Last weekend saw the 18th playing of the annual ‘South Cliff Classic’.
Members and visitors were greeted with an immaculately presented course but gusty winds and the odd shower made for tough scoring.
Setting the early pace on Saturday was Sam Pickup, his nett 72 setting a testing target for the later players. However the 2022 champion Andy Noble blitzed round in a nett 66 closely followed by Keith Mount with a nett 67. These scores would see them occupy the top 3 positions going into Sunday’s round.
The best gross score of the day was an 80 by Kevin Henman. The prize for the best score by a player with a handicap index of 16.6 or above went to Darren Vause with a nett 71.
The cut for Sunday's round was made at nett 78, this gave all the surviving players a chance of posting a low score and putting pressure on the last groups.
That player was visitor Andrew Morgan, a superb nett 71 to go with his nett 72 from Saturday gave him a 2 round total of 1 under par 143 and a realistic chance of taking the title.
With just the last pair on the course, only Andy or Keith could deny Andrew. Although both had shots to play with, the pressure could easily have derailed their chances.
Stood on the 16th tee Andy was in control with a 6 shot gap from Keith, but an ugly triple bogey 8 against a birdie 4 from Keith made for a tense finish. Keith's par on the 17th picked him up a further shot and meant Andy had a slender 1 shot advantage stood on the 18th tee.
However, Keith could only manage a bogey 6 and Andy's solid par 5 gave him a nett 72, a 2 round total of 138 and the 2024 Classic Trophy.
Keith's nett 73 gave him a 2 round total of 140 and secured runners up position.