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Jacklin Brings Out the Stars to Play at the Nailcote Hall

 

The 75th Anniversary of the Numark British Par 3 Champinship was celebrated in style at Nailcote Hall from the 4th-7th August.

With Tony Jacklin CBE hosting and playing in all 4 days, the stars certainly came out in record numbers to join in the fun of the historic golf tournament.

 

 The 4th August kicked the week off with a Celebrity-Amateur team day and Back Tie dinner honouring European Seniors Tour Legend Tommy Horton. Some great golf and a sunny day produced a home win for the team from Nailcote Hall with 84 points, just 2 points more than Froghair who pipped the PGA but one for the runner-up place. Title sponsors Numark, and the Imperial Hotel team from Rugby came in 4th & 5th.The individual celebrity winner was Villa fan and owner of Nailcote Hall, Rick Cressman, as Gary Shaw the European Cup winning footballer shot 38 points, just pipping Tony Jacklin on 36.

 

In addition to the presentation of a ‘Ben Hogan’ bronze in recogniotion of Tommy Horton’s career in golf, dinner guest and celebrities were treated to speeches from David Wright of the PGA and Tony Jackli. Pete Hartley entertained during dinner and the Cavern Beatles rounded off a great day – all great preparation for the next 2 days of the Championship.

 

Despite wet conditions on Tuesday, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the 60 top professionals and the amateur players and the crowds were treated to some terrific play.With 29 European Tour experienced players including at least a douzen tour winners, Tony Jacklin had plenty of support. Graeme Storm, the 2007 French Open Champion, David Lynn, Jamie Spence, Tom Whitehouse, Sam Wlaker, Malcolm Mc Kenzie and Mark Mouland were joined by their amateur partners including Jasper Carrot, Frank Worthington, Willie Thorne and Peter Schmeichel to tee up a really exciting competition.

At the end of the day, Lee Slattery from the European Tour and local professional Richard Copsey led the field at 3 under par. Jason Powell and Paul Bagshaw just one shot behind with European Tour stars, Tom Whitehouse, Phil Golding, Simon Lilly and Mark Mouland, just one further back.

 

A relaxed VIP Players Banquet followed play with some swing music for dinner, comedian Brendan Healey, and some wild fun with Mark Warner’s “DrumBeat” which turned the whole crowd into a drum orchestra using their tubular “Boomwhackers!”

 

Fresh from all this fun a brighter day with plenty of sun brought the best out of the European Tour contingent and the pressure told on some of the regional professionals. However Peter Schmeichel’s Pro partner Richard O’Hanlon surged up the field to finish joint 3rd alongside Tom Whitehouse who also produced a 3 under 51 on the second day.

At one stage it looked like any one of Mark Mouland, Phil Golding or Lee Slattery could win with Slattery and Golding both on 4 under with 9 holes to play and Mark Mouland lurking one shot behind. But while both Slattery and Golding dropped a couple of shots each, Mouland produced 3 successive birdies at the 14th, 15th & 16th holes to surge into a 4 shot led with 2 holes to play. Slattery responded with another birdie on the 17th while Mouland dropped a shot on the last, leaving Slattery needing a hole-in-one on the 18th to secure a play off. His tee shot hit the flag but didn’t drop into the hole leaving “Moulie” to enjoy the win by 2 strokes.

 

That bogey on the last by Mouland cost him and his 12 year old partner, Charley Hull the “better Ball” title which went to Tom Whitehouse and Elliot Cool who scored 14 under par, followed by Simon Lilly and Walter Goonewardene with Moulie and Charlie 3rd, closely chased by 11 year olf Josh Thorley and his European Tour partner, Van Phillips on 11 under par. So Mark, the home favourite collected the big prize - £5000 in pound coins in the same way Alf Padgham did in 1933, in a wheel barrow.

On the last day of the week another celebrity-am Dayraied funds for the Rainbows Childrens Hospice, NSPCC and the Gentleman’s Night Out. With lots of help from celebrities including DJ Spooney, the BBC’s Rob Benney, Willie Thorne, Le Sharpe, Brian Close, Clayton Blackmore guaranteed an exciting days play.

At the end of it all Clayton Blackmore and Brian Close were tied on 39 points with Clayton just pipping the ex-England cricket captain on a count back. But Brian’s team, Pro-Dm, still managed to win the team event with 84 points beating Clayton’s team, GT Pearson, on 81 points into 2nd place. On a cout-back on 78 points Allied Irish Bank came 3rd with Gordon King and HT Nuttall assisted by Bobby Thompson had to settle for 4th place. Shortland Horne with Clive Abbot came in 5th.

It was an incredible week for “Holes-in-One” with 4 professional aces including Ryder Cup star, Steven Richardson and European Tour winner, Van Philips and one amateur. But on-one mamaged to do it one the 7th hole where Jaguar had sponsored a new Jaguar XF.

Another great party night, compered by Willie Thorne, raised more than £10,000 for the various charities. Guests enjoyed the dinner entertainment of electric violin maestro, Pete Hartley, and a superb Mowtown party to dance the night away with, “Atlantic Dream”

But the best news, came during the prize presentation after Tony Jacklin received a portrait by the artist Gordon King and announced that he would be coming back to play the Championship again next year. *all information correct at time of going to press.