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
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