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McIVER ON COURSE FOR MINIGOLF’S GRAND SLAM

BMGA BRITISH MASTERS 2004

Adventure Island, Southend-on-Sea, 17 April, 2004

System: adventure golf

OVERALL CLASSIFICATION

Notes:

*           denotes guest player (non-BMGA member)

(c)        denotes defending champion

[1]        Jon Angel won play-off for second place with an ace at second extra hole

At the US masters Phil Mickleson won the famed green jacket with a marvellous putt on the final hole.
One week later the British Masters may have lacked Ernie Els, large crowds, seven figure prize money, Peter Alliss endlessly gibbering, International media coverage but it did have a winners jacket, 3 figure prize money, a photographer from the Southend Evening Echo, a fat Londoner who stopped to watch the action whilst eating his 5 for the price of 3 doughnuts and Robert Vallory (not to mention a wrecked plane, abandoned Land Rover and sound system that endlessly played monkey noises.)

Jo Vallory, the dashing youngster who finished second last year had emulated American golfer John Daley, alas not in sporting achievement but in alcoholic consumption. and had "retired" from the competition due to medical reasons.

A smaller field than usual-perhaps because Coventry City were playing in London that afternoon, set off to achieve the dream.
In the first round Keith Kellard overcame the myriad hazards of the Inca trail to shoot a fantastic 39 to take top slot. One shot ahead of arch enemies Tim Davies and Ted McIver.
Earlier on BBC ESSEX Tim had told the audience he expected to finish in the top one.
Johnny Angel 42 and Russell Dent 42 were in close proximity all with the talent to make a charge up the leader board in the second round.
James Miller was the leading local player and Mitchell Vallory - tipped to become Europes dominant minigolfer by 2011 was ahead in the novice category.
The second round proved an Aztec adventure for Steve Gow whose hard work over the winter paid off with a 44 a far cry from his nightmare debut at Southend last year. Russell Dent played well for a 43.
Sally Weddell maintained top position amongst the lady competitors and James Miller fended off his local challengers to scoop the prize for best local.
In the top group Keith could smell blood, Davies took a 3 on the first hole to fall 2 shots behind the new pretender to his crown.  However it was McIver who started fastest out of the blocks hitting 2 consecutive aces.
Keith stuck to his game coolly powering home the twos to keep within touching distance of the lead.-however after 7 holes he inexplicably hit a 5 ruining his previous immaculate play.
As Tim faltered as well Ted started to inch ahead eventually finishing 5 shots ahead.
Tied on second place were Keith, Tim and John Angel who, learning from previous disappointments held his game together to card a fine 37.
A sudden death playoff became regicide for Britains ex number one who missed a 10 inch putt to crash out.
On the second hole the unflappable Keith holed out for 2 but could only applaud a fired up Angel hitting a stupendous ace to clinch second place-if only Spurs were that focussed.
McIver thanked Marc Cohen for his continued support for use of the course and above all for giving him a £200 cheque.
"My second round was a mixture of some good shots, some lucky shots and thankfully few bad shots - I was shocked at how good Keith is". 
Johnny Angel was thrilled at his second place finish and even more delighted that he didn't receive the prestigious winners jacket. All he needed for the perfect end to the day was Spurs to stuff Bolton - oh well never mind.
As for the ex British numero uno, he drove back to Hastings a wounded but dangerous animal., vowing to "MAKE THEM ALL PAY IN THE BRITISH OPEN AT HASTINGS"- his mood further blackened due to McIver's insistence on humming Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" for most of the journey back to Sussex.

Words: Ted McIver

Pictures of the course