The Watson Trophy - 19th. June 2021

Jim Fallon (41/43/84/18/66) , one of two family members (with Owen Fallon) that have been competing for years without success , has finally won his first Board Competition.
Jim started superbly by taking only three strokes to finish the devilishly tricky opening hole but gave back the shot on the following hole with an untidy net bogey 6 . After regrouping well , playing 3 and 4 to handicap he was to again stumble , this time with a net DB 7 on 5 . Jim then reacted magnificently to plunder no less than 5 strokes to get to the turn courtesy of supreme net eagles on 6 and 9 and a net birdie on 7 to get to -3 which was just one off the lead .

Jim played blemish-free steady golf holes 10-14 with his highlight a gain on 11 to get to -4 but his momentum was stalled with a net bogey 7 on 15 .
He played the ‘Championship holes’ nervelessly , recording back to back net birdies before playing the final hole to regulation to snatch the trophy on countback from Paul McDonald and end years of frustration at his inability to win a trophy .

• Paul McDonald (39/43/82/16/66) won the last of his 14 Board Competitions in 2018 (Divot Party) and he has shown understandable glimpses of a return to form this season given that his current handicap allows him sixteen strokes . 
• Today Paul attacked the course and displayed the full array of his skills … he started steadily , played the opening two holes to handicap before showing his undoubted abilities with three consecutive net birdie 4s to stand on the 6th tee at -3 . He maintained momentum playing 6 ,8 and 9 to handicap but crucially recording a net birdie on 7 to get to the turn at -4 and taking the lead in the competition. He maintained his bogey free status for the next 5 holes , safely negotiating the benign but potentially dangerous 10th and 11th holes to handicap , similarly the long 12th before again showing his form with consecutive net birdies on 13 and 14 to consolidate and extend his lead  as he stood on the 15th tee . This hole , more than perhaps any other , has caused members problems and today it was the only hole that Paul dropped a shot on , recording a bogey 7 and dropping back to a share the lead at -5 . Could Paul regain momentum in the  three Championship holes left to play ? With Jim Fallon in the clubhouse , he needed to gain one more shot to take that overdue 15th victory. Sadly , although he completed all three holes without penalty , he simply could not find another shot to get that elusive W and frustratingly lost  on countback .
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• Chris O’Connell (43/36/79/11/68) continues to impress and is definitely one of the stars of this season ! Today he had a rollercoaster front 9 where his successes ( gains on 1,4 and a fabulous birdie 3 on 6 ) were tempered with reverses on 3 and 8 with net DBs on 7 and 9 which left him down the field on +3 at the turn and unusually out of contention . Chris initially steadied himself with consecutive net pars on 10 ,11, 12 and 13 . Standing on the 14th tee , 9 strokes off the lead , Chris began his assault on the course . A superb birdie on 14 was followed by a phenomenal net eagle 4 on 15 … a regulation par on 15 stalled his momentum slightly but he then sensationally  recorded a second net eagle on 17 to stand on the final tee just 3 strokes from the summit  … a net birdie at the last left him in a very creditable third place . 
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Special mentions …

Andrew Window (44/43/87/19/68) has had an underwhelming start to his season but today the maverick dapper dandy gent rediscovered some form . Things did not start well , however , as he succumbed to a net DB 7 on the opening hole then compounded matters with another reverse on 2 . It was to be his last blip in his front 9 as he spliced regulation scores on 3,4 and 8,9 with consecutive net birdies on 5,6 and 7 which meant that he reached the turn at level par , 4 strokes off the lead 

His back 9 was rollercoaster with net bogeys on 10 and 13 were tempered with a magnificent net eagle on 11 and further net birdies on 14,17 and 18 to finish in an encouraging fourth place .

John Hogan (40/42/82/12/70) can rest assured that his place in the a digital Hall of Fame is maintained courtesy of his impressive 17 Board Competition victories gained in the past 18 years … the current Captains’ enforcer has shown definite glimpses of form and today he produced another solid round . His front 9 was highlighted with gains on 2 and 7 with his only reverse a net bogey 6 on 5 to get to the turn at -1 , 3 strokes off the lead .
His back 9 was another grind , with early reverses on the way home on 10 and 12 countered with consecutive net birdies on 13 and 14 . A net 70 and respectable 5th place finish strongly suggests that he will contend again in the near future .

Defending Champion Watch …

Stuart Mason (47/42/89/14/75) Mr. Captain won this event in superb style last year but this season , doubtlessly distracted by the demands of a second season in office , he has struggled with his form on the field of play . Today he never really got going , posting +5 for his front 9 with his net birdie 4 on 2 his only highlight . He gave a much improved display coming home , setting the tone immediately with a stunning net eagle 3 on 10 … further gains on 13 and 17 were tempered by dropped shots on 12,14 and 18 and his 16th place finishing position in a field of 52 was a very respectable effort .

Gross watch …

Ray Massey (76) was the lowest gross score today … Ray has been on the books of Alty GC since making his debut in March 2019 and can only rarely graces the course  … today was his first outing since April this year and he produced a classy round of 14 pars ,3 bogeys and only 1 double bogey … 

Overall , a day where the more receptive fairways made life a little easier for competitors but with only 6 of 52 beating their handicap it is fair to acknowledge that the course is still very dominant , especially as the conditions were largely benign . Bunker play remains tricky , greens are variable in pace and the holes remain shallow as we continue to accommodate the COVID restrictions .