Friday 27th August 2022        SEMI-FINAL SINGLES                           DT

The Rise & Rise of . . .

‘Royal’ Mersey Valley

This season ‘Royal’ Mersey Valley is flexing its muscles as a centre of golf excellence. Not only will the TBAGS Pairs Final being contested by the all Mersey Valley pairings of Ruane & Dunn vs Goodary & Finley but as of this afternoon the TBAGS Singles Final will be contested by Goodary vs Finley.

Although Finley isn’t actually a paid up member of the renowned Valley club, I wouldn’t dare to suggest that this is anything other than a Mersey Valley landslide - as Mr ‘Gobby’ Dunn will be shouting it from the rooftops for the next day or two at least!

Suggestion: turn off the TBAGS WhatsApp chat for the foreseeable future. He will also be at Dean Wood so ear plugs are a must. Finley and Teggin took to the links at Leasowe today in superb golfing weather (sunshine and a light breeze) and things started off well for Skip - one up at the first. Then the tone of the game immediately changed . . .

Finley topped a drive down the middle of the second fairway but made a beautiful pitch to two feet for birdie. This was followed by a tap-in three on the third. At this point a seven shot advantage to Finley (five of them on the next seven holes) began to weigh heavily on Skip’s shoulders.

At the turn Finley was 4 up.

At this point I should mention that The Mersey Valley Mauritian Magician had joined the four ball at Leasowe - obviously eyeing up the opposition for the forthcoming final. A written request for a certain Ian Dunn to also be part of the four ball had been turned down after due deliberation (actually I think the term used was FO). Instead the Welsh Wizard made up the four ball. Throughout the incessant chatter from Jenks, Finley kept his nerve and continued a really good display of ball striking - despite a couple of altercations with the adjacent gorse bushes.

On the 16th Teggin was in the “Last-Chance-Saloon” (3 down 3 to play). Finley was in a little trouble and off the back of the green, ball searching with Goodary and Jenkins. Teggin plays his last-ditch third shot into the green (it was last-ditch - it went straight into the ditch) . . . and then realising that nobody had seen the shot seized the moment and strode across the green and loudly proclaimed a birdie as he pocketed an imaginary ball from the hole. At this point Finley’s steely demeanour and resolute putting began to evaporate - his fourth from 10ft might as well have been from 40ft - he missed. . . . Yes - OK I owned up!

Well played Mike Finley!

A couple of beers and chip butties afterwards and a good chat made an excellent end to a good day’s golfing (except for the score of course!).

Happy Golfing,

Snake Hips