2012 Tournament
THE 5TH ICKLESHAM CASUALS GOLF TOURNAMENT
The largest ever field of eighteen players assembled at Willingdon Golf Club for the fifth Icklesham Casuals Golf Tournament. New boys Stuart Baker, Adam Forrest and Andy Vickers were welcomed along with many familiar faces. Handicaps were discussed as everyone waited to tee-off with Tim Linch particularly upset to be playing off eight considering he had what he described as ‘a major problem with his back’. Chris Baker was telling anybody who listened that he had only played four rounds of golf this year and they were all on the same day – Icklesham Casuals’ 75 holes-in-a-day charity fundraiser!
THE COMPETITORS
As usual the event was an individual Stableford competition – points for birdies, pars etc. – with a team competition. Willingdon is a tight and hilly course with a number of early holes crossing each other. The insults were flying therefore when Wayne Bumstead managed to lose his team ‘golden ball’ on the 2nd hole and Chris Baker, Joe Beardsley, Tony Forster and Lewis Tiltman lost their ‘golden ball’ on the 4th hole.
The sun shone and the scores were good. Debutant Adam Forrest along with Ollie Beaumont, Wayne Bumstead and Dave Tiltman all scored well on the outward nine holes. The rumour was, however, that Lewis Tiltman was putting together an excellent round. Playing off scratch Lewis had accrued twenty points on the first nine holes and turning for home everybody knew that it was a difficult task to match the consistency of Lewis.
As for the team competition – most teams lost their ‘golden ball’ on the outward nine holes and it was only the Bob Baker, Steve Beale and Dave Tiltman team that had kept their ball – at least until the 14th hole when Dave Tiltman managed to slice one that was never found.
As the groups came back to the clubhouse for a drink and a meal, a search party was sent out for the Stuart Baker, David Mayne, Hugh Sullivan and Keith Swallow group who were some holes behind. Rumours of Hugh’s diligence in looking for his ball may have had some foundation. There was also much hilarity in Steve Beale’s story of Bob Baker playing an excellent shot to the wrong green!
The real news of the day, however, was Lewis Tiltman’s round. A 3-under par 66 scoring 39 Stableford points – only one five on his card – and that was on a par 5 – with four birdies and one bogie. An unbelievable round even allowing for the fact he is an excellent golfer.
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
On the 1st tee…….
