (off 36) 2014
36 points - Simon (off 21) 2014
35 points - Simon (off 21) 2013
34 points - Ben W (off 9) 2013
34 points - Ben F (off 16) 2013
Apparently Weymouth Golf Club was set up by people disillusioned by the set up at Came Down. The course was opened in 1909 but during the second world war much of it was converted for food crops. It was restored to 18 holes in 1953 and is a 5,754 yard par 70.
Paul and Matthew fell foul of the out of bounds on the left of the first (Bassett), but the first really memorable hole is the par 3 fifth. There's an elevated tee and trees on either side narrow the target. Matthew overshot here and nearly hit Brian waiting on the sixth tee! Another great par three is the eighth, uphill and protected by bunkers this is another one that will punish an errant tee shot.
There's a tough long dogleg par four in the shape of the twelfth (perhaps the longer holes are a bit less interesting) but you do get respite at the fourteenth with a short, downhill par four. Matthew practically drove the green here but with his provisional ball. That's followed by a short but well-protected par 3 (I wonder why I remember the short holes better!)
The last three holes all present their own challenges. The sixteenth is a longish par 5 with a stream ready to catch errant second shots from the shorter hitters (I speak from experience), the 17th has a hedge you need to clear with your drive (again, not one for the high handicappers) and the final hole is one for only the brave or foolhardy to try to cut the dogleg.
It's a tough course and was made all the tougher by the wind. I'd have another crack at this, but on a nice day!
And we did get that nice day in 2014, very warm with a much lighter breeze this time. Make no mistake though, this is a hard course that makes you work for everything so hats off to James for his course record 37 (17 better than last year!). Kevin did improve on his 25 points from last year but not by enough to deny Ben W the title.
Best scores
37 points - James (off 36) 2014
36 points - Simon (off 21) 2014
35 points - Simon (off 21) 2013
34 points - Ben W (off 9) 2013
34 points - Ben F (off 16) 2013
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Came Down - "Birthplace of the Ryder Cup"
This course takes his place in Ryder Cup history as Samuel Ryder used to holiday in Weymouth and later became a member at Came Down. It was hearing about the struggles of local players against well-backed Americans that sowed the seed (see what I did there?) for a contest to be set up between the two nations.
You can read more about it here http://www.camedowngolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=14095 if you so wish.
This course also has place in Kylies on Tour history as it's where Bruce first played, back when the old King was still on the throne*. He was given some clubs by an old geezer just finishing a round and while Bruce is drifting towards old geezerdom himself he didn't feel like giving his clubs away after a 27 point round in 2013.
The course was founded in 1896 and the current layout was designed by Harry Shapland Colt who also was involved with the likes of Muirield, St Andrew's, Wentworth and Sunningdale. It's 5,903 yards off the yellows and there is no water on the course and fewer than 40 bunkers. The greens are tricky though and judging pace and direction is not straightforward.
The front nine is undulating. The first (Casterbridge) falls sharply away from you and the fifth (Valley) works its way back upwards. The long par 3 sixth (Westward Ho) is played over and across the fifth.
The back nine is mostly flatter and has back to back par 5s at 13 and 14. The sixteenth tee provides views over Weymouth and out to Portland, while the 17th (Polly's Pit) is a driveable par four but watch out for the pit to the right.
The course wasn't quite in such good nick in 2014 after clearly taking a lot of rain. Some greens were much slower than others so it was a tough putting day for some and it was a rainjackets on and off sort of afternoon for half a dozen holes. There was still some good scoring though with four players getting 33 or more points.
Best scores
37 points - Kevin (off 9) 2013
36 points - Ben W (off 10) 2014
35 points - Kevin (off 10) 2014
34 points - Matthew (off 14) 2013
34 points - Simon (off 21) 2014
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable challenge. Anything else you'd like to add?
*Only joking Bruce!
You can read more about it here http://www.camedowngolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=14095 if you so wish.
This course also has place in Kylies on Tour history as it's where Bruce first played, back when the old King was still on the throne*. He was given some clubs by an old geezer just finishing a round and while Bruce is drifting towards old geezerdom himself he didn't feel like giving his clubs away after a 27 point round in 2013.
The course was founded in 1896 and the current layout was designed by Harry Shapland Colt who also was involved with the likes of Muirield, St Andrew's, Wentworth and Sunningdale. It's 5,903 yards off the yellows and there is no water on the course and fewer than 40 bunkers. The greens are tricky though and judging pace and direction is not straightforward.
The front nine is undulating. The first (Casterbridge) falls sharply away from you and the fifth (Valley) works its way back upwards. The long par 3 sixth (Westward Ho) is played over and across the fifth.
The back nine is mostly flatter and has back to back par 5s at 13 and 14. The sixteenth tee provides views over Weymouth and out to Portland, while the 17th (Polly's Pit) is a driveable par four but watch out for the pit to the right.
The course wasn't quite in such good nick in 2014 after clearly taking a lot of rain. Some greens were much slower than others so it was a tough putting day for some and it was a rainjackets on and off sort of afternoon for half a dozen holes. There was still some good scoring though with four players getting 33 or more points.
Best scores
37 points - Kevin (off 9) 2013
36 points - Ben W (off 10) 2014
35 points - Kevin (off 10) 2014
34 points - Matthew (off 14) 2013
34 points - Simon (off 21) 2014
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable challenge. Anything else you'd like to add?
*Only joking Bruce!
Sunday, 16 June 2013
2013 (Weymouth) - Ben W is Weymouth Winner
After a hugely successful 2013 Tour Ben W clinched a record-setting fourth title.
38 points at The Dorset on the final day clinched a three-point victory from the returning Matthew and perpetual runner-up Simon.
Day 1 - Came Down
The Tourists gathered on a misty, drizzly morning but as we brunched and discussed the tournament the weather brightened up before the first group teed off. Came Down holds special memories for Bruce who played his first golf there as a teenager but it wasn't to be a very happy return as he scored 27 points.
It was three time winner Kevin who made the best start with his joint-best Tour round of 37 points, three clear of Matthew with Brian and Simon the only other players breaking 30 points. Reigning champ Ben F made a poor start and laboured to 25 points.
Day 2 - Weymouth
Just 10 minutes away from our base for the weekend, the Crown Hotel, Weymouth Golf Club was the venue for day two. It was another grey start but the main feature was a very strong wind. This is a very up and down course with a lot of trees so inaccuracy is punished. Simon started his round with three pars and went on to rack up the day's best score, 35.
Ben W's putter was cold early on but he toughed it out for 34 points, the same total as a recovering Ben F. Kevin struggled and only picked up 25 points to undo his great start and he found himself four points behind Simon at the end of the day with Brian and Ben W three behind the overnight leader. Seven points covered the top six so there was plenty to discuss over a curry.
Day 3 - The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland)
After an excellent greeting from The Dorset (coffee and bacon baguettes!) we embarked on the deciding round. The wind had dropped to just about nothing on a humid morning and Ben F birdied the first to revive memories of his 43 points last day in 2012. By the sixth though he was waist deep in rhodedendrons in his new shoes and his chance was gone. Simon's three point lead had also evaporated. The overnight leader made a poor start and his 32 point total wasn't to be enough.
Matthew joint top-scored on the day with 38 points to finish three points behind but it was Ben W, perhaps refreshed by not staying in a hotel which overlooked the noisiest bar in Weymouth and hosted the street-sweeper Grand Prix, who also finished with a 38, rolling in a birdie putt on the last to take his fourth title in style.
Final Scores
Ben W - 29, 34, 38 = 101
Matthew - 34, 26, 38 = 98
Simon - 31, 35, 32 = 98
Kevin - 37, 25, 35 = 97
Brian - 32, 31, 32 = 95
Ben F - 25, 34, 32 = 91
Bruce - 27, 22, 32 = 81
Paul - 29, 16, 29 = 74
James - 18, 20, 28 = 66
38 points at The Dorset on the final day clinched a three-point victory from the returning Matthew and perpetual runner-up Simon.
Day 1 - Came Down
The Tourists gathered on a misty, drizzly morning but as we brunched and discussed the tournament the weather brightened up before the first group teed off. Came Down holds special memories for Bruce who played his first golf there as a teenager but it wasn't to be a very happy return as he scored 27 points.
It was three time winner Kevin who made the best start with his joint-best Tour round of 37 points, three clear of Matthew with Brian and Simon the only other players breaking 30 points. Reigning champ Ben F made a poor start and laboured to 25 points.
Day 2 - Weymouth
Just 10 minutes away from our base for the weekend, the Crown Hotel, Weymouth Golf Club was the venue for day two. It was another grey start but the main feature was a very strong wind. This is a very up and down course with a lot of trees so inaccuracy is punished. Simon started his round with three pars and went on to rack up the day's best score, 35.
Ben W's putter was cold early on but he toughed it out for 34 points, the same total as a recovering Ben F. Kevin struggled and only picked up 25 points to undo his great start and he found himself four points behind Simon at the end of the day with Brian and Ben W three behind the overnight leader. Seven points covered the top six so there was plenty to discuss over a curry.
Day 3 - The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland)
After an excellent greeting from The Dorset (coffee and bacon baguettes!) we embarked on the deciding round. The wind had dropped to just about nothing on a humid morning and Ben F birdied the first to revive memories of his 43 points last day in 2012. By the sixth though he was waist deep in rhodedendrons in his new shoes and his chance was gone. Simon's three point lead had also evaporated. The overnight leader made a poor start and his 32 point total wasn't to be enough.
Matthew joint top-scored on the day with 38 points to finish three points behind but it was Ben W, perhaps refreshed by not staying in a hotel which overlooked the noisiest bar in Weymouth and hosted the street-sweeper Grand Prix, who also finished with a 38, rolling in a birdie putt on the last to take his fourth title in style.
Final Scores
Ben W - 29, 34, 38 = 101
Matthew - 34, 26, 38 = 98
Simon - 31, 35, 32 = 98
Kevin - 37, 25, 35 = 97
Brian - 32, 31, 32 = 95
Ben F - 25, 34, 32 = 91
Bruce - 27, 22, 32 = 81
Paul - 29, 16, 29 = 74
James - 18, 20, 28 = 66
Sunday, 9 June 2013
Handicaps for 2013 Tour
The Handicap committee propose the following handicaps
Based on Official Club Handicaps
Kevin – 9
Ben W – 9
Bruce – 17
Brian – 18
Matt – 15
Defending Champion
Ben F – 16
Based on previous years performances and results
Simon – 21
Sir James – 32
PG – 36
Based on Official Club Handicaps
Kevin – 9
Ben W – 9
Bruce – 17
Brian – 18
Matt – 15
Defending Champion
Ben F – 16
Based on previous years performances and results
Simon – 21
Sir James – 32
PG – 36
Saturday, 18 May 2013
2013 Tour announced
The 2013 Kylies on Tour schedule has been announced and the Dorset town of Weymouth will play host for the first time.
There are three new courses to be played too:
Came Down
Weymouth
The Dorset
Title holder Ben F has declared his intention to defend the coveted trophy, former champions Ben W, Kevin, Paul and James are in the field and there's a first appearance in six years for Matthew.
There are three new courses to be played too:
Came Down
Weymouth
The Dorset
Title holder Ben F has declared his intention to defend the coveted trophy, former champions Ben W, Kevin, Paul and James are in the field and there's a first appearance in six years for Matthew.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
US Masters predictions competition
Final scores
Congratulations to Bruce who is our first Major predictions champion.
His inspired pick of Angel Cabrera in Group 4 kept him ahead of Matthew and Ben W. (A Warr clean sweep of the podium!)
Here's how it finished
1 - Bruce (144) - Got all his players into the weekend and four in the top 25
2 - Matthew (167) - Picked Scott and Garcia but Graeme McDowell a let-down
3 - Ben W (172) - Also picked the winner and Tiger Woods but Louis Oosthuizen was the flop
4 - Kevin (202) - Good selection with Jason Day, not so good Mickelson and Keegan Bradley
4 - Simon (202) - Woods and Snedeker did good work, Oosthuizen and Bubba much less so
6 - Paul (282) - Woods saved a complete meltdown!
7 - Ben F (285) - Only Furyk was a top 25 finisher for Ben
After Round 3 update.
A few of us dodged the Woods DQ bullet but Bruce now appears to be in the driving seat due to his inspired Cabrera pick. All his selections are currently in the top 30.
Kevin also got all of his players into the weekend and has a shout for low points with Jason Day but Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley are letting his side down.
Simon has lost Louis Oosthuizen but can't be completely ruled as he is the only one with Brandt Snedeker playing for him.
After the cut update
Here are the players who won't be taking part at the weekend.
McDowell 62 pts (Matthew)
Oosthuizen 71 pts (Paul, Ben W, Simon)
Poulter 72 pts (Paul, Ben F)
Colsaerts 72 pts (Paul)
Only Bruce and Kevin get all their players into the final rounds.
Who'll take the Augusta bragging rights? Here are the predictions...
Ben F - Mickelson, Poulter, B.Watson, Fowler, Furyk, Choi. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Ben W - Woods, Rose, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Scott, Choi. Tiebreak - 275 (13 under)
Bruce - Woods, Rose, B.Watson, Fowler, Furyk, Cabrera. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Kevin - Mickelson, Rose, Bradley, Dufner, Day, Choi. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Matthew - McIlroy, Rose, Scott, Garcia, McDowell, Choi. Tiebreak - 274 (14 under)
Paul - Woods, Poulter, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Fowler, Colsaerts. Tiebreak - 280 (eight under)
Simon - Woods, Rose, Oosthuizen, Snedeker, B.Watson, Choi. Tiebreak - 274 (14 under)
Congratulations to Bruce who is our first Major predictions champion.
His inspired pick of Angel Cabrera in Group 4 kept him ahead of Matthew and Ben W. (A Warr clean sweep of the podium!)
Here's how it finished
1 - Bruce (144) - Got all his players into the weekend and four in the top 25
2 - Matthew (167) - Picked Scott and Garcia but Graeme McDowell a let-down
3 - Ben W (172) - Also picked the winner and Tiger Woods but Louis Oosthuizen was the flop
4 - Kevin (202) - Good selection with Jason Day, not so good Mickelson and Keegan Bradley
4 - Simon (202) - Woods and Snedeker did good work, Oosthuizen and Bubba much less so
6 - Paul (282) - Woods saved a complete meltdown!
7 - Ben F (285) - Only Furyk was a top 25 finisher for Ben
After Round 3 update.
A few of us dodged the Woods DQ bullet but Bruce now appears to be in the driving seat due to his inspired Cabrera pick. All his selections are currently in the top 30.
Kevin also got all of his players into the weekend and has a shout for low points with Jason Day but Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley are letting his side down.
Simon has lost Louis Oosthuizen but can't be completely ruled as he is the only one with Brandt Snedeker playing for him.
After the cut update
Here are the players who won't be taking part at the weekend.
McDowell 62 pts (Matthew)
Oosthuizen 71 pts (Paul, Ben W, Simon)
Poulter 72 pts (Paul, Ben F)
Colsaerts 72 pts (Paul)
Only Bruce and Kevin get all their players into the final rounds.
Who'll take the Augusta bragging rights? Here are the predictions...
Ben F - Mickelson, Poulter, B.Watson, Fowler, Furyk, Choi. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Ben W - Woods, Rose, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Scott, Choi. Tiebreak - 275 (13 under)
Bruce - Woods, Rose, B.Watson, Fowler, Furyk, Cabrera. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Kevin - Mickelson, Rose, Bradley, Dufner, Day, Choi. Tiebreak - 276 (12 under)
Matthew - McIlroy, Rose, Scott, Garcia, McDowell, Choi. Tiebreak - 274 (14 under)
Paul - Woods, Poulter, Schwartzel, Oosthuizen, Fowler, Colsaerts. Tiebreak - 280 (eight under)
Simon - Woods, Rose, Oosthuizen, Snedeker, B.Watson, Choi. Tiebreak - 274 (14 under)
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