Melton Mowbray Golf Club witnessed a thrilling finish to the John Jackson Club Championship on Sunday.
With 5 competitors all in contention for the title as they entered the afternoon back nine holes this was the most exciting finish for many years
Callum Relf had finished as leader in the Clubhouse after the morning round having shot a 5 under handicap level gross 70. Rob Smith had been 4 under with a gross 71 and 5 other players all carded below handicap scores.
The afternoon competition was a spectacle full of birdies with the title up for grabs by any of four players as they left the 14th. In the last group out Rob Smith and Callum Relf had both birdied the par 4 12th but Sam Pollard responded brilliantly with birdies of his own at the 14th and 15th to snatch the lead. As the trio left 16 Callum was one shot adrift of Sam but birdied the par 5 17th to pull back level. The pair both shot a par on the last to force a sudden death playoff.
A large crowd of spectators followed Callum and Sam as they 
headed up the first Sam’s second shot landing on the right edge of the green and Callum’s hitting the green to give to give the chance of a birdie putt. However 2 putts was enough to secure the win as Sam’s chip left a long putt and he finished with a bogey 5. Club Captain Brendan Boyce said he had been witness to some of the best and most thrilling golf he had ever seen at MMGC and the Club was lucky to have such talented players in its midst.
Brendan presented the John Jackson Championship Trophy to Callum on the first tee with a stunning rainbow overhead as he received everyone’s congratulations.
The 55 and over players taking part were also playing for the Senior Club Championship – best gross over 36 holes. Having secured a five shot lead in the first round, Guy Rayson won the trophy for the third year in a row, equalling runner up Phil Millward’s 3 Senior Champion titles, Phil had been unable to pull back the morning deficit, but retained his second place for both rounds.