RORY BACKS RT FOR NEXT DOGS TITLE

RORY MCILROY backs underDOG Richie Thomas for next DOGS major.

Rory stopped for a chat with Richie when he arrived at Hong Kong Intnl Airport yesterday.

Rory was pleased to hear that BOLLY had come home and Richie wished Rory success in the up coming UBS HONG KONG OPEN!

Sadly no photos available as Barry was so shocked to see Rory !!

He looks much smaller and younger in real life!!

BOLLY COMES HOME !!

RT WINS. BOLLY COMES HOME.

RT TIPPED TO WIN THE NEXT MAJOR !! And get the last line on the first page of the DOGS trophy.

RM HAS A TRICKY LIE

THE RAKE'S PROGRESS

MIKE BIN FINCH IMPROVING HIS LIE !!

Time for an update

I realise I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, which is a pity given Malcolm's stupendous scoring just over a week ago.

At the end of May five DOGS appeared at Tiverton and split into two parties. In one group, Harry sank a 120yard pitch at the second for an eagle two, Richard M birdied the sixth for a net one but all this effort was without reward. Malcolm scored a remarkable gross 80 which inluded a 4 on every hole from 9 to 17. He went out in 43 (7 over par) and back in 37 (2 over par). Fantastic scoring and Mike looked pretty disappointed with a stableford score of just 36.

So, together with this week's scores, there is some definite shuffling in the handicap table.

Charlie, rooted on 19.9
David 24.2
Harry 16.4
Kevin 16.9
Martyn 17.9
Malcolm 15.2
Mike 18.2
Richard M 21.8
Richard T 16.8

Since the beginning of May, Malcolm's handicap is down 2.7 shots, Richard T by 0.5, Richard M by 0.8 and David by 3.0. Clearly our golf improves with the sun on our backs.

David's Day

Without doubt, Tiverton GC witnessed the finest display of Stedman golf ever seen. Opening with a par on the 10th, he romped around the first nine holes played (10 through 18) in 45 shots and a princely 22 points. The second half saw no let up with a score of 47 and a further 21 points notched up. It was the consistency that most impressed together with a revised handicap of 24. Well done David.

In other news, Richard T broke a ton but only just retained the trousers from Harry, who sank a tricky putt on the last hole for a par. Kevin played inconsistently, almost keeping pace with David on the first half but then the introduction of some novel driving technique didn't help matters in the second half. That said, he did win plaudits for a remarkable shot of the day: a putt from off the green on the 6th hole that went like an Exocet at the pin before dropping in.

Revised handicaps are David 24.2, Harry 16.4, Kevin 16.7 and Richard T 17.4.

And, just for the sake of completeness, Charlie's handicap is 19.9, Martyn 17.9, Malcolm 17.9, Mike 18.1 and Richard M 22.6.

Dream Rounds

Haven't posted for a while but yesterday's round has prompted a return to the keyboard.

I think we set a new D.O.G.S. record with five birdies recorded between Malcolm, Mike and myself. Also, enjoyed a race to the wire with Malcolm pipping Mike on the last hole to win Bolly and to lose the orange shirt. I brought up the rear and collected the 14th hole shirt along the way.

Anyway, there was some discussion of dream rounds, so I thought I would give you all an update. A dream round is the one where your best score is taken for each hole.

Charlie - dream round of 66, 5 birdies
David - 73, 2 birdies, 4 bogies
Harry - 58, 13 birdies
Kevin - 59, 12 birdies
Malcolm - 61, 10 birdies
Martyn - 70, 4 birdies, 3 bogies
Mike - 64, 7 birdies
Richard M - 71, 4 birdies, 4 bogies
Richard T - 58, 2 eagles, 9 birdies

The D.O.G.S. dream round is 52, 2 eagles (1st and 5th), and only the 10th has never been birdied.