Winner Howard Browne (Left)
Having now played six majors a picture is starting to emerge of who the main players are for this year’s Order of Merit. The sixth major was held on the popular Patshull Park Course in the Shropshire countryside, it was yet again a well-attended Major, something the CGS have been accustomed to this year, with 35 members and guests the competition would yet again be fierce.

Returning guests Eddie Wedderburn and Dean Ebanks were joined by first time guest Ian Legall all the way from Bolton. The journey from Bolton wasn’t a wasted one with Ian claiming the longest drive prize, playing off an 11 handicap Ian was pretty much destroying the course with some long drives of which have not been witnessed before at a CGS event. The drives were so long he could have reached the green from Bolton, incredible stuff from Ian.
The course at Patshull had rave reviews from the members after last season’s Champion of Champions event however this season the course did not live up to previous experience which was a shame as this writer was expecting great things. Nevertheless the players enjoyed the experience especially two players who posted the highest s scores on the day with a pair of 37 points.

Elford Douglas and Howard Browne both played a casual round together at Patshull to get ready for the CGS visit. On the day Howard suggested that Elford would win the CGS major but in the end count-back went to Howard for his second win of the season after only playing 4 events since joining this season. It’s been a pretty rapid rise for Howard after joining the CGS, winning his first major playing as a member and then with a second and third place position in the following Majors and now another win, he’s obviously enjoying CGS golf. Congratulations to Howard.

Runner up Elford Douglas after winning his first ever CGS Major earlier in the season has been on the move up the Order of Merit table and now sits third to Howard. With the title in sight Elford was one of the first to get his name down for the next Major. With only two events left anything can happen pressure does strange things to the mind and to the golf swing.

With the long drive trophy already on its way to Bolton the other two prizes of nearest in two and nearest in one have yet to be mentioned.

The nearest in two went to Dave Brown who’s second shot ended up 6 feet from the flag but was never bettered by the other 6 groups which came after. The Nearest the pin prize was believed to have hit the hole and may have even spun out, however no one actually saw it but all that were in his group witnessed it was an inch from going into the hole when it came to a standstill. Having won the last event played at Patshull it was a welcomed consolation prize for Rhucha Ford who came to win again but was a few points short with 33.

Although we don’t have the prize money they have on the European and PGA tours there is one thing that we can relate and that’s pressure. With Howard Browne on top form and sitting on top the Order of Merit if he falters in the next event it may go down to the wire and with the last event being a two day major at Breadsall Priory it’s going to be a great weekend.

A big Thank you to Patshull Park for their hospitality and to all the Kitchen staff for a nice meal that was well received