Golden Griffo XXI – 15th Jul 2011 CHAMPION’S CHAMPION “Rookie” Paul overcomes “veteran” Azmi to win title Twenty years and one day since the first running of the Golden Griffo, the sun shone brightly as 19 players gathered in the cafe to prepare to do battle for the ultimate golfing prize.  With several regulars missing, room was made for three new players to join the field DOMINIC SANNA, PAUL CHAMPION and KARL MALINS.   In the morning round PHIL LLOYD, returning after a six year break, failed to find his past form but finished well on the 18th to claim the Longest Drive award. In the same group, the Dickie Masters champion was struggling with the tougher GoldenGriffo test.  Blobs on the 17th and 18th capped a 7 blob total, leading to DAVE GRIFFIN completing a “Blobby-Masters” double, clinching the shirt (last worn by Griffo in 1994) on countback from STEVE SHORTHOUSE.  In the main competition the leaderboard was tightly grouped with AZMI BESIM and MARTIN HOWARD leading the way on 37 points followed by PAUL CHAMPION on 35 points (off h/c of 7!). The cut initially fell at 32 points but after JIM RUSSELL’s withdrawal to the greensomes, the barrier was moved to 31 points allowing DICKIE and DAVE SIMSON to have a shot at the main prize. Of the six pairs teeing off in the Greensomes, 2 pairs emerged from the pack. ANDY STEPHEN and IAIN CROSS finished well (after blobbing the first two holes) to post an 18 point total.  This looked like it would be enough until ROB MALINS & JON WANT arrived at the 9th and Jon calmly holed a 4 foot putt to win the greensomes with 19 points. Greensomes completed, TREVOR HOWARD looked on nervously to see if his nearest the pin shot would survive the leading groups. It did and Trevor claimed the nearest the pin cash for the first time in his 14 appearances. In the main competition MARTIN HOWARD faltered on the 9 hole course while DAVE SIMSON surged to 3rd place with 17 points (48 point total). PAUL CHAMPION held his consistent form scoring 17 points (52 point total) on the nine hole course. With AZMI BESIM only managing 14 points in the afternoon – his record breaking 17 griffo appearances without victory increased by 1 and PAUL CHAMPION on his first appearance lifted the claret jug.  Well done Paul, a  deserving champion, playing consistently good golf off a very low handicap (obviously this will not prevent a cut next year!).  The day finished with a welcome return of the post Griffo curry, enabling the Mr Blobby T-shirt to have a rare public outing.

2011 RESULT

Pos	Competitor	Total Points	18 H/C	18 Pts	9 H/C	9 Pts	blobs
1st	Paul Champion	52 Pts	7	35	2	17		(Golden Griffo Champion)
2nd	Azmi Besim	51 Pts	28	37	9	14		(Silver Griffo - 2nd)
3rd	Dave Simson	48 Pts	11	31	4	17	2	(Bronze Griffo - 3rd)
4th	Martin Howard	48 Pts	24	37	8	11	2	(made the cut - 4th)
5th	Dominic Sanna	46 Pts	27	33	9	13	3	(made the cut - 5th)
6th	Kevin Henderson	45 Pts	19	31	6	14	1	(made the cut - 6th)
7th	Ian Griffin	43 Pts	28	33	9	10	2	(made the cut - 7th)
8th	Jim Russell	32 Pts	26	32	n/a	n/a	3	(GGG 10Pts - with SS)
9th	Iain Cross	30 Pts	17	30	n/a	n/a	2	(GGG 2nd 18Pts - with AS)
10th	Pete Griffin	30 Pts	24	30	n/a	n/a	3	(GGG 14Pts - with DG)
11th	Rob Malins	29 Pts	17	29	n/a	n/a	2	(GGG Champion - with JW - 19Pts)
12th	Trevor Howard	29 Pts	21	29	n/a	n/a	4	(GGG 13 Pts - with KM) (Nearest the Pin)
13th	Phil Lloyd	28 Pts	16	28	n/a	n/a	3	(GGG 3rd 15Pts - with LP) (Longest Drive)
14th	Leon Peck	28 Pts	23	28	n/a	n/a	3	(GGG 3rd 15Pts - with PL)
15th	Karl Malins	28 Pts	16	28	n/a	n/a	5	(GGG 13 Pts - with TH)
16th	Jon Want	25 Pts	28	25	n/a	n/a	5	(GGG Champion - with RM - 19Pts)
17th	Dave Griffin	24 Pts	23	24	n/a	n/a	7	(GGG 14Pts - with PG) (Mr Blobby)
18th	Andy Stephen	23 Pts	14	23	n/a	n/a	3	(GGG 2nd 18Pts - with IC)
19th	Steve Shorthouse	19 Pts	28	19	n/a	n/a	7	(GGG 10Pts - with JR)

Photo Gallery - 2011
Paul "Golden Griffo" Champion	Rob & Jon - Greensomes Champions
Silver Griffo - Azmi Besim	Bronze Griffo - Dave Simson
Nearest the Pin - Trevor Howard	Longest Drive - Phil Lloyd
Dickie tries hard to hide his upset as the Mr Blobby returns home after a 17 year absence	The three rookies - Karl, Dominic & Paul
Return of the "post griffo" curry	Golden Griffo - Dickie Masters shirt clash!
Greensomes group 1	Greensomes group 2
greensomes group 3	Griffo "cut-survivors"
Lunchtime Leaders
Griffo competitors gather at the final hole for the climax of the 2011 event

For past years reports visit the GG archive ..... For 2010 and other years results visit Results