Thursday 22 Septembr 2016 was the second round of the Mark Edwards Thursday Championships. Played in very pleasant weather conditions,  the Course seemed to beat us up yesterday despite the odd cheer echoing across the valley from some distant green, where a birdie putt or chip was holed.

Merv Stubbs and Craig Hams recorded their best rounds and the best rounds for the day, each with 37 points followed closely behind by Ian Murchie and Alan Edney, each with 36 points.

I’m sure there were plenty of players who crafted a very solid first round, and who turned out to play with high hopes of emulating that feat, but are today thinking about yesterday’s lost opportunities.

The current Leader Board for the top 10:

But don’t let yesterday deter you from giving it another big go next Thursday, our final round.

History shows us that in 2013 Mike Gordon clinched the Thursday Championshp with a first two round total of 72 without playing a third round.  He narrowly beat Ray Burton (71) who came home on the last round with 35 points.

In 2014, Norm Hughes finished his third round with a 37 points to win with a two round total of 75, two shots clear of fast finishing Andy Bassett with 39 and Geoff McDonald with 37 points.

In 2015, Peter Waters hit 33 points on his third round to match Dylan Clark’s two round total of 71. Unfortunately for Dylan who couldn’t play a third round, his first round of 41 points (best score of the Championship) was supported by a 2nd round card of 30 points and Peter won the Championship on countback after having the better 2nd card score.

Whilst I have included the Top 10 – two round scores as of yesterday for your information, beneath this list are another 38 players who have a single round total of  32 points or better. Since the best score to date had been a round of 39 points, any one of these 48 players could grab a Championship victory without breaking the best single score round to date.

There’s another 25 players who have single round scores of 31 points or less and any one of those players could also snatch victory by crafting this years Championship best single round score of 40 points or higher.  I’m getting giddy just thinking of  the possibilities.

In other words, it’s never over until it’s over.  I hope to see all  73  other Thursday Championship challengers out on on the course next Thursday for the final round.  Good Luck.