One point from US Masters trip of a lifetime

Having won the US Masters Texas Scramble qualifier hosted at Machrihanish Golf Club at the end of August, Robbie’s Reindeer headed to Deer Park, Livingston, for the grand final where 43 teams competed for a trip to Augusta.

Ari Techner couldn’t make it so Bruce MacNab stepped in to join Ryan McGlynn, Jim Hunter and Robbie Wilson.

The Texas Scramble format requires four drives from each player, with one being at a par three, meaning that by the time you get to the last par three, only one player is left for that shot.

The boys started with a par four, followed by four birdies in a row then three pars. A birdie two followed Jim Hunter’s excellent tee shot. At the next, a 522-yard par five, the boys secured an eagle three after a majestic three wood approach from Ryan to 15 feet before Robbie rammed home the eagle putt.

Full of confidence, they were pulling out all the stops now and five birdies in a row followed. A par at the par-five 15th hole was maybe the only regret from the team as they failed to get up and down from 40 yards for another birdie. Then at the 16th, Bruce’s eight iron approach shot struck the bottom of the pin but didn’t go in.

The boys had one final chance for birdie at their last hole, the 16th, with a 20-foot uphill putt but unfortunately it didn’t drop.

A brilliant effort saw Robbie’s Reindeer score 13 under par for 592.3 handicap for 56.7.

Their dreams of Augusta, sadly, were dashed as they entered the clubhouse to see that Chappers of Dowanfield Golf Club had scored a 55.7 to take first place.

While disappointed not to be heading to Augusta next April, the boys were delighted with their prize of a ProQuip waterproof suit each and a fourball voucher for Kingsbarns.

Organised by Golf in Scotland, Deer Park was in excellent condition.