Strokeplay Championship 23

STROKEPLAY

championship

22 - 24 May 2023 Belton Park Golf Club

It was a pleasure to once again return to one of the best parkland courses in Lincolnshire, Belton Park GC, for the AGA Strokeplay Championship.

We are extremely grateful for the kind generosity of our sponsors; Thales as our Headline sponsor, BT who have been working with us to provide a more digitised approach to running our events, Heckler & Koch for donating the new officials’ apparel for the coming season and finally to Comms Spec for providing their radio systems for use throughout our events.

The weather on day one was clear but there was a distinct chill in the air and overnight moisture on the course meant a loss of distance on both the tee and second shots. As the morning progressed and the sun burned off the morning dew, the course firmed up and the greens became gettable for those who could remain on the fairways. It certainly paid to have a later tee time. With a field of 72 the main competition was played off the white tees, which measured 6490 yards; the par was 71 with a slope rating of 122.

Belton Park GC has hosted the AGA Stableford Championship in the recent past but this was a first for the Strokeplay.

The course was in excellent condition with the first and second cuts and narrow fairways adding to the protection of the course. The rough was starting to lengthen, and players realised very quickly that this was not somewhere you wanted to be. With freshly cut and ironed greens a stern test beckoned.

Scoring in the first round proved to be a challenge with only one player breaking par and another posting level par. The clubhouse leader was the current Army Vice Captain, Sgt Richie Over RE (1) on 69, 2-under par, followed closely by another Army Team regular LCpl Alex Matthews RE (2) on 71, level Par, and then two on +1 sat in third, Cpl Glen Watt RAC (+4) and Spr Graeme Torre RE (+3). Then in fifth place was SSgt Gaz Gurung RE (+1) on 73.

As the players headed into Round 2 it was clear anything other than a straight drive hitting the fairway was going to make scoring very difficult. The second cut was sufficient to cause many a problem and anything wayward had the potential to wreck a scorecard, but as the weather turned warmer there was plenty of opportunity to post a good score.

Cpl Glen Watt RAC

Steady play and staying on the short stuff proved to be the way to go with Torrie, carding an excellent 5 under 66, to take him to the top of the leader board after two rounds on 138. Watt posted a decent 72, to move him into second place on an aggregate 141. Matthews maintained his consistency with another level par round but this saw him slip a place to third on 142. The first round leader Over, dropped off the pace a little with a 4 over 75. but WO2 Kerry Roberts RA ended the day on 146 after a commendable 72, just behind him on 148 was the 2022 Champion Maj Jack Musgrove RA.

strain of the 10 hours of play on day one only the strongest were going to post a decent score. With 10 strokes separating the top 5 players it was all to play for and as the golf course tightened its hold on the field only the best players managed to hold their own. Torrie set about increasing his lead and Matthews, Watt, Over, Roberts and Musgrove all looked to make a charge.

As the third round unfolded it seemed only a collapse of “McIlroy Masters proportions” would see Torrie not see this through to the close. Noticeable scores from round three; Torrie pushed on with a 1 under 70 as did Musgrove, Matthews dropped his first shot with a 1 over 72 along with, Over, LCpl Tom Sanghera REME and Lt Declan Brady INF. Round three closed with Torrie still out in front on 208, some 6 shots clear of Matthews on 214. Over was still hanging on with 216, closely followed by Musgrove on 218.

SSgt Gaz Gurung RE

So, after two rounds the leaderboard saw Torrie, Watt, Matthews and Over forcing the pace, but with Roberts and Musgrove close enough to make a move during round three.

Day two started warm and sunny and as the course basked in sunshine any early morning dew very quickly burned off to leave the course dry, firm, and quickening. The greenkeeping staff were out early to cut and iron the greens once more adding to an already stiff test of golf.

Round three followed a similar pattern to rounds one and two with some struggling to cope with the conditions particularly as the wind had picked up a little. That said though, those who had found their groove, were making things happen. Mental resilience is vitally important and with everyone feeling the

Whilst all the action unfolded from the first tee in the main championship, on the 10th tee the Stableford competition was underway for all those who missed the cut which was set at 159 this year. 43 players teed off in the 36-hole handicap Stableford. Within this field were some seriously good golfers eleven of whom were playing off a handicap of five or better.

Round one saw four under par scores; Sjt Joshua Lucas INF 40 pts, WO1 John Butler RLC and Sgt Brett Evans AMS on 38 pts and CSjt Yambahadur Gurung RCAM on 37 pts. Then followed 3 on level par so there were several players capable of making a move in the afternoon round.

Both Butler and Lucas continued their hot streak from the morning round by following up with scores of 42 and 40 pts respectively. Then followed Sgt Sean Beswick RA and WO1 Paul Gardiner REME on 38 pts and Sgt Roman Rai RLC, Maj John Price AGC (SPS) and SSgt Chris Rosie RE on 37 pts. So, after two rounds

we had a combined score of 80 pts taking first place, although this would be decided on count back, with Butler taking the spoils over Lucas. Scores of 72 pts for Gurung Y, and 71 pts for Lt Col Stuart Campbell AMS and Evans closed out the top 5.

Back to the main event and with still gathering momentum, round four saw a resurgent Musgrove hitting 3 birdies over the opening holes to start a charge up the leader board, at a time when Torrie was starting to drop shots, even though the reigning champion had left himself quiet the hill to climb he had the game to achieve it.

The Championship leader just had to play a steady round without pushing it and with his closest opposition in the same flight starting to fall off the pace he was able to control the match from the front.

After shooting the best round four score of 71, Watt must have been cursing his poor showing in the third round (I’m sure his time will come in future years). With a 9 shot lead though I have no doubt Torrie’s walk up the 18th was made that much easier. The top scores of the final round saw Watt on 71, Musgrove on 73, WO2 Ian Mahan INF, Sgt Matt BruceSmith AGC (SPS), Torrie and Capt Neil Williams INF all shooting 74.

As with all sporting events there can only be one winner, this year other than the golf course, that appeared to beat most of the players, it was Spr Graeme Torrie RE, who won through with an impressively consistent performance of 2 under gross, and with scores of 72, 66, 70, and 74 totalling 282. 9-shots behind in second place was Maj Jack Musgrove RA, who just came up short after putting up a strong defence of his title with scores of 74, 74, 70 and 73 totalling 291. The next 3 places making up the top five saw Matthews on 292, Over on 293 and Watt on 294. The standard of golf played by the top groups was without doubt impressive. The Army is awash with

strong, young talent which bodes well for the Army Team in general and making competition in the top AGA Championships fierce.

This year the course set up was fair but challenging. Lush fairways, sometimes narrow in places, a second cut to challenge the very best, rough to avoid at all costs and firming greens all made for a perfectly presented course worthy of such a prestigious Army Championship.

Our sincere thanks go to the club Chairman, Andy Hodgson, the Captain, Bruce MacFarland, and the Committee.

To the General Manager Ed Faulkner, the Course Manager, Lee Carratt, and the Head Professional, Shay Brennan. And last but certainly not least to all staff and members of Belton Park Golf Club for allowing the AGA to hold this Championship at their course and for making us all feel so welcome over the course of the three days. The course was presented in such excellent condition. For the future Belton Park has kindly agreed to host the 2024 Championship later in the season in July and we have booked to return in 2027 in our usual May slot.

Special thanks must go to the AGA officials for running the event in their usual professional and tireless manner both at the event and back in the office.

Finally, the AGA is eternally grateful to Thales as the AGA Headline sponsor for 2023 and to Army Sport for their support.

The 2024 AGA Strokeplay Championship will take place at Belton Park Golf Club over the period 8 – 10 Jul 2024. AGA members should note that this is a mixed competition open to ALL members of the AGA with the field limited to max 72 players; all interested in playing whatever handicap should enter. Entries will be available via the website in early 2024.

Any queries should be directed to the AGA office on aga@armygolf.co.uk or Mil phone - 94222 7078 / Civ phone - 01252 787078.

Strokeplay Runner-Up - Maj J Musgrove

L: Strokeplay Champion - Spr G Torrie R: Handicap Champion - LCpl A Matthews Stableford Handicap Winner - WO1 J Butler

Senior Winner - WO2 K Roberts RESULTS Strokeplay Champion

Spr Graeme Torrie RE 282

Runner-Up

Maj Jack Musgrove RA 291

Handicap Champion

LCpl Alex Matthews RE 286

Senior Winner

WO2 Kerry Roberts RA 297

Stableford Handicap Winner WO1 John Butler RLC 80 pts OCB