We were invited to play in the Hong Kong Open Pro-Am today (Monday) and we did not have to think twice before accepting. We didn’t know which pro we would be playing with, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that our Friday match at Harbour Plaza was horrible. How can we play like that…and in a Pro-Am? No way. So on Saturday we sought help from Simon Yip, the pro at Garden Farm Golf Centre. Fixed some flaws and luckily we have a round at Discovery Bay on Sunday to hopefully make things work on the course.

We found out today that we would be playing with Darren Beck from Australia. He’s based in Sydney and plays the Asian Tour. Very nice guy. His younger brother, Johnny, was on his bag. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get things going on our front 9, which started on the 10th tee. In a better ball stroke play format, we only managed 3-under par despite our birdie on the Par 3 12th. Darren hit from the Championship tees and hit it to within six feet below the hole. We played from the whites and was also on line but eight feet past the hole. Faced with a tricky downhill putt, a soft tap to avoid going past the hole trickled down and went in the hole! Darren also made his, but I didn’t get a stroke on this hole so it was just a nett birdie.

On our back 9 the team finally got things rolling. Two nett eagles and three birdies for a total of 10 under. We managed birdies on holes 2 (Par 3) and 6 (Par 4). On the Par 3 we hit it to just 1.5 feet and thought we would get the Nearest to Pin prize, but we lost out to a hole-in-one. What can you say? On the par 4 we hit a perfect drive to leave just 130 yards to the pin – enough to get the Longest Drive. What we thought was a perfect 9-iron left us 15 feet from the edge of the green. Opting to putt instead of chip, this safer route turned out to be the right choice. In the hole for a nett eagle.

This was indeed a very memorable day and we wish Darren all the best in the UBS Hong Kong Open. We’ll be rooting for you.

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Birdie Golf with Darren Beck

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Darren's drive on the 10th

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Brother Johnny looking on

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Birdie on Hole 12 (Par 3)

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Birdie on Hole 2 (Par 3)

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Birdie on Hole 6 (Par 4)

091109 HK Open Pro-Am - Hole-In-One...next car?