THE CORONAINATION OF TOM GANGE
Venue - St Andrews, Scotland
Winner - Tom Gange
Runner-up - Harry Gray
Hound - Nick Bell
In recognition of its elite status and vital importance to national morale, the UK Government insisted on offering a special exemption to allow The 10th Jacket to be contested in May during the first Coronavirus lockdown. Knowing this would be ethically unconscionable, Commissioner Brook McLaughlin took a brave stance in the face of this political pressure and instead negotiated a phased stepping down of restrictions with number 10 and Public Health England that would allow The 10th Jacket to take place safely in September 2020.
The venue was Fairmont St. Andrews. Close to the home of golf, but distanced from The Old Course through humility, with the fear being that the strongest handicap adjusted field in The Jacket history may have battered "The Old Lady", fracturing her hips, consigning her to a nursing home and embarrassing the R&A in the process.
The wind was blowing with ferocity to match the passion in the golf hearts of the field. Balls oscillated on the practise green and knees shook with nerves. The Torrance course proved a worthy test. Form player and order of merit leader Martin Jeffers put in a very solid first round, calling on all of his skill and existing knowledge of the course to come in tied for the lead with Doug Alborn and Tom Gange after the first round.
It was Tom Gange who would keep the momentum up in round 2 on The Kittocks course and the observing gallery could be heard commenting on his calm focus, as he cut a lonely figure on the practise green before the final round.
The leaderboard was tight with just a few shots separating the final group as they took on The Torrance once again. The wind was up and despite their God given handicap adjusted talents, no one player was able to produce their best on the front 9 and stake a convincing claim for the lead. A holed out wedge for eagle put an eagle amongst the pigeons and sent Gray to the top of the leaderboard with 6 holes to play, but he couldn't handle the adrenaline shock and wilted on the 16th Green with a gut wrenching 3 putt. Jeffers was keeping things very steady, but failed to slip through door that Gray had left ajar, his usually rock solid putting touch suffering under pressure. Nerves were flying all around, but those monitoring the golf radar were oblivious to a low scoring dark haired stealth golfer, slipping under the sonar field and through the golf field.
With the door unsecured, a large hand on the end of a ripped muscular forearm gripped the handle and bravely applied sufficient force to open the door. The hand and forearm belonged to Tom Gange. The sufficient force was a brilliant four straight pars to close. Behind the door was The Jacket, hanging resplendently in the locker room of Champions. Now standing in said room, as the force applied to the door had also been sufficient to carry him over the threshold, he gazed at his prize. The 10th Jacket, soon to be placed on his shoulders at the socially distanced COVID safe award ceremony.
The galleries roared with delight and many hands were clapped in a congratulatory cacophony as the final putt dropped. Coronavirus may have disrupted the date and venue options, but it had done nothing to suppress the magic of the event, the joy of the players and fans, nor the greatness of The 10th Jacket Champion, Tom Gange.