FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
Furness Golf Club is 150 years old this year and one of its best-ever players fittingly produced some of the best stuff it has ever played host to on his way to victory in the Cumbria Men’s Stroke Play Championship at the weekend.
Rob Spence lit up the Vickerstown links on Saturday, shooting 69 for openers and then following it up with a sensational seven-under-par 64 to take an eight-shot lead into yesterday’s closing rounds.
The extreme windy conditions meant the event was shortened to 54 holes – the players had to come in for 90 minutes while conditions calmed enough for the balls to stop oscillating on the greens.
But Spence again more than held his own. He would finish 10 shots clear of runner-up Will Coxon (Carus Green) and 16 shots ahead of third-placed Kerry Morrow (Ulverston). It was his second county championship success having also won at Furness 10 years ago.
“The second round was the best I have ever played,” said the 41-year-old, who got to seven under in the first round of Final Qualifying at St Annes Old Links last year when the shaft of his driver shattered on the 18th tee.
“When you take into account the weather conditions it was better than last year at St Annes. I really didn’t do anything wrong.”
Spence admitted that the big overnight lead brought its own kind of pressure.
He added: “I don’t normally get nervous but on Sunday morning I felt very nervous. It was such a big lead I just didn’t want to be remembered as the man who lost it.”
As it turned out, the Furness player extended his advantage despite the best efforts of Coxon, who birdied five of the first six holes on Sunday morning. However such were the conditions, you had to make your score early as the new champion explained.
“The coast holes (7-12) played directly into the wind and it was brutal,” said Spence.
“At the par three 10th I hit three wood and was short. People were hitting driver and I should have really.”
Thankfully for the leader he had played the opening fives holes in three under. A 25-footer for birdie at the second really settled his nerves and an eagle at the fifth gave him a massive cushion.
He was on the 11th when all the players were called in because it just got too windy and during the break they were informed the event was going to be shortened.
Condtions were slightly better the day before when Coxon and Spence both opened with a 69 but the duo’s second round scores would be 13 shots apart as the home favourite set the course alight.
He went out in 30 – he was five under for the first five holes as he took advantage of the downwind holes. However he also more than held his own on those playing into the wind. Just one bogey on 11 temporarily sent him back to five under for his round.
A 15-footer on 13 got him back on the birdie train and he took full advantage of the short par four 15th and 16th to reach eight under.
His club-mate Jon Clarke holds the course record (63) and one more birdie would have taken him under that mark. Unfortunately he went long with his second at the 17th and found sand. With the pin back right, a four was always going to be a big ask and he missed his par putt coming back to drop back to seven under.
Penrith’s Michael Parker also came alive on Saturday afternoon and his 66 saw him jump up to second after 36 holes. However the high winds that disrupted play the following day sent his scoring sky rocketing but he was not alone in that.
For Spence, who works nights at BAE Systems in Barrow, he was also thankful for a support network that included his caddy Lee ‘Jeffers’ Jefferson and wife and family.
“Working full-time I don’t get to play in the week but I have been playing a lot of golf recently so I have to thank my wife Nicola for all her support.
“Also to Jeffers who was a fantastic help on the bag.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”