Seve Day scores ‘were genuine’

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick September 18, 2012 15:49

Organisers of a cancer charity golf tournament in honour of Seve Ballesteros have stated that the current top 72 winning scores are all genuine, after one competitor was disqualified and others have been accused of being ‘cheats’ and ‘bandits’.

‘Seve Day’ involved golfers who had paid a £25 entry fee submitting Stableford scores from any European course throughout July and August. The top 72 were earlier this month invited to a star-studded final at The Belfry this October in which prizes such as a trip to the US Masters will be on offer. All money raised was for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation for Cancer Research UK, and more than 1,000 people in July alone paid the £25 fee.

However, questions were raised in early September when the top three scores included two in the 50s and one in the 60s, meaning that the players had shot between 14 and 26 under their handicaps. The SeveDay.com website and @SeveDay2012 Twitter account were bombarded with questions and accusations, while a post on the Golf Monthly forum, SeveDay – Are They Bandits? received over 7,000 views and nearly 200 replies.

Comments included: ‘Let’s forget the word ‘bandits’ and say ‘cheats’. Those scores are a joke’ and ‘The scores are an insult to Seve’.

Organisers responded to the outcry by issuing a statement on September 12 which said ‘that all scores have been officially verified with the playing partners of those individuals as well as their golf clubs’.

However, it then transpired that the winning score of 62 included 18 points that were scored by the golfer’s doubles’ partner, and she has now been disqualified. Despite the withdrawal, organisers are confident that this was a one-off and that all other scores are genuine.

“We have many keen golfers in the office and, suffice to say, the winning score of 62 raised more than a few eyebrows,” said Seve Day organiser Gemma Brindley.

“However, we were in a difficult position in that both the winner’s playing partner confirmed her score whilst Sale Golf Club confirmed her handicap. We contacted the winner on a number of occasions to raise these concerns but she insisted her score was correct.

“It has since transpired that she in fact recorded 62 points in a doubles competition of which only 44 were scored by her. We therefore had no option but to disqualify her from the competition.

“The other unusually high scores have been thoroughly investigated, both playing partners and clubs contacted to verify, and we remain comfortable with our decision to allow these players to compete in the final.

“A number of competitors will be playing off revised handicaps for the final at The Belfry, which should ensure a fair tournament.”

 

Seamus Rotherick
By Seamus Rotherick September 18, 2012 15:49
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8 Comments

  1. Graham June 19, 20:13

    Didn’t it later transpire that the woman who was disqualified, was it Varna?, wasn’t even a woman?

    Reply to this comment
  2. David Ward November 27, 15:38

    I have just watched on Sky sports with interest this event and what a surprise that these two top qualifiers had 24 and 10 points, what a joke. I was never going to qualify with 38 points but at least it was honourable

    Reply to this comment
    • Justin rose January 16, 23:26

      I have played with Tom caplehorn and he is 13 plays off 5 i beat him 2and1 scratch match so David I would like to see you play me off scratch ?

      Reply to this comment
  3. Gary October 21, 19:24

    Dear Kevin
    i would like to congratulate you and you son on making the final, i will also b attending G Kelly 44 pts, im sure you can understand how people are skeptical about toms score, if you don’t mind what handicap did the boy play off for qualifying and what is his current handicap, look forward to locking horns with you and you boy next week and paying tribute to the great man himself
    Gary

    Reply to this comment
  4. steve rumball September 20, 14:20

    Surely, seeing as the lowest qualifying score in the final 72 was 41 stableford points, which represents a score of at least 5 under par to handicap against the CSS of the day, then EVERY SINGLE PLAYER must have had their handicap reduced as a result of the submitted score to qualify for this competition?

    In the 18 years that my club has been open and running golf competitions, we have NEVER had a winning score of 55 stableford points. Thats before we get into the value of the prizes?? Surely 18 holes on the Brabazon (£180 last week when I was there) plus breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stay, Sunderland jacket and glenmuir shirt + “much much more” with a final carrot of a trip to the US Open, all exceeds the value of a prize that enables a player to retain amateur status??

    If this event truly wants to be transparent then it should publish not just the player name, but also the club to which they belong. There are at least three names on that list who might possibly be my own club members for all I know, so I would like to be able to check that the score that they might have submitted, if they are my club members, has been properly allocated to their handicap record.

    For once, the much lauded by the powers that be and often derided by the actual club users, CDH system would at least show the handicap record of the T Caplehorn 55 points and B Prewett 50 points.

    The ultimate cynics amongst us might be thinking that it could be a nifty bit of smoke and mirrors, get a stack of people to pay £25 on the basis its a charity event, meanwhile 72 of the organisers mates are all primed and ready for a nice round on the Brabazon? D Murphy, J Cooper, P Taylor could be absolutely anyone. Publish the scores, full players names and their clubs if you really want to be taken seriously, otherwise the whole thing smacks of a big stitch-up.

    Reply to this comment
    • Kevin Caplehorn October 18, 17:49

      Dear Steve

      My Sons name is Tom Caplehorn and he plays at Bramshaw Golf Club Hampshire, He is 13 years old and has been cut this year from 22 to 5.6 (I can send his CDH record to you no problem).

      Tom is a Hampshire County Player and in 8 matches this year he won 6, halved 1 and lost 1 this can be confirmed at http://www.hampshirejuniorgolf.co.uk

      Tom spent the whole summer holidays 7 to 8 hours a day working on his game with me and playing with quality players, He consistently played well; on the day of his 55 points he broke the course record at the club missing a six footer up the last for 62. since this tom has shot 2 over handicap and level handicap in competition and a 64 (-2) in general play.

      Hand on heart if you are ever in our area come and have a game with me and Tom and then make your mind up about his game

      Kindest regards

      Kevin Caplehorn
      PGA Golf Professional
      England County Academy Lead Coach
      Hampshire School of Excellence Coach

      Reply to this comment
  5. rick garg September 18, 20:19

    Why are the handicaps being revised for the final if all the “suspect” scores were checked and found to be genuine?
    55 points is a joke!

    Reply to this comment
    • Kevin Caplehorn October 18, 17:43

      Dear Rick

      I have just seen your comments online regarding the 55 point Joke !

      Tom Caplehorn is a 13 year old boy who has raw talent as a golfer, He is also my son, Tom has come down this year from 22 handicap to 5.6, He is a Hampshire County Player and in 8 matches this year he won 6, halved 1 and lost 1 this can be confirmed at http://www.hampshirejuniorgolf.co.uk

      Tom spent the whole summer holidays 7 to 8 hours a day working on his game with me and playing with quality players, He consistently played well; on the day of his 55 points he broke the course record at the club missing a six footer up the last for 62. since this tom has shot 2 over handicap and level handicap in competition and a 64 (-2) in general play

      Hand on heart if you are ever in our area come and have a game with me and Tom and then make your mind up about his game

      Kindest regards

      Kevin Caplehorn
      PGA Golf Professional
      England County Academy Lead Coach
      Hampshire School of Excellence Coach

      Reply to this comment
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