Builders merchant golfers fight it out in French final

Builders Merchants Journal Golf Classic Final 2008: Not even a fire in the Channel Tunnel could keep the keenest o f keen merchanting golfers away from their hard-won prize – a two-night trip to the five-star Hotel Westminster in Le Touquet and the chance to play a round on the La Mer course.

Not for nothing is La Mer considered one of the hardest courses in northern France – after all, it’s where they play the French Open. In previous years, weary players have been hea rd to curse their clubs, threaten to give the game up altogether, so tough can the winds whipping off the English Channel be. Unsuspecting players, coming up against this course for the first time often end up heading into the pine trees searching for balls at each and every hole.

Not so our fearless winners this time. The team of Mark Hughes – Polypipe, Duncan Andrews – Qualitex Supplies Ltd, Graeme Andrews - Qualitex Supplies Ltd, Kieran Burke – Grafton Group Plc managed to beat off the challengers to emerge victorious.

Gallantly giving the winners va run for their money was the runner-up team of Craig Pickford – Catnic, Phil White – Parker Building Supplies, Martin Bland – Travis Perkins, Dave Weller – Lawsons, while, in third place were Heinz Klepacz - Marshalls, Matthew Lewis – Travis Perkins Ltd, Dave Carter – Gibbs & Dandy Plc, Dave Lovell – Lawsons.

Graeme Andrews was the individual player who scored the highest points on the day, while Catnic’s Craig Pickford managed the same honour for the sponsors.

As usual, the tournament would not be possible without the help and support of the sponsors: BASF Feb, Castle Cement, Catnic, Hanson, Marshalls and Polypipe.

Click here to see pictures from the final.

What they said...

“It’s a good course, very good. I’ve never played here before now. I was pretty bad with my drivers but I made up for it with my putting. It’s a difficult course, a lot of blind holes, so that you don’t know where you’re hitting half the time. It was a challenge and it was good fun.” Steve Neary, Firwood Timber

“I had a crap start but it got better as the day went on. I got four pars and one blob. It was a good day, it was very well organised, it’s a very good course as well. It was a lot of fun, nothing complicated, just a cracking day. Thank you to the organisers and sponsors for a well run excellent trip to France. The organisation and hospitality were first class.” Dave Weller, Lawsons

“We all did quite well, I think, but as we got towards the last hole the tension started to grow. I think we all did well, though. When you imagine how much pressure the professional players are under, you wonder how they manage to play at all.” Duncan Andrews, Qualitex

“It was perfect weather for golf and it’s such a great course, it’s in excellent condition. The whole event has been organised really well.” Graeme Andrews, Qualitex

“It was my first year at this event. I thought that the course, hotel, restaurant and organisation have been first class. ” Mark Hughes, Polypipe

Sponsors of the BMJ golf Classic