The Ilfracombe Tour was won by Ben F who eased away from the field on the last day.
It's a third win in eight years for him and he now holds the top three biggest margin victories in Tour History.
Day One - Minehead and West Somerset
It was an early afternoon start and most of the Tourists enjoyed a leisurely lunch beforehand. The two stuck in traffic after a misguided route change were lucky to be in the third group off to give them time to have a practice swing.
It was bright at first with hazy sunshine for much of the round but the early hole were played with musical accompaniment. That part of course being near Butlin's where the eighties and nineties classics drifted out of the 'party tent' and across the links.
It was a decent day for scoring too with six players in the thirties. Defending champ Brian (who'd suffered the route mishap and had to make up time) came out on joint top with Matthew on 35. Kevin and Ben F were two pints behind while Simon (nursing an elbow problem) and James (in a buggy after a recent op) just a further point back.
Day Two - Ilfracombe
It was a lunchtime start on day two as well so the tourists enjoyed a stroll around Ilfracombe in the morning and watched the skies as the weather forecast had suggested a wet round was ahead.
Wet and windy in fact. It was blowing a gale up on the cliffs and after about an hour the rain started. Gentle at first but soon it was lashing down. The configuration of the course and the thought of winning the prestigious trophy managed to get everyone to complete all 18 holes.
Scoring was naturally reduced. 27 points was as good as it got with the two Bens and Stuart recording that score - three better than everyone else. Brian's hopes of a title defence washed away with a score of 16.
The evening curry house discussion saw an 'exceptional circumstances' rule introduced for the first time with handicap rises only going to players with scores of lower than 20.
It left the championship finely poised going into the last day. Ben F led on 60, Matthew just behind on 59 with Simon (56), Ben W (55) and Kevin (54) not completely out of reach. James and Stuart were also in the range where a 40+ point special could bring them the crown.
Day Three - Tiverton
It was such an early start for the the deciding day's action we needed to forgo the fried breakfast back at base and get on the road at 8am. There was some drizzle in the air as the first group were introduced but it soon turned into a gorgeous day. It was definitely course of the weekend. The front nine in particular threw up various challenges and it was in great nick too.
With Matthew's driving radar and Kevin's putting GPS both a little off-track their challenges faltered, Ben W couldn't make up the deficit and Simon's injury took its toll so it was Ben F who came through with a best of the day 35 points to secure a five point win and his third title.
Final scores
Ben F - 33, 27, 35 = 95
Matthew - 35, 24, 31 = 90
Ben W - 28, 27, 31 = 86
Kevin - 33, 21, 29 = 83
James - 32, 19, 31 = 82
Brian - 35, 16, 27 = 78
Simon - 32, 24, 18 = 74
Paul - 25, 18, 28 = 71
Stuart - 24, 27, 20 = 71
