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Well well, after saying that the Benhavis Masters was my final event of ’09, its now not! After a fabulous week in the Spanish sunshine I managed to sneak into the end of season Oki Tour Championship at Castillion, Spain . Home to the Garcia’s,  the event is for those who finish in the top 40 of  The Senior Tour Order of Merit and I am 38th!. This, all courtesy of a 4th place finish over the testing, but superb course at La Quinta Resort near Marbella.

I did in fact have a good chance to win, so 4th whilst being delighted was a ‘tad’ disappointing but still a really good result for me, and especially at this stage of the season! Rounds of 68,71,69 left me at 5 under and 2 off the play off between Carl Mason & Gordon Brand Jnr. To be honest, after I hit my second shot at the par 5 14th into the water I didn’t really create a birdie opportunity so all credit to ‘Mace the ace’,a master in those tight situations, he made 3 birdies over the closing 5 holes..not bad under the ‘cosh’! My last hole bogey was costly though….the game of what might have been hey!

I had a fab week though with some great friends, lots of vocal support on and off the course. Paul my pal who was caddy for the week & I stayed with Peter  a mate who has a great appartment at nearby Los Aqueirros GC.   Then in the pre event pro am was joined by Pete, Kev & Ken, all freinds from home, we made a great team….well the company was good anyhow! I wouldn’t say we troubled the scorers but had great crack all week. Golf doesn’t half bring people together like no other sport I have played, off a variance of handicaps we played the tournament course and had  a great time together, oh and by it was 28degrees! What better way is there to share the game we love!

So next is sorting travel to play at Castillion, Sergio Garcia’s home course the place he grew up and where his father is still the head pro. The main tour are there this week, so no doubt the greens will be very rapid and the rough long. The hospitality will be fab as always no doubt and with my son Tom as caddy I am looking forward to it.

Adios!

The first of the autumn series of our ‘Corporate club’ events was hosted yesterday by the fabulous Conwy Golf Club, North Wales.

What a day we were blessed with too,  18 degrees,  wall to wall sunshine and very little wind indeed! In fact there are few finer places to play golf than Conwy on such a day. The course is one of my favourite links, the hospitality fantastic in the clubhouse too. We had 60 guys playing in a 4 ball better ball format,  great support from old and new clients alike and a truly fabulous day. The course, as one would expect was in superb condition, and the concenus was very positive from all our guests.

There was some great golf played too, both nearest the pins by Steve Creed & Sean Humphreys were within 3 feet, the straightest drive was Dave Cadwallader that was within a foot or two of the line- though according to him ‘not long’! That’s the whole idea, drive for show putt for dough Dave!

The winners though with a majestic back 6 holes of 6 under par were Jim Caldwell & Simon Isherwood with 45 points-great stuff indeed chaps! And finally to wrap up a great day a big thanks from us all here to The RRG Motor Group, who sponsored the golf balls and lent me a fab new Lexus RX450h for the week end too- what a perk!

Anyhow, Marbella for me again this week for the final event on the European Senior Tour, The Benhavis Masters at La Quinta Resort. I require a top 3 finish to make the Tour Championship in November, so off to practice now.

Cheers