Four time club champion Jim Coleman proved to be the 2024 king of the order of merits by rounding off a super season with victory today in the FerEx Finale. Jim started in 2nd place with a bonus 5 points, 1 point behind playing partner and leading qualifier Simon Leonard and 1 ahead of club championship finalist Michael Hart Jr on 3 points. Graeme McTweed started on 3 points, Anand Poddar on 2 and Iain Mills on 1.
It was Martin Lynagh in game 1 though that set the early pace, an excellent back 9 setting a clubhouse target of 37 points. Many of the players starting with zero points looked like they could threaten that points total but Martin remained in the lead right up until the last few groups. Steven Convery, Jonathan Williamson, Ian McMillan and club champion Richie Elrick all had creditable efforts at dislodging him but ultimately fell a point or 2 short.
With the last few groups facing the last 3 holes it really was anybody’s to win. Slow starts looked to have put paid to the challenges of the last group but they proved why they were the top 3 on the back 9, Simon reeling off birdies at 14 and 16, Michael matched the birdie at 14 and added his own at 13 and 18. Jim also matched Simon at 14 and 16 and had a birdie at 11 too.
Inaugural FerEx winner Anand Poddar saved some of his best golf of the season for today as well, having struggled on the longer holes on the front 9 he played some really steady golf in the back 9 to claw his way into contention.
Pressurised both by Pod and playing partner Michael’s birdie at 18 Jim needed a par to win, and having just 8 foot for birdie he decided he’d end the season in style….but knocked it an awkward 2 foot past when all he had to do was nudge it hole side. He called on all those years of experience and slotted the 2 footer to secure a famous victory and sign off a very fine season.
Full Results and Course Analysis can be found here.