A PRE-DAWN wasp sting provided Rob Edwards with a perfect if painful wake-up call for the last major event of the Hampshire PGA season, writes Kit Neilson.
The 36-year-old used the injection of adrenaline to excellent effect, romping round Barton-on-Sea in two 67s - ten under par - to take the 2002 Meachers Masters stroke-play championship.
Thoughtfully dressing in the dark to avoid waking the household, Edwards did not notice the insect lurking in his boxer shorts.
The sting, at the top of his thigh, was, he cheerfully conceded, a little too close for comfort and drew the predictable ribald comments from his compatriots.
But the Lee-on-the-Solent professional had the last laugh, reaping an autumn harvest of birdies with some prodigious driving and laser-like iron shots.
Using a new Adams 363 driver borrowed from a member - "I don't think he'll be getting it back" - Edwards launched many of his tee shots way beyond 300 yards.
Had his putting been as good, he would surely have turned in a pair of 64s, for he three-putted twice, lipped out three times and missed a couple from inside four feet.
Between times, he did hole a few good ones, notably at the 11th and 18th in his final round, where a couple of 25-footers disappeared. His efforts, however, were not quite good enough to capture the Waltham Contractors HPGA Order of Merit.
That honour fell, for the second time in three years, to former Barton assistant, Kevin Saunders (Dibden). He shot 67, 70 to finish joint second with Gary Stubbington (Chilworth), who added an afternoon 68 to his earlier 69, garnering six birdies in the process.
With only the softest of breezes to stir the clifftop course, the scores were always going to be good and ten scores under 70 proved the point.
Edwards's morning round included six birdies. The pick of them was at the 525-yard 15th, where he was home with an imperious five-iron, and the 232-yard 16th, where his three-iron fetched up a foot from the stick.
He was positively profligate after lunch, driving to the apron of the 371-yard 10th and walking off with a five and then finding the long 13th in two and three-putting.
But he also knocked in another six birdies, including a splendid two at the 143-yard eighth, his 17th, where he hit an eight-iron to a foot.
"I really felt good out there. That's the most I've enjoyed golf for a long time. I felt so relaxed and really focused," said the new champion.
"I've tried broomstick and belly putters, but I've gone back to basics with a conventional model and an orthodox style and feel so much more confident."
The southpaw Saunders also had a record in his sights before lunch, reeling off four birdies in his first five holes and turning in 31.
But he could only match par coming home, two bogeys offset by an eagle at the 520-yard 15th. Nor could he rediscover the magic after lunch and a dozen straight pars snuffed out his brave challenge.
In joint-fourth spot on 140 were Richard Adams (South Winchester), with 73, 67; Jason Neve (Cams Hall), with 68, 72; and Jon Le Roux (Worldham Park), also with 68, 72.
On a day of exceptional scoring, it was perhaps no surprise that two players should hole in one. Andrew Cloke (Weybrook Park) and Paul Smith (Dibden) did the deed at the 143-yard eighth, both with a seven-iron.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article