The Headmaster's Tankards Golf Competition 2017

4 July 2017

On Friday 23 June the Headmaster’s very own annual golf competition was keenly contested on a blustery afternoon at Stowe.  Playing conditions were indeed very challenging as the fast and fiery surfaces made shot selection rather tricky and the course resembled an inland links layout.  With a competition format of foursomes stableford played over 9 holes, we witnessed some interesting staff/Stoic pairings and the conventional CONGU handicap system – half combined handicap of partners – was utilized when allocating handicap allowances per pairing. 
The pairings that entered were:
 
Mr Craig Sutton & Tom Riley (Fourth Form, Bruce)
Mr Gavin Moffat & Louis Hay (Fourth Form, Grafton)
Mr Panos John and Jack Nesbitt (Fourth Form, Chatham)
Mrs Hazel Browne & Max Smith (Fourth Form, Cobham)
Mr Adam Gabriel & Toby Stocks (Fourth Form, Chandos)
Mr Alan Hughes & Pierse Odell (Lower Sixth, Grenville)
Mr Kyle Bennett & Yasmin Mama (Lower Sixth, Nugent)
Mr Andrew Jackson & Olivia Thomas (Lower Sixth, Nugent)
 
Mr Sutton and Tom Riley (Fourth Form, Bruce), along with defending champions Mr Moffat and Louis Hay (Fourth Form, Grafton) both headed in to the event with high aspirations but sadly the Stowe links and ‘old man par’ came out as winners with both pairings not producing their best golf on the day.  The winning pair – Mr Alan Hughes and Pierse Odell (Lower Sixth, Grenville) – was the product of a sudden death play off, which took place down the South Front with a large gallery of spectators cheering them on.  In a first for the Headmaster’s Tankards, Mr Kyle Bennett and Yasmin Mama (Lower Sixth, Nugent) were tied with Mr Hughes and Pierse Odell (Lower Sixth, Grenville) on 20 points upon completion of regulation play.  In order to decide the winning pair, we headed off down the 6th hole in sudden death format – play continues until we produce a winner!  Mr Bennett played a magnificent tee shot and this was followed by Pierse Odell’s(Lower Sixth, Grenville) superb long iron tee shot, which finished just short of the green but was up against the base of a tree.  Mr Hughes played an outstanding recovery shot and the play off was finally won in dramatic style as Pierse holed out from five feet. 
Credit must go to Mr Bennett and Yasmin who both competed exceptionally well. 
It was also particularly pleasing to see Olivia Thomas (Lower Sixth, Nugent) participating in the event and finishing joint 3rd with partner Mr Jackson.
I very much look forward to another exciting event next year.
 
Mr Andrew Hancox
PGA Golf Professional & Head of Golf