Following on from re-entering the Interclub Ladies Scratch KO last year with the club now having a few players who can hold their own against mostly lower handicap opponents this years pairing of Jules Harbord and Marie Norman took to the course in very high temperatures and the possibility of 36 holes in that heat with the ever present Gorleston breeze, the one with all Par 3’s into it. Gorleston’s opponents were 2 young Ladies from Diss whose handicaps were slightly lower than the Gorleston girls.

The morning round saw Gorleston dominate with them ending it 4 up with the afternoon session to come. From the restart Diss immediately reduced the deficit to 3 and Gorleston snatched the 4-hole lead back on the 2nd. The 4th was won by Diss and the first mention to our wonderful members, Steve Hall and Mark Morgan who stood aside to let the ladies through on the 5th. The 6th hole was won after a catalogue of errors from both teams but Diss taking 4 to get out of the front left bunker on 6 allowed Gorleston to back to 4 up. A superb 15-foot putt on 7 saved Diss from going 5 down but that only lasted until the next hole with Jules holing a 12-footer for birdie after perfect drive and then approach shot from Marie.

5 up with 10 holes to play sounds as if it’s in the bag but Diss had other ideas, winning the 9th & 10th holes to drag it back to 3 up in Gorleston favour. Diss won the 12th and into the tropical field with air temperatures about 30C and the Gorleston girls feeling a different kind of heat as well. Gorleston emerged from the field 3 up with 4 to play after winning the 14th and looked certain to be victorious whilst in Hopton.

However, Diss had other ideas and produced an approach shot to 18 inches for a birdie on 15 which was holed to win after a great 2 putts for par by Gorleston. A second thanks now goes to Tony Ludlam’s 3 ball who very kindly stood to the side halfway up 16 to allow the match to proceed without delay, a hole that was halved leaving the match Dormie 2.

Another great approach shot to the 17th by Diss allowed them to take the match down the 36th hole, both pairs drove the dip leaving 190 yard approach shots to the green, Diss stuck theirs pin high 15 feet from the hole, Gorleston however suffered immense bad luck when their ball stuck halfway up the face of the front left bunker, good luck as it didn’t incur a £1 fine for “Captain’s Bunker” but bad luck as they couldn’t get it on the green after 2 attempts.

All Square, play-off hole time and a third thank you to Jason who was due to be teeing off at 17.36 but allowed the ladies through. For the first time in 37 holes the Gorleston ladies had some support from those enjoying the bar refreshments on the patio but unlike the Diss entourage who walked the 1st play off hole our support remained safely behind the toughened glass to view from approximately 300 yards. 2 good tee shots and an excellent 2nd from Jules left Marie with a putt for glory but unfortunately it missed and as Diss failed to par the hole Jules rolled in the winning putt for an excellent victory.

This is truly a great achievement, the Ladies will be away to either Stowmarket or Halesworth in the quarter finals.

Stuart Pearce
Chairman of Competitions