Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Levi leaves rivals in his wake
FATHER AND SON COMBINATION GO ONE UNDER FOR LAST 11 HOLES TO SNATCH STABLEFORD VICTORY Canterbury Golf Club
Even dad Philip was awestruck by some of the shots son Levi (scratch) produced as they went one under par for their last 11 holes to win Sunday’s Christmas Greensomes Stableford competition by a point.
Their superb run blocked out a victory bid from playing partners and new members James Holliday (h17) and Paul Rich (h13) in their first club competition.
But it was just reward after a stunning round by the Johnsons, in the cold and mud, in which they ran up 39 points from a gross 73, having been allowed only five shots.
Starting at the 10th in a field of 38 pairs, they had single point bogeys at the tough uphill par three 11th and the par four 14th and 16th holes but then came their stunning run for home, capped by a birdie at the par five 7th. Holliday and Rich did their best to catch them, running up 20 points on their inward nine, for a gross 84 and a points total of 38 from a handicap allowance of 15.
But there was no catching the Johnson duo and dad Philip (h12) said: “It wasn’t easy in winter conditions but Levi produced probably five shots that even he was pleased with.
“He hit a cut three iron at least 210 yards to five feet at the 18th and a three wood 294 yards to 15 feet past the hole at the seventh to set up an eagle chance. “I have a pretty good short game and when Levi is hitting his drives so far it makes it a lot easier. I’ve been watching him since he was eight and even I was impressed.’’
Peter Bundock (h10) and Michael Pilbeam (h4) were third, with 37 points, on countback from Dean Petch (h12) and James Shore (h16), who were also playing in their first club competition as new members, fifth placed Sandro Carlotti (h10) and Seamus Gallagher (h17), and Martinus Bonthuys (h10) and Bernard Disneur (15). n Antony Back had a spot of tee trouble before shooting a fine 79 (net 71) for 36 points to win Wednesday’s men’s
Stableford competition, on countback from Hugh Burton.
Eight handicap Back, who has been cut to seven, said: “It was a bit of a nightmare start. Because it’s been so wet we’ve got mats for tees at the first four holes and I’m having trouble getting my tee pegs into them. ‘‘I was halfway through my swing at the first and the ball fell off the peg and I only it hit as far as the ladies’ tee, which was a bit embarrassing.’’ But he recovered from his double bogey seven start by scoring 15 points on the next five holes, with birdies at the 2nd, 3rd and 5th, to run up 20 points on the front nine and added another 16 on the back, with another birdie at the last after a NR at the 17th.
Back added: “It was a good round, the greens were great, there was a little wind but the sun came out, it only started raining towards the end and it was a nice way to finish with a birdie at the 18th.
“I had to have my appendix out six months ago and I’m only just getting back to full fitness but I won a monthly medal a couple of months ago and I want to start playing competitions more regularly and get my handicap down to four.’’
Burton (h15) also had 20 points on the front nine before double bogeys at the 10th, 16th and 18th cost the win and a shot shaved from his handicap. David Brindle (h16) was two points back with 34 for third place, on count back from Lee Tidy (h8) in a field of 28. n Club captain Stephen Bowles (h14) and Terry Martin (18) racked up a highly impressive 43 Stableford points in the third round of the Senior Bill England winter league on Monday. They finished one ahead of Neil Parsonson (h12) and Philip Lake (h16), with Colin Dawson (h17) and Ray Lloyd (h14) a further point back in third.