Controversy hit the second Oz Cup as bandits Ian Harvey and Gareth Fullbrook blitzed the rest of the field to record 44 and 40 stapleford points respectively.  Both claimed the typical bandits excuse of playing the round of their lives and Harvey went one further by "shaving" 28 strokes off of his previous best round!

After a hearty breakfast of bacon rolls our host for the day, Marc Osbourne, drew lots for the days playing order.  Expectations mounted as pre-tournament favourites Ossie, Rolfie and Budda where drawn in the same group.  Although this was proclaimed as the group of death none of the 3 Amigo's, or Jim Thirlaway, felt too confident giving away 18 shots to the rest of the select field.  At 11 o'clock the first group tee-ed off to start what was to be an interesting days golf.  Below is the order of play and the shots received for each bandit, I mean player!

Harvey (28)

Towner (28)       - 'Cheats 'r' Us'

Holton (28)

Rolfe (10)

Booth (10)         - 'The Group of Death'

Osbourne (10)

Persaud (28)

Fullbrook (28)    - "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" (take your pick which is which!)

Thirlaway (10)

After 9 holes it was looking at a 2 way race between Gareth El'Fullbrook (18pts) and Ian 'One Armed Bandit' Harvey (21 pts).  Harvey has always been known for his love of the fruit machines and now he was proving to be as big a bandit on the golf course as he is with a few pound coins and a load of flashing lights.  Meanwhile Gareth seemed to be doing just fine despite moaning about not having a pitching wedge, and his recent practice regime seemed to be paying off in style.

The One Armed Bandit also came very close to winning the closest the pin competition on the short par 3 6th hole.  However, Ossie snuck inside his effort by 4 inches to nick the trophy amidst acussations of cheating from Towner in the Cheat'r'Us group.

The Group of Death also claimed the longest drive award.  This was another close affair as all three players in the group hit good tee shots on the 14th.  From the tee they couldn't be separated but in the end Rolfie took the honours with a 260 yard peach of a drive to leave Budda and Ossie cursing his extra few yards.

By the time that El'Fullbrook had nearly chipped in on the 18th The One Armed Bandit had his feet up in the club house confidently predicting that his 44 points would be enough to clinch the Oz Cup 2003.  El'Fullbrooks chip was enough to finish with a massive 40 points and he too came off the course feeling pretty confident.  However, despite his playing partners congratulations the smug Englefield grin was truely wiped off this face when told of Harvey's 44 point haul.  Well done Harv!

The final scores where:

The One Armed Bandit   44 pts (92)

El'Fullbrook                   40 pts (96)

Rolfie                            28 pts (89)

Budda                           28 pts (91)

Jim                               27 pts (93)

Os                                26 pts (93 approx!)

Holton                           23 pts (115??)

Towner                          23 pts (??)

Persaud                        ?? pts (??)

Well done to all those that made it a good day out...and a good drink in the evening as well.  Congratulations to Harvey and Gareth for playing so well and to Harvey putting together such good round and not letting the Englefield take home the trophy!

Roll on the Oz Cup 2004.

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