Champagne Supernova as Liam Gallagher Crowned London’s Best Golfer

The Final of Urban Golf’s London’s Best Golfer was played out over a brutal set-up on Pebble Beach.

Some tough pin positions and slick greens asked big questions of putting strokes, and with such a prize up for grabs it was hardly surprising that there were a few “questionable” shots.

John Willcox provided the most compelling evidence that the greens were on the quick side, when two putts would have qualified him for the last six, he was still wielding the flat stick five blows later.

The 24 players making the final were quickly whittled down to 12, then six and finally the three who played out a six hole final for all the glory and bragging rights that accompany the title of London’s Best Golfer.

The first to secure his place in the final was Tony Moss, who is widely recognised as one of the finest players in the indoor game – a feisty competitor who will never take a backward step.

Scratch handicapper Sam Maloney came into the final with serene progress and was undoubtedly the favourite for the title. Making up the trio was Liam Gallagher, who until now, only had a round of 70 in a club medal at Royal North Devon in 2004 to his name.

The final got off to a quiet start with Maloney and Gallagher parring the first couple and Moss just a little behind. The 3rd hole of the final (the 9th at Pebble Beach) proved to be decisive as all 3 players missed the green leaving the opportunity for any one of them to get up and down and take advantage.

It was however a clumsy chip by Maloney, which caught a slope and sped across the green and down a cliff, which proved to be the big moment and resulted in a triple bogey seven. Gallagher mopped up a bogey five to clinch a two stroke lead.

After all three players traded short missed putts on their 4th and 5th holes, Gallagher looked less than happy with his two shot lead on the last tee.

With the whole of the Pacific Ocean on the left side, and a history of the odd hook, the outcome was far from certain. As if reading everyone in the crowds mind, and probably his own, Gallagher propelled his drive with no shortage of right to left movement off the tee and perilously close to the ocean. Somehow, the ball managed to ricochet off the rocks and back into play, allowing him to breathe again.

As all three players negotiated the final hole in steady fashion, the stage was set for Gallagher to two putt for glory. As he did so, he held back the tears and punched the air in delight in the process securing his place in the history books as London’s Best Golfer 2012.

There was been an excellent response to the Urban Golf tournament, with many hundred entrants, covering a wide range of abilities. Thankfully for many of those who didn’t make the grade with their playing ability, we also had a draw to reveal London’s Luckiest Golfer.

This turned out to be a near hysterical Matt Penn, who may also win the title of London’s Least Trusting Golfer as he took much convincing that it wasn’t a prank call!

Congratulations to both Liam and Matt, who will each be taking a friend on the dream trip provided by Pebble Beach Resorts, including return flights, accommodation at the Lodge at Spanish Bay, rounds of golf at Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay and Spyglass.