HOLE BY HOLE ANALYSIS

Tenby Golf Club’s Scratch Cup final this year was contested by two debutants.

Richard Morton is 31 years old, plays off a handicap of one and has been a regular in the Dyfed county team for several years. Luke Harries has not long had his 17th birthday. He is a Wales under 18s international and has a current handicap of plus one.

The first round of the 36 holes final commenced at 8 am last Sunday. Initially, there was a strong south-westerly wind, although this died down slightly towards lunchtime. During the morning there were a few short showers, but no rain in the afternoon. However, after lunch the wind picked-up again and was stronger than at the beginning of the match.

Hole 1. Halved in standard par 5s.

Hole 2. After Richard had secured his par, Luke holed a 12-foot putt for a birdie to go one up.

Hole 3. Halved in par 4s after Richard got up and down from the right-hand side of the green.

Hole 4. Halved in 5s. Both players under-clubbed their second shots.

Hole 5. Another half in par 4s after a good chip by Luke.

Hole 6. Richard levelled the match with a birdie, two holing from seven feet.

Hole 7. Luke won with a par 4 after Richard three-putted from some distance. Luke back to one-up.

Hole 8. Luke’s hole again. Richard failed to chip and putt and went two down.

Hole 9. Halved in birdie threes. Luke slotted a 15-foot putt. Richard then showed his nerve by holing a tricky four-footer.

Hole 10. Claimed by Richard with a par 4 after Luke had got into trouble off the tee. Richard’s deficit now cut to one.

Hole 11. Halved in par 4s after both players had hit big drives.

Hole 12. Richard shanked and eventually conceded. Luke’s tee shot was close to the green. Luke now two up.

Hole 13. Richard hit a beautiful pitch over the bunkers to three feet for a birdie. Luke now just one ahead.

Hole 14. The pin was in its traditional finals’ day spot at the back of the long green. Luke holed a difficult downhill nine-foot putt for a birdie to double his lead.

Hole 15. After a good drive, Richard pulled his second and found an awkward lie. Luke’s par made him three up.

Hole 16. Luke found trouble in the deep rough on the right hand side and had to hack out. Richard chipped dead for his birdie. Luke claimed a fantastic half by sinking a curly 15-footer.

Hole 17. Richard was a little short and left off the tee and found a bare lie which made his chip over the bunker extremely hard. Although the hole was conceded,Luke’s 16-foot birdie putt dropped in. Luke now four up.

Hole 18. Richard three putted from off the front of the green whilst Luke managed to get down in two from Charlie’s Whiskers. Luke therefore five up at the turn.

Hole 19. The second round commenced at 12.50 pm and, as indicated earlier, the wind was now very strong. As he did on the 18th, Richard three stabbed from some distance whilst Luke claimed his par to go six ahead.

Hole 20. Richard’s par was good enough for a win after Luke had pulled his second shot. Deficit reduced to five.

Hole 21. Luke hit a poor tee shot and his third flew the green never to be seen again. With his par safe, Richard’s arrears were back to four.

Hole 22. Neither player attempted to reach the green in two and the hole was halved in bogey fives.

Hole 23. Halved in par 4s after Luke was a little fortunate in missing the left-hand bunker with his approach.

Hole 24. Halved in 4s after both players had missed the green with their tee shots.

Hole 25. With the momentum perhaps swinging back slightly in Richard’s favour, this hole was arguably a bit of a ‘turning point’. Richard hit two excellent shots and was just short of the putting surface. Luke’s drive found waist high trouble on the right-hand side. Following a penalty drop, his lie was still far from easy, but he managed to move the ball a further 100 yards or so. He then pitched to about 20 feet above the hole. Richard’s first putt ran nine feet or so past, but he was still favourite to win the hole. However, Luke drained his putt but, although it looked in, Richard’s ball did a full 360 degree rim of the hole and stayed out. Thus, a half meant Luke remained four up.

Hole 26. Despite hooking his drive, Luke hit a wonderful blind second and his par increased his lead to five.

Hole 27. Halved in bogey fives after both competitors had three-putted due to the near gale force wind.

Hole 28. Another monster drive secured Luke’s par, but Richard pulled his second well left and failed to get up and down. Luke now six up again.

Hole 29. Bunkered off the tee, Luke had to chip out sideways and then, after a badly hooked iron, he ended up on the beach. Richard’s deficit back to five.

Hole 30. Both finalists just missed the green. Luke chipped close. Richard’s chip was extremely delicate and unfortunately he double hit the ball. Luke now six up with six holes to play.

Hole 31. Luke drove the green - almost 300 yards into the wind! Richard played another lovely chip over the bunkers and then holed an eight-footer for his birdie. After attacking his putt, Luke was left with a three-foot putt which he duly slotted for a deserved six and five victory and the Tenby Scratch Cup title.

Due to conditions, the golf was a little scrappy after lunch. However, there was some fantastic play during the morning round. Before lunch, Luke was round in 69, three under par to include five birdies.

Indeed, Richard claimed four birdies himself, but a few too many bogeys cost him dearly. He was just one down after 13 holes, but a couple of slightly wayward shots and some indifferent putting meant he lost five of the next six holes.

Luke has a rare talent. He hits the ball a prolific distance off the tee and was often 50 yards or so ahead of Richard. His strength, evident when he escaped from thick rough a few times, belies his tender age. However, he is also a magnificent putter and is rarely short of the hole.

Whilst there is no doubt that Luke has a great future ahead of him in golf, Richard should feel proud of his performance which would have been good enough to win against many other opponents. It is a great shame that only a handful of spectators witnessed this high quality match.

Ben Childs was 18-years-old when he won the Scratch Cup in 1982. However, Kim Beynon was just 17 when he was victorious in 1973. Luke is also just 17 and coincidently he and Kim share their birthday, i.e. August 7!

Footnote: Luke won his first Tenby Scratch Cup crown on the same day golf legend Arnold Palmer passed away aged 87. Many of the older members at Tenby GC may not have taken up the game had it not been for the likes of Arnold, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Rest in Peace Arnold and thanks for all you did for the game of golf.