Knowle was 'TaylorMade' for Alan!

Taylor claims third round of Golfmagic series in Bristol - now we'll have to call him Mr Chips!

Bob Warters

03 Jun 2005

Alan Taylor would be the first to admit, his head was already beginning to drop when he drove two balls out of bounds at the third hole, and failed to redeem himself at either the fourth or fifth hole during the third round of the TaylorMade/Golfmagic Trophy series at splendid Knowle Golf Club near Bristol yesterday (Thursday).

Winner Taylor with (appropriately) his TaylorMade prize bag

The diminutive 14-handicapper from The Vale Golf Club near Evesham was further frustrated when his tee shot fell woefully short at the par-3 6th a spectacular 168-yard hole from a tee 100 feet above the green.

But suddenly his luck changed as he chipped in for an unexpected two, holed from 30 feet for a par at the next and holed from off the green for another birdie two at the 144-yard 12th.

Two excellent closing pars eventually took his tally to 36 stableford points and the narrowest of wins over 19-handicapper Eugene O’Sullivan from St Neots and Nic James (8) from The Gower Golf Club, Swansea.

Golfmagic’s ‘demo team’

But the real star of the day was the Knowle course – designed in 1905 by the legendary J H Taylor, and this year celebrating its centenary.

Set in rolling parkland on the edge of Bristol with elevated tees and slick greens it was in superb condition having hosted an exhibition match between Irish Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley and local hero Mark Sanders two days earlier.

For those visiting the West Country and looking for a likely venue for a day out – Knowle comes highly recommended.

Knowle’s downhill 18th

Though a disappointing number of GM members turned out, all seemed thrilled with the venue and delighted to have the opportunity to try the latest TaylorMade equipment exclusively available on the practice ground.

The distinctive sounds of r7 Quad and r5 Dual drivers and the latest fairway metals had the squirrels and other prolific wildlife running for cover.

As well as the main competition, there were also prizes for nearest the pin and longest prize. The accuracy prize on the downhill sixth went to 14-handicap Terry Allen from Mentmore, while eight-handicap Tim Caudrelier, who plays at The Gower and Woodbury Park took the distance award.

Eugene tees of at the spectacular 6th hole

In the overall championship, O’Sullivan, who works for an American oil exploration company and spends every other month in an Algerian desert compound, extended his lead adding 35 points to the 40 he gained at The Warwickshire.

It might have been more had he been able to build on the outward 19 points and the 70-foot putt he holed for par at the 486-yard 13th.

But it still leaves the door open for the chasing pack, led by Shaun Hearmon, to claim the overall title with still four rounds remaining.

The winner (best two rounds to count) will win a TaylorMade driver, custom-fitted on the TaylorMade MATT system at The De Vere Belfry and a round on The Brabazon course.

Knowle scores

(best two scores after three qualifying rounds in brackets): 36 Alan Taylor (50); 35 Eugene O’Sullivan (75), Nic James; 34 Nick Harrington (50); 32 Bob Warters; 27 Paul O’Mahony, Terry Allen, John Downey; 26 Steve Bendall (50), Angelo Esposito (42), Richard Denning; 25 Tim Caudrelier, Jim King; 23 David Kennedy-Moffat.