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In the BMGA Players Championship 2003, a new season a new format, the top four after two rounds played a third round with their previous scores discounted. Tim Davies surprisingly overcame the ever consistent Michael Webb in the most tightly packed field ever seen in this competition.

The first round saw a somewhat surprising leader as Ian Parker forged ahead establishing a very creditable new course record.  Jon Angel, after a good practice day yesterday, fulfilled his potential and trailed by one stroke.  It seemed the rest of the field would be fighting for only two places in the third round grouping.  Just as they excelled in the 1st round both came down with a bump as the course hit back, carding 47's.  Jon ran into serious problems as early as the 2nd hole, where he ran up a five (his first two putts both failed to make it to the top of the hill). Given his cushion over the fifth-placed player, that needn't have been a disaster, but it appeared to affect his confidence and he then missed a number of four-foot par putts. Ian also was not enjoying the rub of the green. And, his luck having deserted him (e.g., at the 5th, where his ball by-passed the gulley), his confidence followed suit. Both were struggling then to make the cut.  Parr's difficulties only began at the 14th (having a run of 3,4,3,3). But, having not missed a putt on the front nine he was already more or less safe.  The rest played more consistently and any one of ten players had ample opportunity to make it through to the next round.

Robert Smith, the British Junior Champion and Pierre Bender both played very well in the first round, but both succumbed to the cauldron that is the BMGA tour.  More experienced players such as Tim Davies and Mr. Michael Webb both ground out scores good enough to make the cut.  Affirmation tapes helped the irrepressible Peter Parr to two good rounds and an overall lead of three shots (to be discarded in the final round), but where was John McIver, a reversion to an old putter paid no dividends and the British Champion slumped out, skinned by Grant, Tim and Alex to name but a few.

The third round seemed to be over before it had begun with Mr. Michael Webb cruising to an early lead and stoically defending it with a host of twos on the way home.  Ian and Peter were out of the race at the turn and only Davies clung in desperately trying to cut the deficit with a host of ace attempts.  Davies playing last on the eighteenth had to make an ace to take the tournament to a play-off, he confidently struck the ball which rebounded truly and hey presto, scores even.

Davies won the toss and elected to play first, his practice shot was as true as Mr. Michael Webb's wasn't.  Strangely each played the same first shot as the other had in practice, but both made two.  On to the second and Mr. Michael Webb unusually made a mistake and then another and finally strode down the green offering his hand to concede.  An act of sportsmanship unsurpassed on the BMGA tour.

* Won at second play-off hole.

** BMGA record

Tim Davies, Ian Parker, Mr. Michael Webb, Peter Parr

Peter Parr presents Tim Davies with the BMGA Players Championship shield

Photos:Jon Angel

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