Date: 13/14 July 2002 Event Title: Essex University Event Category: BDGA Tour Event No.6 Location: Essex University, Colchester, England map Website: not available Results
Open Division Final 1. Charlie Mead 211 2. Derek Robins 228 3. Ivan Bromage 229 4. Richard Sampson 230 5. Andy Lucey 234
Amateur Division Final 1. Rob Capper 246 2. Matt Cuttler 246 3. Rob Whitehouse 246 4. Sam Higbee 253 5. Darren Rose 262

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Tournament Review by Dan Gleebles
The Essex University course is the oldest in Britain (early 1980's) and is a popular tournament on the BDGA Tour. A field of 32 players gathered for the weekend.

Essex's signature hole is hole 5, over the lake. There probably isn't a water hazard in the UK that has claimed more discs!

The surprise of the first round was Rob Capper, coming in with an impressive 59. This was good enough to take him into top group for the second round.

New faces to this year's Tour were also making themselves known. Sam Higbee and Matt Cuttler both carded good first round scores and were high up the leader board.

Topping the leader board was Charlie Mead with a very impressive 54 (-7).

In the second round, there were impressive rounds from Darren Rose (61) Richard Sampson (57) and Ivan Bromage (57). However, it was clear that Charlie Mead was is red hot form as he carded a 55 giving him the overnight lead and breathing space between him and long time rival Derek Robins.

The Saturday night players dinner was held at the Bengal Spice in Wivenoe followed by more refreshments at the Rose and Crown.

Another beautiful day greeted the golfers on Sunday, a good breeze kept the temperatures down and kept the golf interesting.

Jester Wilson continued to improve with back to back 59's after a poor first round. Charlie Mead was ripping through the course carding yet another 54. There was a remarkabe round from Del Robins; he took a 9 on the lake hole and still came in with a 59.

The 4th round was a modified 9. Rob Whitehouse turned on the style to throw the second best round score (30), behind Charlie Mead's 28.

In the Open division, Richard Sampson, Andy Lucey and Jester Wilson battled it out for the 2 remaining places in the 5 person final. When scorecards were submitted, Sampson was one shot clear and Andy and Jester were tied. After a stressful playoff, Andy was victorious, much to the obvious distress of Jester.

The qualification for the Amatuer Final was also very tight, three players were tied for 5th. Only one could go through to the 5 person final. There had to be a playoff between Sue Underwood, Ed Higbee and Darren Rose. After 3 playoff holes it was Darren who came through.

Both finals had drama. In the Amateur final, Rob Capper began with a slender 2 stroke lead over Matt Cuttler. Rob Whitehouse started the final 5 shots off Capper, but a tidy 19 brought him back into contention. Capper had a nightmare, scoring 24.When the last of the six holes were completed all three players finished on the same score! Another playoff was required. It was teh more experienced of the three that held his nerve. Capper drove the playoff hole and was in for a gimme 2. The others could,'t match it. Capper took the win, Cuttler got his 3 for second place and Whitehouse bogied for 3rd place. Higbee and Rose finished 4 and 5th respectively.

In the Open division final, the winner had long been decided. Charlie Mead had a 16 shot lead over the nearest. Battling for 2nd and 3rd were Del Robins and Ivan Bromage, separated by one shot. In 4th, Richard Sampson had one shot over Andy Lucey and was four shots off Bromage.

There were birdies and bogies, and it was Sampson who most impressed, birdieing 3 of the six holes. Andy Lucey fell away rather eratically, putting into the lake and driving wildly. Robins looked to have let Bromage in on the lake hole as he finished in the water from his drive, and then missed a 10 footer to take a 5. Bromage took a 2 on the lake and was now level with Robins. Sampson was two shot behind both of them. Bromage was brave on the penultimate hole but his bravery cost him a four, Robins and Sampson took 3s. Down to the last hole. Sampson had to make the two, and went for the alternative route. It didn't work out and the positions remained unchanged.
Charlie Mead finished 17 shots clear, surely one of his finest performances, Robins finished 2nd, one shot clear of Bromage who in turn was a shot clear of Sampson. Lucey in 5th.

All in all a great weekend.