PORTUGAL 2023 – Carby All The Way !!!! – The Full Results !

Most of the Players gathered at Faro airport on 9th May 2023 ready for the biggest Golfing event being held that week in Vilamoura.

Nigel Carby and his entourage flew in early, then discovered that the Faro Islands were not anywhere near Vilamoura, or Portugal for that matter, and quickly leapt back on the plane.

Tony Dearsley (and his twin brother Terry), arrived by car from Spain and as scheduled the pre tournament meeting and press conference commenced on time in the Old Village.

Biffa Amos was welcomed back to the tour after many years of absence and the traditional Super Bock all healing Lager was sipped reverently by all of the Players.

Day 1 was Millennium and Hoppy Dearsley smashed in 33 points opening his bid as the perennial nearly man. The rest of the field plodded along trying desperately to adjust to the warm sunny conditions, lightning fast greens and the abundance of Super Bock.

Disaster then struck when it was announced that the venue for day 2 Laguna was suffering with some very very bad diseased greens. Luckily the Algarve Golf Chairman , the venerable Richard Balantyne, stepped in and secured an alternate venue , the very scary Vila Sol.

Stunned and shocked by the change of venue the players set out at Vila Sol where conditions were treacherous. Only one player scored more than 30 points and the mighty Nigel Carby took the first trophy of the week, The “IF” Classic with 33 points !  The average for the day was 23 !!

Day 3 was Pinhal, almost home territory for most of the players although rookie Tony Dearsley had to rely heavily on his caddy young Terry Dearsley who, although he had never played the course before, pretended he knew what was going on.  Hoppy Dearsley came back from his desperate 19 points round Vila Sol and put  in 37 points ! Biffa Amos started to hit form in second place and for the first time Chilly  slipped out of the top 3.

A day of rest followed which included the traditional BBQ and The Entwistle Quiz followed by the very disappointing Eurovision Song Contest, in which Ukraine didn’t win and the UK didn’t get Nil Points ! All players were tucked up well before 3.30 am and the scene was set for Day 4 at Vale Da Pinta.

Sir Michael King had , so far, had a quiet tournament , but all that was about to change as the day unfolded and the tricky yet warm breezes of Pinta took their toll. Kingey shot 36 points with Mick R stepping up and Biffa in the top 3 again. Uncle Nigel, still recovering from his BBQing efforts slipped to 8th place on the day with a 21 point debacle.

Day 5. The Old Course lay ahead in superb condition. Hoppy Dearsley led the way with a majestic 37 pointer thrusting himself into 1st place ahead of Nigel and Chilly and setting up a final day with just 11 points separating the top 4. But it was also the final day of the Peter Crowhurst Trophy and Nigel pipped Hoppy by 1 point to take this covetted Trophy.

The Final Countdown, Laranjal !  Water, Bunkers , Slippery Greens, Wind, Sunshine – The scene was set. Could Hoppy finally triumph ??

Well no !

The mighty Nigel held his nerve , chipping in for birdies at will, putting like a man re possessed ! He carded 20 points on the final 9 holes and repeated his 2012 victory in magnificent style.

 

Hoppy fell apart under the pressure.

Kingey put in a late challenge and pulled himself into 3rd place overall and MK Seve showing for the first time in 3rd on the day with 32 points.

Tony Dearsley meanwhile was slightly handicapped sadly, he had heard the rumours of Nigel’s Historic Flying Headbutt of 2017 and in trying to emulate this dangerous feat managed to split his lip and chip a few teeth, but once again the healing properties of Super Bock returned him to his normal vigour and he was awarded the Champagne Moment Trophy for his trouble, nice one Tone. (Terry was not available for comment)

The 2023 prize giving was followed by Macieira Brandy and surprisingly more Super Bock. Chairman MK Seve spoke for all the Players.

“It has been a great tour gentlemen ! Monty behaved himself , no one fell in any hedges and as far as we are aware no soiled bed linen – Result !!!  See you all next year !”

and with that he was off.

 

More news to follow – Super Bock Steaks !   Concessionaires !!